Friday, July 17, 2026

Featured in this week's newsletter:

• STORY: Sarasota citations for sleeping outside soar as chronic homelessness persists

• STORY: D.C. event reveals extremist ties in Florida DOGE’s national push

• STORY: Five vie for Sarasota City Commission in key election

• STORY: Lawyer fights Live Local bid to hold Sarasota commissioners personally liable

• FACT BRIEF: Are some full-face snorkel masks dangerous to wear?

• FACT BRIEF: Is Sarasota County’s burn ban over?

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NEW FROM SUNCOAST SEARCHLIGHT:

SARASOTA CITATIONS FOR SLEEPING OUTSIDE SOAR AS CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS PERSISTS

Criminal citations for sleeping outside have surged across Sarasota during the last six years, climbing from two dozen issued in 2020 to 343 last year — more than a 14-fold increase. 

The citations are meant to be an entry point into a system of homelessness services like housing support, mental health treatment and recovery programs for substance use disorders.

But the system is limited — with waitlists that can stretch on for months — and many people experiencing homelessness don’t feel comfortable receiving help through the police and court system. Some said they would rather just accept a citation, even if it means they’re saddled with a fine they can’t pay or they spend a few days in jail. 



One person in Sarasota was cited with sleeping outside more than 20 times during the past six years and owes hundreds of dollars in unpaid court fines. 

NEW FROM SUNCOAST SEARCHLIGHT & THE FLORIDA TRIDENT:

D.C. EVENT REVEALS EXTREMIST TIES IN FLORIDA DOGE'S NATIONAL PUSH

On a July evening in Washington D.C., right-wing operatives and artificial intelligence enthusiasts gathered in a historic building on Capitol Hill to sip cocktails and hear from Florida officials about their efforts to slash local spending across the Sunshine State.

Standing in front of a pair of American flags, Florida’s Department of Government Efficiency — DOGE — director Eric Soskin and a collection of organizational “partners” offered up a pitch.

What Elon Musk tried and abandoned in Washington, they said, is alive in Tallahassee — and up for franchise.

“It’s very important to Gov. (Ron) DeSantis that the frontier of state DOGE and state conservative governance does not end in Florida,” said Soskin, “but that it is something that can be replicated and continued and made even better all across the 50 states.”

The event, which a reporter attended with a ticket, came a little more than a year after DeSantis launched Florida’s DOGE initiative. 

NEW FROM SUNCOAST SEARCHLIGHT:

FIVE VIE FOR SARASOTA CITY COMMISSION IN KEY ELECTION

With two Sarasota City Commission seats on the ballot, this year’s election will determine who helps steer the city through what could be its most consequential period in recent history.

Mayor Debbie Trice, who serves as one of the city’s five commissioners under its weak-mayor form of government, is not seeking re-election, guaranteeing at least one new member on the dais, while incumbent Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch is seeking a third term.

Joining Ahearn-Koch on the ballot are four first-time candidates from diverse professional backgrounds — Flo Entler, John Harshman, Rob Rominiecki and Yevgeny Khodorkovsky. None has previously held elected office. 

A sixth candidate, Jaime Loomis, withdrew from the election days after qualifying.

The winners will help shape the city’s direction at a pivotal moment. Sarasota is adjusting to a new city manager, planning for a downtown sound ordinance and updated master plan, dealing with criticism of its increased paid parking hours, and weighing an expensive proposed performing arts center. Meanwhile, there are the constant and sometimes contentious debates on the city’s growth and development.

NEW FROM SUNCOAST SEARCHLIGHT:

LAWYER FIGHTS LIVE LOCAL BID TO HOLD SARASOTA COMMISSIONERS PERSONALLY LIABLE

A developer has filed additional claims in a civil lawsuit against Sarasota County, now attempting to hold county commissioners personally liable for blocking an apartment project proposed under Florida’s Live Local Law.

The decision to sue commissioners in their personal capacities is unusual for local government lawsuits, as state law provides elected officials broad immunity when they implement public policy. If successful, it could provide a roadmap across Florida for developers to challenge local officials who stand up to Live Local’s broad implications.

The legal attack has already drawn a motion from an attorney representing Sarasota County Commissioner Tom Knight, calling the tactics “Rambo litigation” that lack legal basis.

Knight’s attorney, Daniel DeLeo, told Suncoast Searchlight that he’s now calling for sanctions to penalize DLA Piper attorney Christopher Oprison and his client SITC Inc., a company controlled by Halfacre Construction President Jack Cox.

NEW FROM SUNCOAST SEARCHLIGHT: POWERED BY COMMUNITY

"At a time local newspapers have been losing staff and spending more time on restaurant reviews and multimillion-dollar home sales than investigative reporting, you’ve filled the void, making investigative reporting your primary mission."

— Bob Clark, Venice

Thank you, Bob, for your support and for reminding us why this work matters.

Bob has been a supporter of Suncoast Searchlight since our early days. We’re grateful for readers like him, and if his words resonate with you, we invite you to join him.

Each week, Powered by Community recognizes the supporters helping make Suncoast Searchlight’s nonprofit journalism accessible to everyone.

You can see all Suncoast Searchlight supporters here.

HERE'S WHAT ELSE WE RECOMMEND READING THIS WEEK

FLORIDA VOTERS HAVE UNTIL MONDAY TO REGISTER FOR AUGUST PRIMARY ELECTION

FROM ORLANDO WEEKLY

Floridians who are eligible to vote have until Monday, July 20, to register to vote in the 2026 primary election this August. Monday is also the deadline to change your party affiliation. Florida is a closed primary state, meaning you will only be able to vote for candidates during the primary election that correspond to your party affiliation — at least for partisan positions.

READ THE STORY HERE

ARCADIA RESIDENTS REPORT SEEING ICE ARRESTS IN NEIGHBORHOOD

FROM WUSF

It was during the early morning rush hour, when customers at La Placita Mexicana typically fuel up ahead of a long work day, that Magi Velasquez got word immigration agents were coming. Velasquez, who manages the restaurant, saw multiple officers in police vests with masks over their faces, and heard them identify themselves as immigration as they asked for papers. She ran back into La Placita and started waving people in before she locked the doors. Then, she yelled out her window, telling people to flee.

READ THE STORY HERE

TRUMP WORK PERMIT RULE COULD SLASH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF WORKERS FROM KEY FLORIDA INDUSTRIES

FROM FLORIDA TRIB

More than half a million people could be removed from the Florida workforce if federal officials eliminate work permits for pending asylum applicants, a Trump administration priority, eliminating hundreds of thousands of workers from key state industries like construction, hospitality and transportation.

READ THE STORY HERE

WHAT DOES A 'TEEN TAKEOVER' LOOK LIKE? BRADENTON POLICE SHARE VIDEO FOOTAGE

FROM BRADENTON HERALD

A newly released video from the Bradenton Police Department offers a firsthand look at what officers encountered during a “teen takeover” that drew nearly 300 teenagers to the Bradenton Riverwalk over the weekend. Bradenton police said they received information about the planned gathering ahead of time and adjusted staffing and patrols.

READ THE STORY/VIEW THE VIDEO HERE

DATA CENTERS TO ADD BILLIONS IN POWER COSTS IN 13 STATES

FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES

A new electricity auction by the nation's largest power grid operator is expected to add $6.3 billion in costs to consumers and businesses across 13 states and Washington, D.C., largely because of the soaring energy demands of data centers. The latest results underscore growing concerns that the rapid expansion of AI-powered computing is outpacing the electric grid's ability to keep up, contributing to higher prices and renewed debates over data center growth.

READ THE STORY HERE

'FISH KILL' BLENDS LOCAL FACT AND FICTION

FROM WSLR

Fish Kill, a satirical crime novel set in a fictionalized coastal Florida municipality called Mullet County, is the debut novel of Dennis “Mitch” Maley. For those familiar with local media, Maley has been the editor and featured columnist for The Bradenton Times since 2010. With this book, he shifts from editorial commentary to long-form fiction.

READ/HEAR THE STORY HERE

ARTIST SERIES CONCERTS LEADER DEPARTS AFTER ONE-YEAR CONTRACT

FROM ARTSBEAT

Just as Artist Series Concerts began unveiling its 31st season lineup, the organization is going through its second change of executive leadership in less than two years. Keren Shani-Lifrak, who officially took over as executive director last July after several months in a transition period, is leaving as her one-year contract ends.

READ THE STORY HERE

PENDING FEDERAL HEMP BAN ALREADY HURTING FLORIDA BUSINESSES

FROM FLORIDA PHOENIX

That possibility began to emerge last November, when Congress passed a spending bill which included a change to the federal definition of legal hemp to a "total THC standard" rather than Delta-9 THC only. Final-form hemp-derived products would be capped at 0.4 mg total THC per container. Translated, that would render approximately 95% of existing hemp-derived products federally illegal, according to the U.S. Hemp Roundtable.

READ THE STORY HERE

LAKEWOOD RANCH-AREA RESIDENTS DIVIDED ON PROPOSED ICE RINK FOR PREMIER

FROM EAST COUNTY OBSERVER

Plans for 190,000-square-foot multiplex featuring three full-size rinks and one warm-up rink on 22 acres of county-owned land are receiving mixed reviews from Lakewood Ranch area residents. Those opposed say they aren’t against another ice rink in Manatee County. They’re opposed to an ice rink of that size at Premier.

READ THE STORY HERE

HELP PROTECT LOCAL SEA TURTLES BY ADOPTING A NEST

FROM SARASOTA MAGAZINE

To help keep turtles safe, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is allowing the public to “adopt” a loggerhead sea turtle nest. The adoption fee supports Mote’s sea turtle research and conservation work and helps biologists understand their biology and behavior.

READ THE STORY HERE

BIG CHANGES ARE COMING TO A SARASOTA COUNTY WATERFRONT

FROM SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE

An aging industrial district in Venice is poised to become Sarasota County's newest waterfront destination for dining, shopping and living. The city's purchase of a key property July 14 clears the way for Nolen Street, a critical piece of the Seaboard District master plan that envisions restaurants, shops, homes and a possible marina along the waterfront.

READ THE STORY HERE

DID YOU MISS OUR PREVIOUS NEWSLETTER?

HERE'S WHAT WE SHARED:

SUNCOAST LAWMAKERS HOLLOWED OUT HOME RULE. DO VOTERS CARE?

During the last five years, the Florida Legislature has voted to pass more than 50 laws restricting local government’s ability to respond to issues ranging from how they manage growth to how they handle public health matters or oversee elections, according to a review of legislation by Suncoast Searchlight. 

The eight state lawmakers representing Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties voted in favor of every one of those measures, with vanishingly few exceptions. 

SARASOTA COUNTY BLOCKS HYPERSCALE DATA CENTERS FOR ONE YEAR

Sarasota County will not even consider the notion of any large-scale data centers for at least a year, citing concerns over utility resources and environmental degradation.

Commissioners voted on Wednesday to halt the “acceptance, review and approval” of any major data centers until at least July 2027.

HE SURVIVED A SPEEDO. 20 YEARS LATER, SARASOTA DOLPHIN IS STILL MAKING WAVES

Two decades ago this summer, a bottlenose dolphin made international headlines after he was spotted swimming through Sarasota Bay wearing an extra-large men’s Speedo.

Today, Scrappy is still alive, still swimming in Sarasota Bay. Turning 29 years old on July 5, Scrappy remains one of Sarasota Bay’s most recognizable dolphins.

SARASOTA, MANATEE FIREWORKS COMPLAINTS SURGE DURING FOURTH OF JULY BURN BAN

Resident ignored a burn ban and illegally blasted fireworks on July 4, leading to a surge in complaints. 

Sarasota County got 152 fireworks-related complaints compared to 64 last year. Manatee County got 176 complaints related to fireworks, up significantly from the 60 last year.

But officials said it remained an average Fourth of July, with no major incidents or uncontrolled fires.

SARASOTA COUNTY PROPOSES VERY SMALL REDUCTION TO PROPERTY TAX RATE

Sarasota County is eyeing a small reduction in its overall tax rate for the next budget.

The modest tax cut proposal comes despite swirling uncertainty over how basic county services would continue to function if voters approve steep reductions in property taxes during the November referendum. For months, county officials have sounded the alarm on how the proposal could upend their budget.

SCHOOL TAX FIGHT SET TO BECOME LAW HIGHLIGHTS DIFFERENT LOCAL APPROACHES, OUTCOMES

Sarasota County Schools clawed back more than $2 million that the county tax collector withheld as fees for collecting a voter-approved school tax.

But other school districts, including Sarasota’s neighbor to the north, have taken a different approach — with different results. Some elected leaders in Manatee may now be regretting that tactic.

WHO'S SARASOTA'S DEVELOPERS' CANDIDATE? BOTH CAMPAIGNS POINT THE FINGER

For Sarasota County Commissioner Joe Neunder and his reelection challenger Jim DeNiro, this year’s District 4 primary has become a battle of who can paint the other as most friendly to developers.

Campaign finance records show both men have accepted tens of thousands of dollars from development interests, while Neunder’s voting record and the candidates’ own positions on growth blur the lines drawn by campaign rhetoric.

AIRBNB GIVES $1 MILLION TO BYRON DONALDS AS RENTALS REMAIN A SUNCOAST FLASHPOINT

As Suncoast areas continue to grapple with the effect of short-term vacation rentals, the industry’s most dominant player has staked a major claim in Florida’s premier 2026 election.

Airbnb, the online marketplace at the center of local fights over neighborhood rentals, has contributed $1 million to the political committee supporting Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds, who previously backed legislation to curb local regulation of the industry.

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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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