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The Sarasota News Leader is a news publication founded and edited by Rachel Brown Hackney, a veteran journalist with more than three decades experience. For the past several years, she was the editor of The Pelican Press on Siesta Key.
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Category Archives: City of Sarasota
Top stories – Nov. 2 Edition
Click on the pages below to read the entire article: To see all stories in this week’s edition, click on the cover below:
Posted in Ask Otus, City of Sarasota, Downtown Sarasota, Environmental News, Neighborhoods, Political News, Sarasota County, Weather
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‘No swim’ advisory posted for Bird Key Park
A “no swim” advisory has been issued for Bird Key Park, a recently renovated recreational area directly west of the Ringling Causeway bridge on the north side of Bird Key. Sarasota County Health Department officials received testing results from beach … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Environmental News, Health & Medicine
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Search for new police chief down to final five
Five active police executives made the final cut for Sarasota’s new police chief. City Manager Tom Barwin made the selections from the list of 13 left by Interim City Manager Terry Lewis. The final five include two police chiefs – … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Crime & Law Enforcement
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The Jewel fills a gap in downtown Sarasota
“Out with the old and in with the new” would be an odd motto for a historic preservation board. But two buildings in Sarasota’s downtown historic district will be coming down by early next year to make way for another … Continue reading
Posted in Business, City of Sarasota, Downtown Sarasota
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No good deed goes unpunished at City Hall
Nothing makes people madder than being punished for doing what they know is right — and the law is on their side. When George Haborak, chairman of the city’s Public Art Committee, blew the whistle over what he perceived was … Continue reading
Posted in Arts & Entertainment, City of Sarasota, Commentary, Political News, Visual Arts
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City’s neighborhood plan to go ‘under the knife’
The Sarasota City Planning Board in the coming months will take a look at parts of the city’s comprehensive plan. Coming up Wednesday, Sept. 19, the Neighborhood Chapter will be under review. The meeting will start at 6 p.m. in … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Neighborhoods
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The policy roundabout: What’s the future of traffic?
In A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, an alien tour book author prepared to write a chapter on Earth. As he looked down from orbit, he mistakenly decided the automobile was the planet’s primary form of life. He renamed himself Ford … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Downtown Sarasota, Transportation
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Battle brewing over personal bonds
Sarasota city voters will face seven charter amendments on their Nov. 6 ballot. Five have a single purpose, one would divide the City Auditor and Clerk’s Office’s duties and one is a so-called “housekeeping amendment.” Within the “housekeeping amendment” are … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Political News
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Public Art Committee’s future in jeopardy
The City of Sarasota’s Public Art Committee is going under a political microscope to determine whether it lives or dies. The last item on the Sept. 4 City Commission agenda was a settlement of a lawsuit brought by the current … Continue reading
Pros explain city’s pension woes
Sarasota has three pension funds. One is for general employees, another for police and a third for city firefighters from 1996 and earlier, before the city and county fire departments merged. All three pension funds are in trouble. On Wednesday, … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota
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Ringling Walmart project raises committee questions
During its Sept. 5 meeting, the city’s Development Review Committee put the proposed Walmart “supercenter” slated for Ringling Boulevard in its crosshairs. Engineer Joshua Bryant noted that neighboring residents, during a voluntary community meeting Walmart held in August, had asked … Continue reading
Posted in Business, City of Sarasota, Neighborhoods
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City Commission deals with speed bumps, vagrants and charter amendment
The Sarasota City Commission tackled a number of issues on Tuesday, Sept. 4, the first meeting for new Manager Tom Barwin: The bad bumps of Webber This wasn’t an example of the wheels of government. It was an example of … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Downtown Sarasota, Neighborhoods, Transportation
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A week of neighborhood meetings planned
In the next two weeks, Sarasota neighbors will be meeting, and perhaps you might join them. Whether your taste runs to understanding the foreclosure mess, violation of the Sarasota City Charter or a neighborhood potpourri at the Historical Society, September … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Neighborhoods, Sarasota County
1 Comment
Terry Lewis, our Hercules, aims again at retirement
One of the 12 labors of Hercules in Greek mythology was the cleaning of the Augean stables. There resided a herd of more than 1,000 immortal cattle. The stable hadn’t been cleaned in more than 30 years. Using wit instead … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Commentary, Sarasota County, Sarasota People
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Locals fail final cut for new Sarasota police chief
The original list of 98 applicants to become Sarasota’s next police chief was whittled to 13 this week. None of the five local candidates made it. A source close to the selection process, who asked not to be named, said … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Crime & Law Enforcement
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Light duty for Barwin’s first city meeting
Most residents of the city will get their first glimpse of the new Sarasota city manager when they tune in for the City Commission meeting on Tuesday afternoon, Sept 4. Tom Barwin will take his seat for the first time … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota
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News Briefs for Aug. 31
New Sarasota County financial planning director hired Sarasota County Administrator Randall Reid notified the County Commission by email Aug. 17 that he had hired Suzanne L. Gable to fill the vacant position of strategic and financial planning director in the … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Community Bulletin Board, Crime & Law Enforcement, Sarasota County, Weather
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More closings, storm shelter openings announced
More Sarasota County and municipal closings have been announced in advance of Tropical Storm Isaac. The storm is expected to increase to hurricane strength late today, Aug. 26, or early Monday morning, county Emergency Management officials warn. Tropical storm-force winds are … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, City of Venice, Sarasota County, Sarasota School Board, Weather
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Sarasota police chief candidates list pared to 19
Sarasota Interim City Manager Terry Lewis is fighting the clock to pare down the list of 98 applicants to be the next city police chief. He wants to narrow the list to 10 to 15 for incoming City Manager Tom … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Crime & Law Enforcement
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‘Transient coordinator’ post revived to deal with downtown vagrancy
Perhaps the best spot in town to watch the audacity of the vagrant population is outside the Sarasota city manager’s office. A large glass wall with a door overlooks a fountain and picnic table. The fountain can serve as a … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Downtown Sarasota
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Chainsaw of logic rips apart strong-mayor zombie
The proposal that will not die is dead. Again. For a while. But probably it will be back sooner than anybody expects. As the clock approached midnight on Monday, Aug. 20, the proposal for a popularly elected mayor with administrative … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Commentary
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Whither the Police Complaint Committee?
After a tumultuous first year, Sarasota’s Police Complaint Committee is struggling to find a future. The resignation of its two most vocal members earlier this year and the inability to recruit two replacements casts a cloud over the committee’s functions. … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Crime & Law Enforcement, Neighborhoods
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Benderson wins effort to secure Beneva parcel
Over the past several months, big hunks of property along traffic arteries have been quietly optioned for large-scale development. The “supercenter” Goodwill on North Tamiami Trail, a 100+ unit, mixed-use development on 47th Street — just south of the Goodwill … Continue reading
Posted in Business, City of Sarasota, Neighborhoods
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Laurel Park gets a reprieve on downtown development
There were white-knuckle moments for Laurel Park residents Monday afternoon during the regular City Commission meeting. The historically designated neighborhood is surrounded by downtown zoning that allows very tall buildings next to bungalows. The neighborhood association opted out of the … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Neighborhoods
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Domestic partnership initiative moving forward in the city
The City of Sarasota is edging towards the cutting edge of modern law to recognize “domestic partnerships,” the relationships of couples beyond the structure of legal matrimony. The city commissioners on Monday, Aug. 20, received a briefing on a proposed … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota
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Utility rates going up 2% in the city
It’s final. Your water and sewer rates are going up 4% at the start of September if you live in the city. The Sarasota city commissioners approved the hike 4-1 during their regular meeting on Aug. 20, with Commissioner Willie … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Utilities
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Parking restrictions being enforced at Whole Foods garage
The City of Sarasota will begin enforcing parking time restrictions at the Whole Foods/Second Street garage this week, the city announced Aug. 23. An agreement recently was reached between the city and Casto Properties, which owns the Whole Foods building and surrounding … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Downtown Sarasota, Transportation
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Osprey Avenue’s ‘boathouse’ to become B&B
A local icon is about to answer many dreams. The boat structure at 425 N. Osprey Ave. may soon be open for visitors to spend a night or two. Elwin Lissone came before the city’s Historic Preservation Board Tuesday, Aug. … Continue reading
Posted in Business, City of Sarasota, Neighborhoods, Tourism
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Walmart puts its best faces forward for public meeting
Roughly 50 people came to the Payne Park Auditorium Wednesday evening, Aug. 15, to talk with Walmart representatives about a proposed new “supercenter” at the old Ringling Shopping Center. The “maestro” for the event was Michelle Belaire, a battle-hardened corporate … Continue reading
Posted in Business, City of Sarasota, Neighborhoods
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Post-vacation agenda a whopper for the City Commission
Welcome back, city commissioners. There’s a big, meaty agenda waiting for you Monday, Aug. 20. Bring your No-Doz and your Dramamine. The meeting is set to start at 2:30 p.m. with the approval of five sets of minutes from a … Continue reading
Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Business, City of Sarasota, Political News
1 Comment
Van Wezel ranked top North American venue for its size
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall was ranked the No. 1 Performing Arts Hall in North America in the 2000-seat “top spots” category in the July issue of Venues Today, the industry bible of performance venues, the Van Wezel’s staff has announced. Executive … Continue reading
Posted in Arts & Entertainment, City of Sarasota
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11 Street Team members already have found jobs
As of Aug. 1 — the three-month mark — 33 homeless people have rotated through the City of Sarasota’s Street Teams program and 11 of them have been able to find full-time employment, the program’s supervisor reported during the Aug. … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Downtown Sarasota, Neighborhoods, Nonprofit News
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Neighbors briefed on North Trail project
Developer Frank Chinnici has his eye on the largest plot of undeveloped land along U.S. 41 between downtown Sarasota and the airport. On Aug. 2 he held a neighborhood workshop to brief residents on both sides of the Tamiami Trail … Continue reading
Posted in Business, City of Sarasota, Neighborhoods
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Turner details city financial woes; CCNA reflects rare division
A rare whiff of sourness roiled the Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations meeting on Saturday, Aug. 4. Two representatives of African-American neighborhoods were withdrawn and bitter, while a representative from a third less-prosperous neighborhood urged the coalition to censure City … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Neighborhoods
2 Comments
Clerk’s ‘housekeeping amendment’ language jeopardized firefighter pension funds first
City Commissioner Terry Turner is accused of putting a half-million-dollar pension payment at risk with his language in the Strong City Manager Charter Amendment. The Sarasota News Leader has found that language jeopardizing the pension money first was proposed by City … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota
1 Comment
Nearly 100 vie to be next Sarasota police chief
A long blue line of 96 men and two women have tossed their peaked caps into the race to be the next city police chief. Current Chief Mikel Hollaway will retire in October. The hiring decision will be one of … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Crime & Law Enforcement
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Lido Beach restrooms to be closed next week
The restrooms at Lido Beach are scheduled to be closed Monday, Aug. 6, through Friday, Aug. 10, to repair a water line, the City of Sarasota has announced. One dozen temporary restrooms and wash stations will be available for public … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Parks and Recreation, Tourism
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Day Two: the ‘dump-the-clerk’ amendment
How ugly will this get? A white journalist weeps for a black bureaucrat. His black publisher says, “The whole thing boils down to a high-tech lynching.” It’s Day Two, the final day of public hearings on a proposed charter amendment … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Commentary
1 Comment
City Commission OKs new manager’s contract
After some last-minute give-and-take Aug. 2, the Sarasota City commissioners offered a contract to Tom Barwin, their pick to be the next city manager. All of the terms were as previously reported: $175,000 annual salary, $600 per-month car allowance and … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota
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Orange Avenue drainage work to get under way
The City of Sarasota is scheduled to start work on Saturday, Aug. 4, to improve drainage along North Orange Avenue, from 10th Street to 19th Street. Parts of the avenue will be closed to traffic between October and January. The $1.8 million … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Neighborhoods, Transportation
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Bayfront Park playground to be closed Aug. 3-4
The playground at Bayfront Park, across from downtown Sarasota, will be closed for repairs Friday, Aug. 3, and Saturday, Aug. 4, the City of Sarasota has announced. During that time, crews will replace a portion of the playground’s rubber surface, … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Parks and Recreation
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Downtown mooring work to start in September
A second attempt to install mooring anchors at the bayfront is set to begin on Sept. 1. In anticipation of that, the city has warned boaters in the area to move their vessels from the northern and eastern sections of … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Tourism, Transportation
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Analysis: City manager amendment hits snag on way to ballot
Can 3,300 registered city voters be wrong? Or is this race-baiting in the making? In a replay of last month’s city-manager hiring question, the city commissioners concluded this latest debate in a decision-less silence. An unlikely coalition trooped to City … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Political News
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Worker injured in hit-and-run incident on north Siesta bridge
The Sarasota Police Department is asking anyone with information about a hit-and-run incident with injury on the north Siesta Bridge early this morning to contact the department at 941-364-7323. A construction worker, 60-year-old Larry Norris of Lakeland, sustained broken bones … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Crime & Law Enforcement, Siesta Key
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City offers Barwin $175,000 for annual salary
The man selected as Sarasota’s new city manager has agreed to a $175,000 salary. Tom Barwin’s contract will be reviewed on Wednesday, Aug. 1, by the Sarasota City Commission. Barwin has indicated he would like to start work on Sept. … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota
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City parking citation amnesty program to get under way Aug. 1
A driver with a past-due parking ticket will have a one-time only opportunity to pay the citation with the City of Sarasota forgiving the late fee, the city has announced. The Parking Citation Amnesty program will run Wednesday, Aug. 1, … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Transportation
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Riverside Drive bridge opening postponed
The Riverside Drive bridge, northeast of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way bridge over Whitaker Bayou, is expected to reopen Friday, July 27, the City of Sarasota announced this afternoon, July 20. The bridge had been scheduled to reopen … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Transportation
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‘Strong manager’ initiative makes the November ballot
As a result of a professional citizen petition drive, Sarasota city voters in November will consider changing their charter to strengthen the city manager at the expense of the auditor and clerk. “It took five weeks to gather 3,297 signatures,” … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Political News
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Bayfront mooring regulations in place
The Sarasota City commissioners on July 16 put the final ordinance in place to establish a legal bayfront mooring field downtown. This required only a decade of government activity. Commission approval followed approval by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Tourism
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Down and out on Siesta Key
An article in a recent issue of a local weekly reported that a vagrant had been discovered squatting in a building on the north end of Siesta Key. The building, located at 5011 Ocean Blvd., had once been home to … Continue reading →
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