• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Sarasota | Opinion

    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • October 29, 2015
House always wins

The Seminole gaming compact and Florida lottery create a dichotomous hypocrisy. To limit gambling in Florida, ‘the state’ is the biggest operator and purveyor of gambling.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 15, 2015
A worthy investment

Underground utilities lines are like business assets: You must reinvest in them to stay competitive and add value.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 8, 2015
Our next president?

What a sad commentary that a man who espouses a government that confiscates your life and your property is gaining traction.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 1, 2015
Beware of the mob

Animal-rights proponents are pressuring Sarasota County commissioners to shut down retail pet stores’ puppy and kitty sales. There are other effective ways to reach the goal.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Speaker Designate Richard Corcoran. File photo
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 24, 2015
'The enemy is always ... us!'

Florida’s House speaker designate got it right: Lawmakers are the problem, not special interests.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • September 10, 2015
A deal with the devils

After 9/11, Americans united in pursuit of justice. They still want it. The Iran nuclear deal and Senate minority defy the people’s wishes and ignore the obvious truth.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Pat and Sen. Bob Johnson
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • September 2, 2015
OUR VIEW | Sarasota statesman

It’s not overstating to say Bob Johnson would rank among the top five individuals who, over the past half-century, have been dedicated to the betterment of Sarasota County.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 26, 2015
MY VIEW | Bobby Jones: Sell it

The national trend is for municipally owned golf courses to be sold. Selling Bobby Jones to a developer could help solve the city’s debt and affordable housing issues.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • August 20, 2015
The dirty Clean Power Plan

Every choice the president and Congress make is a trade-off, not a solution. Once again, the states are usurped.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Bill Nelson
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • August 11, 2015
Another appeaser

In spite of the American people’s overwhelming opposition to the Iran nuclear deal, Florida Sen. Bill Nelson claims there is ‘no other available alternative.’ He’s voting for it.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • August 6, 2015
City pension reform can’t wait

You have seen many times in these pages that the city of Sarasota has more than $150 million in unfunded liabilities in the city-employee pension systems. 

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 5, 2015
City pension reform can’t wait

You have seen many times in these pages that the city of Sarasota has more than $150 million in unfunded liabilities in the city-employee pension systems.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 30, 2015
It's a private-sector project

Sarasota is an ideal place to have a conference center. But not so ideal is the idea to fund one with tax subsidies. If it’s such a great deal, the private sector should do it.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 23, 2015
Beware: form-based vision

The ‘transportation summit’ was a prelude to a grander scheme for an urban-planner’s dream.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 23, 2015
Hoping ignorance vanishes is not enough

AIDS deaths have declined, but HIV cases are on the rise.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
« 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 »
The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in Sarasota

1
Sarasota City Attorney Joe Polzak and City Auditor and Clerk Shayla Griggs during a meeting of the Sarasota City Commission.
  • December 5, 2025
Sarasota charter official evaluations begin this month
2
You'd better watch out: Tow-away zones set for Sarasota holiday parade
  • December 4, 2025
You'd better watch out: Tow-away zones set for Sarasota holiday parade
3
The moon shines between a pair of "Florida Reindeer."
  • December 4, 2025
Holiday display at Selby Gardens boasts over 2 million lights
4
A satellite image of Hurricane Irma.
  • December 4, 2025
Hurricane season ends without Florida landfall
5
Shane Rawley poses for a photo on Dec. 2 at Shaner's Pizzeria with his three published books. From left: "A February Thaw: A Peter Cobb Adventure," "January Freeze: A Peter Cobb Adventure" and "Peter Cobb: Three Strikes You're Out."
  • December 4, 2025
Former MLB pitcher and local pizzeria owner is an author

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2025 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now