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'LIQUID GOLD' DRAINING AWAY AS SARASOTA, MANATEE COUNTIES LOSE MORE WETLANDS EACH YEAR
FROM SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE
It should come as no surprise that a huge swath of our wetlands have vanished from Southwest Florida in the last two decades. The information is right out in the open. No one’s trying to hide it. It’s recorded in formal determinations, public records and perfectly legal permits, all of which are feely available for citizens to examine. Southwest Florida is one of the wettest places in the wettest state in the continental United States, and for decades all that water was seen as nothing but trouble. Across much of Florida, including Manatee and Sarasota counties, the story is the same: watery places that once shimmered and surged with life have given way to rooftops, roadbeds, and retention ponds.
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DESANTIS HITS MANATEE WITH DOGE AUDIT. SEE WHAT THE TASK FORCE IS LOOKING FOR
FROM BRADENTON HERALD
The state DOGE task force will audit all policies, procurements and other information for purchases over $10,000, as well as take a deeper look at some specific expenditures. This includes the county’s Gulf Islands Ferry water taxi service, which launched in 2023. Additionally, DOGE will investigate the county’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) activities. There’s also a request for information on documentation, policies and purchases related to climate change initiatives, emissions reduction programs, electric vehicles and solar power. The DOGE team is also interested in property acquisition, namely the county’s approval of a $24 million county administration building in Lakewood Ranch. The request also calls out the county’s consideration to purchase the Mixon Fruit Farms property.
READ THE STORY HERE
MANATEE COUNTY OKS MIXON FRUIT FARM PURCHASE
FROM BRADENTON HERALD
Two years after Mixon Fruit Farms closed for business, Manatee County commissioners approved the county’s purchase of the property to preserve the historic local site. On Tuesday, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted to move forward with the $13.5 million purchase of Mixon Fruit Farms with the goal of incorporating educational programs, community-based agriculture and library services on the 39-acre property in East Bradenton. Manatee County officials approved the purchase despite Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Department of Government Efficiency auditors raising questions about it.
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COLSON HOTEL TO BE RESTORED AS A BUSINESS INCUBATOR
FROM SARASOTA OBSERVER
The new nonprofit ownership of the historic Colson Hotel on the edge of the Rosemary District near Newtown plans to honor the century-old building’s roots by providing spaces oriented toward entrepreneurs across all demographics to help plant their own seedlings and eventually branch out into the business world. Anand Pallegar led a collaborative effort to purchase the Colson Hotel at 1425 Eighth St. for $700,000 from a developer, saving it from likely demolition. Now that the remnants of years of occupation by vagrants have been removed, Pallegar’s DreamLarge marketing firm, Gulf Coast Community Foundation and Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation — partners in Save Sarasota Historic Properties Inc. — the concept of the Colson Collective has materialized.
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RON DESANTIS AND FLORIDA LAWMAKERS JUST HANDED A LEGAL SLEDGEHAMMER TO DEVELOPERS
FROM SEEKING RENTS
Late last month, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 180, a sweeping new law intended to help communities better prepare for — and recover from — hurricanes. But developers around the state are now trying to use the new law to undermine local rules that help slow suburban sprawl. One industry group used Senate Bill 180 to sue a county in southwest Florida that raised fees on homebuilders. Another developer is threatening a similar suit in Orlando to eliminate protections for rural land. Did Tallahassee Republicans and industry lobbyists quietly work together to pull a fast one under the guise of hurricane recovery? Or are developers exploiting a well-intentioned law that was merely meant to make sure homeowners can rebuild after a storm?
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST EPISODE HERE
MANATEE COUNTY COMMISSION PUSHES BACK AGAISNT STATE RESTRICTIONS ON PLANNING
FROM WSLR
The months-long cold war between Manatee County and Tallahassee progressed once more on Tuesday. Commissioners unanimously voted to direct county lobbyists to repeal and oppose Senate Bill 180, which restricts the ability of the county to adopt land-use changes. The county’s approved restoration of wetland buffers and raising developer impact fees have been met with significant pushback from the state. Commissioner Bob McCann spoke about the possibility of Manatee County joining in on a potential lawsuit against Senate Bill 180 that is set to be filed in Leon County in September.
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CLIMATE CHANGE MADE FLORIDA'S HEAT WAVE FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY, EXPERTS SAY
FROM WUSF
The conditions many people have been experiencing over the past week or so have been made five times more likely because of climate change, Kristina Dahl, vice president for science at the nonprofit Climate Central. "Our scale only goes up to five. So, it's got the maximum signal, which indicates to us that this is an exceptional event," Dahl said. This extreme heat comes as the federal government proposes to rollback vehicle pollution standards, and rescind a key scientific finding on greenhouse gases being a threat to public health.
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WHEN EVEN MANUFACTURED HOUSING BECOMES UNAFFORDABLE
FROM WUSF
Homeowners in Florida are being quietly priced out of their communities. People often own their manufactured homes but rent the lot underneath them. Census data shows lot rent in the state has nearly doubled over the last decade. That means manufactured housing parks, which are considered the largest source of unsubsidized affordable housing, are now growing unaffordable. Under Florida law, management can pass along fees, like utility charges and property tax increases, as long as they are considered “reasonable” and are mentioned in a park’s original governing document, which is called a prospectus.
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LOST HIS EARS, NOT HIS SPIRIT: ABUSED DOG BRUCE IS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
FROM THE DAILY SUN
Bruce, a 5-year-old German shepherd allegedly victimized by a prior owner, is now up for adoption. “He had no fur, and his tail was like a rat’s tail,” Charlotte County Sheriff’s Senior Animal Control Officer Emily Graham said. “He looked mangy — almost like a coyote.” Tina Marie Johnson was arrested July 28 on charges of animal cruelty and faces up to five years in prison. Bruce recovered thanks to months of veterinary care, community support and the work of Charlotte County Animal Control.
READ THE STORY HERE
SARASOTA CO SUPERINTENDENT CONNOR REVEALS STAFF CUTS
FROM THE DAILY SUN
Amid a challenging summer of budgeting and a tumultuous legislative session, Sarasota County Schools has also had to navigate mounting questions of staff cuts. Hosted by the League of Women Voters of Sarasota County, Superintendent Terry Connor opened up a conversation with the community Wednesday on a Zoom call. Some School Board members attended the meeting as well. From questions on federal funding freezes and deportation impacts on enrollment to staffing cuts and school choice, Connor faced concerns from the more than 50 attendees. In his opening comments, Connor reassured attendees the district is “fiscally sound” and remains stable for now.
READ THE STORY HERE
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