Weekly Newsletter

Friday, July 11, 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:

Bright lights, no rules: Florida's illegal gambling dens are hiding in plain sight

They light up U.S. 41 north of the airport with neon promises — flashing 7-7-7 and mounds of gold — on storefronts wrapped in dark tint.

Up and down 14th Street in Bradenton, along the Manatee Avenue corridor and tucked in southern stretches of Sarasota County, places like Diamond City and Spin Fun operate in plain sight. They call themselves arcades, but there are no claw machines or prizes for kids inside.

Instead, these adult playrooms boast illegal slot machines that have eluded law enforcement for years, closing down on one street only to reopen on another. Despite more than a decade of legislative crackdowns on illegal gambling, a joint investigation between Suncoast Searchlight and the Bradenton Herald found unlicensed casinos operating out of strip malls and storefronts have continued to proliferate across the region, offering unregulated slots and cash payouts in open defiance of state laws.

For years, state and local authorities have struggled to police these operations, hampered by limited resources and weak criminal punishments that allow arcade owners to brush off law-enforcement interference, the news organizations found.

NEW FROM SUNCOAST SEARCHLIGHT:

Meet the Sarasota pastor rallying for a spiritual war against America's 'enemies'

At a recent Saturday evening service, Pastor Brian Gibbs issued a startling pronouncement to his Sarasota congregation: Nefarious entities had embedded themselves in America. 

“Warring angels,” he prayed, would assist the U.S. military in snuffing them out.

“I pray, Lord, that you would reveal to us exactly where enemies are, enemies that came in, weapons that have come in, that could potentially be used against us for terror and for death.”

This is standard talk for Gibbs, the lead pastor of Victory: A Church of His Presence in Sarasota and a political activist who casts the American church as a crusading light against shadowy forces of evil.

Though his congregation is modest — a service last month drew roughly 100 people — Gibbs has quietly expanded his reach. He currently holds services in another church’s space but has raised more than $670,000 to build a 500-seat sanctuary of his own in the Sarasota suburbs.

In the last decade, Gibbs has worked to advance his political vision in Sarasota and beyond — speaking at school board meetings against LGBTQ+ inclusion, traveling the country to challenge the 2020 election results and maintaining a friendship with Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, whose congressional district includes Sarasota and extends down toward Fort Myers.

NEW FROM SUNCOAST SEARCHLIGHT:

Sarasota assistant county administrator resigns amid stormwater fallout

Sarasota Assistant County Administrator Mark Cunningham resigned on Wednesday, becoming the highest-ranking official to step down in the wake of revelations about widespread failures in the county’s stormwater management system.

County officials did not disclose the reason for Cunningham’s resignation but said in an emailed statement that County Administrator Jonathan Lewis had accepted it.

“After 13 years of employment with Sarasota County Government, Cunningham will step down from his role on July 31,” the statement said. “County administration is reviewing the hiring process moving forward.”

His departure, effective at the end of the month, follows mounting public scrutiny sparked by a joint investigation from the Florida Trident and Suncoast Searchlight, which found the county ignored repeated warnings, failed to maintain key flood-control infrastructure and allowed critical staff vacancies to go unfilled — all contributing to catastrophic flooding during the 2024 storm season.

Cunningham, 60, recently was reassigned by Lewis to oversee stormwater operations alongside Public Works Director Spencer Anderson, who reports directly to Cunningham. Together, Cunningham and Anderson were the two top officials overseeing stormwater operations during the period when many of the failures occurred.

NEW FROM SUNCOAST SEARCHLIGHT:

Uncomfortable but necessary: Sarasota County reconsiders budget amid warnings

Sarasota County commissioners are tapping the brakes on their record-breaking $2.5 billion budget, voting this week to add another workshop and reopen debate over key spending decisions. The move follows concern about the long-term sustainability of ballooning costs.

The surprise decision comes after weeks of budget meetings where commissioners heard requests for major funding increases across departments — including major hikes proposed by the tax collector's and sheriff's offices. But some now say they’ve moved too fast and want to take a closer look before locking anything in.

County staff projected that expenses are on track to outpace revenue by tens of millions of dollars within just a few years. With signs of a cooling housing market, the financial outlook is looking shakier.

Officials insist they’re still committed to critical investments in public safety, infrastructure and operations. But with pressure mounting and time running short, the next few weeks could reshape the most expensive budget in county history.

NEW FROM SUNCOAST SEARCHLIGHT:

FACT BRIEFS

Suncoast Searchlight is partnering with Gigafact to produce weekly fact briefs — concise, 150-word news stories that take real claims circulating online and fact check them. Each brief offers a direct “yes” or “no” answer to the question or claim, followed by a clear explanation backed up by credible, high-quality sources.

READ THIS WEEK'S FACT BRIEFS:

• Does an old Florida farming law give certain landowners a significant tax break?

• Does the city of Sarasota have regulations in place for VEO scooters?

HERE'S WHAT ELSE WE RECOMMEND READING THIS WEEK

HEIDI BRANDT RAISES $40K IN 45 DAYS FOR BRIDGET ZIEGLER'S SCHOOL BOARD SEAT

FROM FLORIDA POLITICS

Sarasota School Board candidate Heidi Brandt says she has raised more than $40,000 in the first 45 days of her campaign. Brandt in May launched a campaign for a seat now held by School Board member Bridget Ziegler. “The intensity of support I’ve received from all corners of the County is truly inspiring,” Brandt said. “This campaign’s message is resonating because it’s all about empowering parents, ensuring school safety, enhancing workforce training and employing the best teachers to help our children thrive inside the classroom and beyond.” Brandt remains the only candidate filed for the seat.

READ THE STORY HERE

BRADENTON BOUGHT FORMER COUNCILMAN'S HOUSE TO BUILD A SEWAGE STATION THERE

FROM BRADENTON HERALD

The City of Bradenton is buying a former city official’s home with plans to convert it into a sewage-pumping station as leaders look to address the city’s chronic wastewater issues. Public records show the home belongs to former Councilman Bill Sanders, who ran for mayor and lost last year after a years-long history of bitter clashes with other city officials and staff. The Bradenton City Council unanimously approved a $441,000 purchase of the property at 2502 Riverside Drive E. in May.

READ THE STORY HERE

FLORIDA'S HIGHER ED MAKEOVER: ATTACKS, RESISTANCE AND ALL-OUT WAR — WITH DESANTIS LEADING THE CHARGE

FROM FLORIDA TRIDENT

In Florida, and across America, higher education is facing unprecedented attacks — affecting what subjects can be taught, how university presidents can be ousted, whether various institutions will lose federal funding and if diversity and inclusion offices are even allowed to exist. It’s not just a battle. It’s an all-out war against the traditional norms of academia. President Donald Trump’s crusade against Harvard University and other colleges began in January 2025, but in Florida, where Republicans have long had a monopoly on power in a staunchly red state, that same war has already been underway for several years.

READ THE STORY HERE

DARKNESS IS CRUCIAL TO EVERGLADES HABITAT. COULD ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ THREATEN IT?

FROM TAMPA BAY TIMES

Surrounded by the low hum of swamp bugs, Anthony Sleiman pointed his camera to the west. The conservation photographer was more than 15 miles from the state’s newly built immigrant detention center, dubbed Alligator Alcatraz. But just before 10 p.m. on July 1, he could see the site’s glow with his naked eye. Sleiman, whose night-sky Everglades images were featured last year in the national park’s visitor center, is concerned that the industrial lights emitting from the facility could harm the protected wildlife in a preserve globally recognized for its dark skies. He’s not alone: The leading international authority that certifies “dark sky” parks says the artificial light from Alligator Alcatraz “directly threatens” the preserve’s renowned natural darkness and disrupts endangered nocturnal wildlife.

READ THE STORY HERE

STORM-TOSSED LIDO BEACH TO BE WIDENED WITH A LITTLE FEDERAL HELP

FROM WUSF

While Pinellas County residents will have to pay out of their own pockets for new sand on their beaches, the federal government is picking up the tab for a similar project in Sarasota. The city of Sarasota will begin a renourishment of 1.2 miles of Lido Beach, which suffered significant erosion from last year's hurricanes. The Army Corps of Engineers will pay for the $12 million project to deposit 200K-300K cubic yards of sand dredged from New Pass. Pinellas' plans have been stymied by a new Army Corps rule that every beachfront property owner has to agree to a permanent easement for the project to begin. But city of Sarasota spokeswoman Jan Thornburg said the city received all 21 easements that were required by the Army Corps in 2021. This is the second renourishment of Lido Beach paid for by the Army Corps.

READ THE STORY HERE

SARASOTA MULLS HIGHER TAXES AS IT HIRES HEAD OF NEW STORMWATER DEPARTMENT

FROM WUSF

Sarasota County is considering increasing taxes to pay for its transformed stormwater department. The county also hired a new director — Ben Quartermaine — all in the hopes of addressing residents' concerns about flooding from hurricanes. Stormwater non-ad valorem assessments have already risen for many Sarasota County property owners in recent years, in some cases doubling or even tripling since 2021, and more increases are in store for next year. The stormwater division within the Sarasota County public works department takes in about $27 million in revenue and reported $18 million in reserves from 2024.

READ THE STORY HERE

TAX COLLECTOR CHARGES MANATEE COUNTY SCHOOLS $1.5M

FROM THE OBSERVER

The School District of Manatee County board members have expressed concern over what seems to be a new charge from the Manatee County tax collector. The district has been charged $1.5 million, or 2% of the $75 million that the district received from October through June from the 1 mill referendum that was approved by voters. The charge is called a "commission" that is allowed by state law. It is the first time that the Manatee County tax collector had issued the charge. Tax Collector Ken Burton said the school district's voter-approved millage should have been triggering a 2% commission charge for the county since the special tax was approved in 2018 and then extended in 2021.

READ THE STORY HERE

RESIDENTS STILL UPSET OVER MANASOTA BEACH ROAD PROJECT

FROM YOUR SUN

When Sarasota County commissioners agreed to trade out a costly project to expand Manasota Beach Road with a four-lane “expressway” in April, people were initially impressed. Two months later, residents have said that not only are they against the plan, but they weren’t given any notice to discuss it. On April 23, commissioners seemed impressed by the plan pitched by developer Pat Neal on behalf of Economic Stimulus Working Group LLC. Neal said his plan was cheaper and faster than the current road extension project, Keyway Road, that involved expanding Manasota Beach Road to connect to Manasota Key and the Wellen Park communities and new high school with State Road 776.

READ THE STORY HERE

SARASOTA CITY COMMISSION OKs 18-STORY MIRA MAR PROJECT

FROM SARASOTA MAGAZINE

On Monday, the Sarasota City Commission unanimously approved a rezone request for the Mira Mar building on South Palm Avenue, changing the 1.2-acre site from “downtown core” to “downtown bayfront” zoning, allowing Seaward Development to move forward with its plan to add new retail, restaurant and office space to the historic plaza, plus two 18-story residential condominium towers behind it. Each condo tower will have 35 condos, for a total of 70, as allowable under the current density limits.

READ THE STORY HERE

DID YOU MISS OUR PREVIOUS NEWSLETTER?

HERE'S WHAT WE SHARED:

OUR JOINT INVESTIGATION WITH FLORIDA TRIDENT:

Sarasota County officials downplayed flood risk. Tropical Storm Debby exposed their failures

A five-month investigation by Suncoast Searchlight and Florida Trident found that Sarasota County’s stormwater system was in disarray well before Tropical Storm Debby flooded homes, damaged infrastructure and claimed a life last year.

Despite public assurances that the county was well-protected against flooding, internal records and interviews show officials ignored maintenance warnings, failed to follow emergency protocols and left key positions unfilled.

Among the most serious failures: a berm near Laurel Meadows that hadn’t been inspected in decades gave way during the storm, sending water rushing into homes. Stormwater gates meant to manage flooding at Celery Fields and Cow Pen Slough were not operated according to county protocols. And despite knowing for years that sediment buildup was choking Phillippi Creek, the county failed to act — even as residents and other agencies repeatedly raised concerns.

A 2022 consultant report warned the county it lacked the staff and long-term planning needed to manage its sprawling stormwater system. Most of its recommendations were delayed or ignored.

Now, with another hurricane season underway, many of those vulnerabilities remain unresolved — leaving communities across Sarasota County at continued risk.

Sarasota's budget keeps growing. Can the county keep up?

Sarasota County is on track to approve its largest budget ever — more than $2.5 billion — with nearly every department and constitutional office requesting additional staff, equipment, or upgrades. But the county’s own projections show trouble ahead: By 2028, expenses are expected to outpace revenues by more than $31 million. That shortfall grows to nearly $41 million the following year.

The largest driver of that growth is the sheriff’s office, whose proposed $225 million budget has risen sharply over the past four years. Personnel costs are a big factor — the average cost to hire a deputy is now close to $250,000. Sheriff Kurt Hoffman says the increases are necessary to meet staffing needs, modernize equipment and sustain a decline in violent crime.

Commissioners have not proposed raising taxes or cutting costs, though Commissioner Mark Smith questioned whether spending at this pace can continue.

“I’m not questioning the need,” he said. “Is there going to be a leveling off?”



County Administrator Jonathan Lewis said the budget reflects strategic investments, not excess. But some observers, including former commissioner Christine Robinson, said it would be wise to start trimming now — before the projected deficits turn into real ones.



Stormwater chief defends dredging permit and flood response, saying he divided rainfall forecast by 3

Just days after our joint investigation outlined serious failures in Sarasota County’s stormwater system, the county’s top stormwater official defended his department — and offered a surprising explanation for how he interpreted rainfall forecasts.

Public Works Director Spencer Anderson said he divided the National Hurricane Center’s projection of up to 12 inches of rain by three, assuming the storm would be spread evenly over three days. That meant staff planned for 4 inches of rain per day — not the potential for 12 inches in a single day.

Two seasoned forecasters told Suncoast Searchlight that’s not how forecasts should be used.

"No, you don't want to do that," one of them said.

He also pushed back on criticism of his absence in the lead-up to the storm, saying it had no bearing on the county's handling of Tropical Storm Debby, and insisted his staff was adequately prepared.

Sarasota County stormwater crisis sparks major shakeup after public trust erodes

Under pressure from angry residents and damning investigative reports, Sarasota County commissioners voted Tuesday to create a separate stormwater department — breaking it off from Public Works — in a major shake-up of how the county manages flooding and infrastructure.

The move comes just days after a joint investigation by Suncoast Searchlight and Florida Trident revealed systemic failures in the lead-up to catastrophic flooding from Tropical Storm Debby. Residents packed Tuesday’s budget workshop, demanding accountability from Public Works Director Spencer Anderson and County Administrator Jonathan Lewis for years of mismanagement and poor communication.

Before the public spoke, Anderson defended his team’s qualifications and outlined the county’s stormwater efforts — particularly along Phillippi Creek. But residents pushed back, citing delayed maintenance, unfilled staff positions and the county’s mishandling of a dredging permit that will now delay creek work until at least 2026.

“You don’t just have a flood problem; you have a trust problem,” one speaker said.

Commissioners signaled they’d had enough. They approved sweeping structural changes, bypassing a pending report and pressing Lewis to act swiftly. Both Anderson and Lewis now face heightened scrutiny as the county scrambles to restore public trust amid another hurricane season.

Phillippi Creek won't be dredged this hurricane season, no emergency permit issued

For years, homeowners living near Phillippi Creek warned Sarasota County the sediment-choked waterway needed dredging, then demanded answers when its overflowing banks flooded them during Tropical Storm Debby.

Now, with hurricane season already underway, those same neighborhoods remain vulnerable. 

The county fumbled an emergency dredging request, filing paperwork at the last possible moment — and without key details — prompting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deny the expedited request and reclassify it as a standard application, according to interviews and documents obtained by Florida Trident and Suncoast Searchlight.

The move could delay permitting of the project by up to eight months, pushing it well beyond the original estimate of late July.

“County staff totally missed the ball on the maintenance of Phillippi Creek,” County Commissioner Tom Knight told reporters. "I would go so far as to call it negligence. Unfortunately, now our citizens are dealing with the consequences of that."

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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.

CONTACT US:

Suncoast Searchlight

PO Box 99 Sarasota, FL 34230

(941) 724-4450