Vote, Protest, Reflect

Board of Sarasota County Commissioners

On Tuesday, Nov. 6, vote for diversity in government. Right now, we have none. The 50-year reign of a single party is never healthy; in Sarasota County it's petrified our Boards and the people who serve them. Around the county, communities like Sura's are working hard to prevent having their neighborhoods ruined by overbuilding, traffic, flooding, and related ills of dumb growth. As Kelly Kirschner recently wrote, the imbalance of powerful interests has compromised us. The explosion of new development - more than 30,000 new homes just in Northeast Sarasota --  will compromise us more.

On Sunday Nov. 11 at 4 pm, people will gather at Gulf Gate Mall to protest the gargantuan ambitions of Benderson Development's Siesta Promenade. The press will be there. Let Sura Kochman know if you'll be there by emailing her at SKbaystate@aol.com -- she recommends:

• WEAR BLUE SHIRTS
• MEET in the normally empty parking lot area in between the Bank of America and across from Hooters.
• BRING SIGNS (you can make)

This SNL story about the Critical Area Plan is highly relevant.

On Monday, Nov. 12 at CONA, County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner will analyze the voting patterns of this mid-term election. Details here. 

Here's hoping Mr. Turner will have some new patterns to report on.