Weekly Newsletter

Friday, April 18, 2025

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We’re here to keep you informed on the local issues that matter most. Each week, we share our latest in-depth reporting, along with the most important stories from around the region, so you stay connected and up to date with what’s happening in your community.

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NEW FROM SUNCOAST SEARCHLIGHT:

Gran Paradiso battle reveals how developers control Florida’s fastest-growing communities

In one of Sarasota County’s most manicured neighborhoods, a bitter dispute over irrigation water has laid bare the power of Florida’s developer-controlled governments.

What began as a fight over a 100-year contract that doubled residents’ water fees has escalated into a legal and political standoff between residents and the West Villages Improvement District that oversees their community. It's a fight that could cost homeowners their landscaping, drain their wallets and fracture their neighborhood.

What’s happening in Gran Paradiso isn’t just a neighborhood dispute over water; it’s a window into who holds the power in Florida’s fastest-growing communities and what happens when the homeowners organize to push back.

Across the Suncoast, more and more neighborhoods like Gran Paradiso are governed not only by city and county officials, but by community development districts and other government bodies created, and controlled for years, by the real-estate developers profiting from these projects.

“This is a classic David and Goliath case,” said Joseph Herbert, an attorney representing Gran Paradiso residents. "There’s nothing they can do at the local level to stop West Villages.”

NEW FROM SUNCOAST SEARCHLIGHT:

New College communications director charged for exposure of sexual organs – again

Fred Piccolo Jr., at the time the communications director for New College of Florida and a longtime political operative, was arrested and charged on Tuesday with exposure of sexual organs.

Piccolo, 47, was accused of stopping his car while naked from the waist down and exposing himself to a woman in Manatee County.

It was his second subsequent offense, according to the charge.

The arrest follows three similar indecent exposure incidents at Sarasota retail stores in 2024. Records also reveal a 2022 civil lawsuit in which a former state lawmaker accused Piccolo of sending sexually explicit messages while managing her campaign.

Piccolo’s attorney says his behavior is linked to side effects of Parkinson’s medication, which he said can cause compulsive behavior and hypersexuality.

NEW FROM SUNCOAST SEARCHLIGHT:

Sarasota Schools dispute reporting on mental health program — but records back it up

Sarasota County Schools officials publicly disputed recent reporting on the end of a mental health contract with The Florida Center for Early Childhood.

But records confirm the numbers in question came directly from the district itself.

The controversy centers on the termination of a program that placed full-time therapists in elementary schools, with administrators defending a shift toward in-house staffing and broader interagency partnerships.

While leaders say the change will improve oversight and continuity of care, parents and community members worry the district is taking an untested gamble on student mental health.

Several spoke out at Tuesday's school board meeting, during which the board approved an interagency agreement with The Florida Center, which will allow the district to refer students to the agency for services but not directly pay its therapists to be in the elementary schools as before.

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HERE'S WHAT ELSE WE RECOMMEND READING THIS WEEK

DEVELOPERS PULLING RANK: HOW POWER PLAYS SHAPE SARASOTA COUNTY

FROM THE FLORIDA TRIDENT

An investigation reveals how powerful developers exert influence over Sarasota County decisions by leveraging direct access to top officials and making substantial political contributions. In one case, Rex Jensen of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch sent a forceful email after being told his Waterside development was responsible for road maintenance, leading to a quick reversal. In another, he successfully pushed for a stormwater review to move forward ahead of required rezoning approvals. The report highlights how developers have donated tens of thousands of dollars to local campaigns, raising concerns that their political and financial clout enables them to bypass standard procedures and shape public policy to their advantage.

READ THE STORY HERE

SARASOTA CITY MANAGER SEARCH DESCENDS INTO CHAOS

FROM THE FLORIDA TRIDENT

Sarasota’s search for a new city manager has devolved into disarray, with commissioners expressing confusion, mistrust and a lack of direction during recent meetings. The process, managed by a national search firm, has been criticized for its lack of transparency and structure, including private rankings of candidates potentially violating Florida’s Sunshine Law. With 47 applicants and no clear evaluation criteria, the commission's inability to agree on a path forward has raised concerns about public trust and the integrity of the selection process.

READ THE STORY HERE

PLANS FOR DEMOLITION OF PHILLIPPI CREEK DAM NEAR SOUTHGATE CIRCLE PROMPTS MORE COUNTY COMMISSION DISCUSSION

FROM SARASOTA NEWS LEADER

Sarasota County commissioners are deliberating the proposed demolition of the Phillippi Creek dam near Southgate Circle, a project aimed at mitigating storm-related flooding. The dam, originally constructed as a salinity gate for agriculture, is now considered outdated and potentially harmful to the creek's ecosystem. Removing it will increase protection against stormwater flooding, improve creek water quality, and reduce channel erosion. Commissioners are assessing the project's cost, timeline and environmental impact, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive stormwater management strategy.

READ THE STORY HERE

HOMELESS FAMILIES WITH SCHOOL-AGED KIDS ON THE RISE IN SARASOTA-MANATEE AND FLORIDA

FROM THE SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE

​Sarasota and Manatee counties are experiencing a rise in homeless families with school-aged children, driven by escalating housing costs and a shortage of affordable rental units. This trend is placing additional strain on local schools and social services, as more families struggle to secure stable housing. Officials and advocates are calling for increased support and resources to address the growing crisis and its impact on the community.​

READ THE STORY HERE

BOYD VOTES FOR SENATE BILL THAT WOULD FURTHER PROTECT PHOSPHATE COMPANIES

FROM THE BRADENTON TIMES

​Republican State Rep. Jim Boyd, whose district includes Manatee and Hillsborough counties, voted in favor of a Florida Senate bill that would provide additional legal protections to phosphate companies, like Mosaic, potentially limiting their liability in environmental contamination cases. The legislation has drawn criticism from environmental advocates who argue that it prioritizes industry interests over public health and environmental safety, especially in regions like Manatee County where phosphate mining has long been a contentious issue.​

READ THE STORY HERE

RINGLING COLLEGE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT PLANS

FROM THE OBSERVER

​Larry Thompson, president of Ringling College of Art and Design for over a quarter century, has announced he will retire in May next year. During his tenure, the college expanded its academic programs from six to 13 majors, increased enrollment to a record 1,722 students and added 14 new buildings. Thompson also oversaw a significant growth in the college's endowment, from under $4 million to $73 million, and launched a $175 million capital campaign in 2023, which is nearing its goal. A national search for his successor will be led by Board of Trustees Chair Joel Morganroth. ​

READ THE STORY HERE​

HUNDREDS PROTEST AGAINST FAUCI IN SARASOTA

FROM WSLR

Protesters gathered along U.S. 41 outside the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Monday to oppose Dr. Anthony Fauci's speaking engagement there, expressing dissent over his role in the COVID-19 pandemic response. Demonstrators displayed signs, wore themed attire and voiced slogans critical of Fauci, with some attributing personal losses to his actions. Later, a separate assembly at Five Points Park featured Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, who criticized public health measures and advocated for personal freedoms. Despite the protests, Dr. Fauci addressed a sold-out audience, reflecting on his career and emphasizing the importance of science and public health.

READ THE STORY HERE

DID YOU MISS LAST WEEK'S NEWSLETTER?

HERE'S WHAT WE SHARED:

Firing of Chinese asylum seeker under SB 846 raises alarm in Florida and beyond

When New College of Florida fired Chinese asylum seeker and professor Kevin Wang last month, it wasn’t just a local personnel decision. It marked what appears to be the first time Florida’s controversial SB 846 law has been used to remove an asylum-seeking educator — a move that civil rights groups say could set a chilling precedent.

SB 846 restricts Florida’s public universities from hiring employees connected to countries deemed security threats, including China, Venezuela, and Iran. Although the law allows for case-by-case exemptions, critics say its enforcement threatens academic freedom and unfairly targets international scholars — especially those from China. Wang’s firing, they argue, exemplifies the law’s sweeping overreach.

The case is now part of a broader legal and political fight, with the ACLU and other groups challenging the SB 846 in court. A federal judge recently paused enforcement of part of the statute, but only for students. Faculty, like Wang, are still at risk.

Sources have described Wang’s dismissal as abrupt, frightening, and deeply personal. One student called it “barbaric.” Others say the case reflects a larger shift in Florida — one that could shape the national conversation around xenophobia, academic freedom and who gets to teach in American classrooms.

Sarasota Schools to end on-campus therapy program that helped hundreds of kids

Sarasota County Schools is ending a long-running contract with The Florida Center for Early Childhood that placed full-time mental health therapists in elementary schools — a program that served hundreds of students annually and helped make the district a national leader in student mental health care.

Instead, the district plans to shift to an interagency referral model and use mental health funds to retain social workers and hire rotating staff psychologists, raising concerns about reduced access, added barriers for families and the loss of on-campus, relationship-based care.

The change comes amid budget shifts and political pressure on school mental health programs, and it has sparked concern about whether the new approach may leave vulnerable children without timely support.

"It hurts my heart for all the people that really need this service and could have benefited from it,” said Christine Scott, a Sarasota County mom whose son thrived after sessions with an in-school therapist.

Sarasota, Manatee home values tumble, marking one of the biggest drops nationwide

The red-hot housing market that defined the Suncoast during the pandemic is now cooling — fast.

New data show home values in Sarasota and Manatee counties have dropped more sharply than nearly any of the other large counties in the United States, reversing years of double-digit growth and sparking concerns about the region’s economic health.

In Sarasota, home values fell 7% over the past year; in Manatee, the drop was 5%. That’s a stark contrast to the national trend — where most counties actually saw home prices increase — and suggests that the Suncoast is entering a significant market correction.

Experts point to a range of factors, from high interest rates to low consumer confidence. Retirees and seasonal buyers, who make up a large share of the local market, are pulling back amid financial uncertainty. At the same time, a new state condo law is compounding the problem by forcing major repairs in aging buildings — and pushing many condo owners to sell at steep discounts.



The result? Sluggish sales, more inventory and what one local economist calls the sharpest housing reset since the 2008 crash. Still, some Realtors say we may be near the bottom.



New College fires Chinese professor under controversial Florida ‘countries of concern’ law

A New College of Florida professor was abruptly fired this month under a controversial state law that limits public universities from employing people from so-called “countries of concern,” including China, Cuba, Iran, Russia and Venezuela.

Kevin Wang, a Chinese academic who is seeking asylum and authorized to work in the United States, had been teaching Chinese language and culture classes at the small liberal arts college in Sarasota for nearly two years when, on March 12, the school terminated his contract, citing a university regulation based on that law, known as SB 846.

His sudden ouster has sparked outrage among his students and raises questions about academic freedom as Florida’s crackdown on foreign influence plays out across the state. 

For Wang, his firing carried echoes of the political repression he fled in China, he told Suncoast Searchlight during an interview on campus.

“I never expected to face such a distressing experience," Wang said.

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Suncoast Searchlight is a 501c3 nonprofit news organization whose mission is to produce investigative and explanatory journalism that serves and empowers the residents of Florida’s Suncoast region (Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto counties). We shine a light on critical issues affecting our community. Through independent reporting and collaboration with diverse media partners, we foster transparency, accountability and an informed citizenry, ensuring that all voices are heard and that the public has access to the information they need to drive meaningful change.

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