Sarasota's baseline rural zoning permits one dwelling for every 5, 10 or 160 acres. The 2050 optional overlay permits 5- 6 dwellings per acre, resulting in lush density increases. For example, the 3500 acre Villages of Lakewood Ranch South parcel was originally zoned for 54 dwellings. Through Sarasota 2050, the project received approval for 5,144 units. That's a density increase approaching 10,000%. Sure seems good for business!

Sarasota County Public Information Meetings

    June 18, 2014 

Robert L. Anderson Administration Center, Commission Chamber,

June 26, 2014 

County Administration Center, Commission Chamber, 1st Floor,

June 30, 2014 

Twin Lakes Park, Green Building, 

6700 Clark Rd., Sarasota, FL 

Meeting time for all of the above is 6 pm

Cathy Antunes is Vice-President of the Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Association and President of Sarasota Citizens for Responsible Government 

Trust!

There has been a lot in the national news lately about "trust".  Poll after poll indicates that, nationally, we have very little trust in our senators, representatives, and, even in the president of the United States.  One might ask, "How do these people keep getting elected if no one trusts them?"  One wonders.  Then again, we all know that politics has become, largely, a money game.  We all know of the vast amounts spent on campaigns at every level; hundreds of millions of dollars.  It staggers the imagination!  When we look at the sources of these campaign dollars, we become even more jaundiced about the electoral game, inasmuch as most of it seems to flow from special interests and from PACS formed to get around election financing laws.  One might even say that the unintended consequence (one hopes it was unintended, anyway), of these laws was to diminish the influence of grassroots dollars in favor of that of special interest dollars.

So how does that play out here in Sarasota County? We have been reading a lot about the so-called "Waechter Cabal" that seems to be made up, at least in most folks' minds, of Bob Waechter (the guy who was convicted in the plot to discredit Lourdes Ramirez, CONA's current president and candidate for Sarasota County Commission), Rex Jensen, Carlos Beruff, Randy Benderson, Pat Neal, and "Dr. Gary" Kompethecras.  This "cabal" has made large political contributions through various entities and PACS to the campaigns of our current BCC, and, of course, that engenders talk and questions of whether approvals of various development projects for these developers are quids pro quo or whether the developments have merit and would have been approved if the applicant were someone who had not made such generous contributions.

Let's return to the issue of "trust".  What do you think when you read the stories about these tangled interests?  What do you believe about the decisions by our BCC?  What do you think as you read about the proposed changes to the 2050 Plan?  How about the concerns that the "fiscal neutrality" provisions of 2050 will be drastically cut to make it easier on the developers but shift the infrastructure burden to us taxpayers? What do you think when you read about the Arduin Report that has embarrassed the commissioners who insisted on hiring her instead of hiring consultants with real credentials?  If you recall, several other interested and qualified consultants declined to participate because of the unworkably short time frame the BCC demanded (and Arduin said she could meet); now, of course, that time frame is out the window anyway, because the initial draft of the report was more properly called, perhaps, "daft".  How about the approvals for the University Town Center with insufficient regard for the coming traffic nightmare and no funds to deal with it? As you read these stories, what goes through your mind?  Where does your confidence in these elected officials stand?  How much do you TRUST them to be looking out for your interests, and for the long-term quality of life of our community?

If our local levels of trust and confidence match the national levels, then, sadly, one would say we have very little of those two precious commodities.  Each of you knows, though, regardless of national polls or even local polls, what you think and feel about our elected officials.  You know what you think about what this county could be like 20 or 30 years from now, depending on who our elected officials are.  We have hopes for the future and fears about the future.  We know in our hearts that it could go either way.  If we can elect people who truly reflect our best hopes for the future, then we can achieve that future; if we elect people who reflect the desires of the special interests, then the future is far less comfortable to contemplate.

As you contemplate your vote for candidates in upcoming elections (cities, County, School Board, and Charter Review Board), ask yourself that most important question: whom do I trust to help this community achieve the future that I want to see for my children and grandchildren?  Listen to the candidates' words, but listen most of all to that voice inside you that tells you whether you can trust that candidate.  You will know... you will know.

"Ecological destruction in Florida is nothing less than economic suicide."

--Former Governor Reubin Askew