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Sarasota | Opinion

The 50-year decision
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 29, 2025
The 50-year decision

The Karins report on the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall brings to the fore many dilemmas. The Van Wezel needs $17 million to keep going . It’s worth $80 million. Should the city be in the theater business?

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Celery Fields is for both people and the environment
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • January 20, 2025
Celery Fields is for both people and the environment

A housing development on adjacent property would directly impact many programs and activities, a reader says.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Florida shines fiscally
    By
  • Adrian Moore
  • January 15, 2025
Florida shines fiscally

Measured against all states, Florida’s total liabilities per capita are among the lowest, thanks to Gov. DeSantis and the Legislature paying down debt. But local governments’ debt is another story.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Don’t fret; growth slowing
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 8, 2025
Don’t fret; growth slowing

For those who chafe at the so-called ‘out of control’ growth, take a breath. Florida’s and the local growth rates are slowing for good.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Our priority: Developers, people?
  • By Jon Thaxton
  • January 6, 2025
Our priority: Developers, people?

Former Sarasota County Commissioner Jon Thaxton responds to Matt Walsh's Dec. 24 column regarding the possible development near the Celery Fields.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
The Word for 2025: ‘Elon’
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 1, 2025
The Word for 2025: ‘Elon’

Elon Musk is flawed. We all are. Nonetheless, Musk is emblematic of the mood of Americans. He symbolizes the can-do, pioneering spirit that made the United States. Forget the moon; shoot for Mars.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
It's time to hit the reset button with the new year
    By
  • Mirabai Holland
  • December 28, 2024
It's time to hit the reset button with the new year

Health is more than being sick or not. It is about balance and can lead to a smoother lifestyle.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Our priority: birds, people?
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 24, 2024
Our priority: birds, people?

There is a simple solution to the proposed rezoning of the Smith Farm. The Audubon Society and stargazers should buy it.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Victim-offender dialogues help victims’ healing process
  • By Vittorio Nastasi
  • December 24, 2024
Victim-offender dialogues help victims’ healing process

A growing trend known as victim-offender dialogue is showing evidence of addressing many of victims’ needs while at the same time helping prevent recidivism.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
How to stop hurricanes
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 11, 2024
How to stop hurricanes

Research has demonstrated that turbine-driven wind farms in the gulf and ocean can produce energy and dramatically reduce hurricane damage.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Insanity: St. Armands floods
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 4, 2024
Insanity: St. Armands floods

Given St. Armands Circle's economic importance, it makes sense to explore preventing annual flooding.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Discarded belongings flooded from Hurricane Helene were scattered by Hurricane Milton's winds on Siesta Key, where the storm made landfall.
    By
  • Mirabai Holland
  • November 24, 2024
In times of distress, we bounce back and show resilience

In the aftermath of the hurricanes, it's in all of our nature to look and find the light at the end of the tunnel.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Florida always comes back
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • November 20, 2024
Florida always comes back

Population typically contracts in the year after a hurricane. But after two years, it bounces back.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Price gouging: Much ado about nothing
  • By Adrian Moore, Max Gulker
  • November 20, 2024
Price gouging: Much ado about nothing

As Floridians rebuild and recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the issue of price gouging always captivates politicians and the media.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
A red tsunami in Florida
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • November 13, 2024
A red tsunami in Florida

“The incentive that impels man to act is uneasiness.” It was abundantly clear Floridians were uneasy about the past four years.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
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