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Sarasota | Opinion

    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 14, 2011
Our view: Poor decisions drive budget

Sarasota's new city commissioners knew they had some tough going ahead of them following the spending and promises of previous commissions. Residents also had a hint, electing at least two new commissioners bent on reining in spending and government scope.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
  • By George Rauch
  • July 14, 2011
Market Watch: Debt causes direction of market to stay questionable

Right now, even though the market has sold off recently, we remain in what is technically called a bull market. Under current economic circumstances, it's amazing the market is not at half of its current value of 12,250 points.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 13, 2011
Our View: What about the taxpayer?

As is all too common, an important party has not been at the table in the negotiations between the Manatee County School District and the Manatee Education Association.

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 7, 2011
Our View: Sell Payne Park

The city of Sarasota is working diligently on a marketing and spending plan to get people to Payne Park, an underutilized city facility. In fact, the city is looking at many ways to attract people to the park, which since its opening four years ago has been a disappointment.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
  • By Rod Thomson
  • July 6, 2011
My View: Sarasota County got Benderson right

The Sarasota County Commission was right to eliminate the Benderson's affordable housing provision. But there is a bigger issue involved.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Kalahar
  • By Dean Kalahar
  • July 6, 2011
My View: Reality check for schools

To add insult to injury, schools spent their financial windfall in hard cash, while homeowners watched the equity of their property plummet as the housing bubble burst.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Merrill
  • By David Merrill
  • June 23, 2011
My View: More money is no answer

Rod Thomson's recent editorial, "Reforms, Not Money, Working," was spot-on. His argument that money hasn't led to increased test scores in our educational system is true both at the international level and at our local level.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Thomson
  • By Rod Thomson
  • June 23, 2011
My View: Setting the vote straight

There are some issues that have been so badly reported, where the bias is so entrenched and the media agenda so intertwined in news stories, that it is difficult to unravel things enough to make a cogent argument. Everyone's mind appears already made up with insufficient information.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 23, 2011
Our View: Keep cutting, maintain reserves

As local governments work through their annual budget seasons, they all face the same thing: the fifth year of declining revenues.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
An astoundingly expensive $20 million proposal to upgrade the public beach facilities at Siesta Key beach is not only out of touch with fiscal realities, it misses a central point: The draw of Siesta Key beach is the beach.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 16, 2011
Our View: Siesta Beach plan unreal

Siesta Key Beach is one of Sarasota's jewels and a critical component of the economic pillar of tourism - a major leg of our economy long term. It is part of who we are.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 9, 2011
OUR VIEW: Jackson demise for the best

Contrary to prevailing establishment opinion, Sarasota County did not 'lose out' on the Jackson Laboratory deal.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Immigration reform protest in Tallahassee last month. Note use of "anti-immigrant" when the issue is "illegal immigrant," and the use of children.
  • By Rod Thomson
  • June 8, 2011
MY VIEW: Needed: immigration principles

Immigration reform frustratingly died in the Florida Legislature last month. What is so difficult about making everyone play by the same rules?

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Jim Ley
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 2, 2011
OUR VIEW: The lesson from Ley

In the totality of his tenure, you can easily argue Jim Ley performed well as Sarasota County administrator. So his resignation last week - or to be more precise, the circumstances that led to his departure - should not forever or indelibly blemish his 14-year record.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
  • By Rod Thomson
  • June 1, 2011
MY VIEW: Reforms, not money, working

School reforms have led to dramatic education results in Florida, even in the face of budget cuts.

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 26, 2011
Our View: Benches, unfortunately, had to go

It is refreshing to see a serious Sarasota City Commission willing to take decisive action on behalf of productive law-abiding members of the community. It did so when voting to remove park benches from Selby Five Points Park for what should be obvious reasons.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
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