About the Author: Christian Casale | Suncoast Searchlight
Sarasota County commissioner’s husband paid $42K by lobbyist for developers
On April 9, the developer behind Lakewood Ranch gave $10,000 to a political committee chaired by prominent Tallahassee lobbyist Dave Ramba. About eleven weeks later, that same committee paid $12,000 to a company run [...]
DeSantis railed against ‘Defund the police.’ Amendment 3 could do just that
For years, Gov. Ron DeSantis has made support for law enforcement a key pillar of his political identity. He has held press conferences in front of lecterns emblazoned with “Florida Supports Law Enforcement,” signed [...]
Sarasota creates new sound enforcement team after noise pollution study
The Sarasota City Commission will strengthen enforcement of its sound regulations while continuing to study changes to a noise ordinance adopted less than a year ago. Commissioners voted 3-2 on Monday to create a new [...]
Sarasota wants Gulf Gate golf course. Developer values it at 3 times county appraisal
Sarasota County officials and local environmentalists have a vision to transform the former golf course that weaves through the Gulf Gate neighborhood into a manmade wetland that rivals Celery Fields to mop up flooding [...]
Sarasota Tax Collector Mike Moran boosts spending 50%, pays $500K to consultants
As Mike Moran campaigned to become Sarasota County’s tax collector in 2024, he ran as a fiscal conservative who would cut through bureaucratic waste and overspending. In political mailers and at campaign events, Moran [...]
Seven hours, 400 comments, packed City Hall: North Port moves to halt data centers
The North Port City Commission chamber was so full, the line to get in through the metal detector snaked around a 50-foot corridor. Dozens waited in the overflow room and filled chairs in the [...]
Higher rates, valet parking? Sarasota weighs fixes for parking woes
Just days after an open house on the city’s parking woes sparked a walkout and protest, the Sarasota City Commission was at it again on Monday with another workshop to discuss the issue. This [...]
Sarasota County approves arts grants without DEI debate, leaving Urbanite behind
When arts organizations in line for tourist tax grants were asked in July to acknowledge new diversity, equity and inclusion stipulations to receive public funds for 2027, most hoped the Sarasota County Commission would [...]
Two years after devastating floods, Sarasota County approves $32 million in fixes
After the rainfall from Hurricane Debby washed through Sarasota in 2024, some homes in the Amish-Mennonite village of Pinecraft sat underneath nearly 10 feet of water. After the storm surge from Hurricane Helene, some [...]
Sarasota hosts parking open house without public comment. Chaos ensues.
The meeting began with roaring boos. Then came the yells from the gallery. And accusations from attendees that they were misled by Sarasota officials. Roughly 80 people had come to City Hall on Monday [...]
County Administrator warns of potential cuts to sheriff’s office, key services if Amendment 3 passes
Sarasota County could see major cuts to critical services if Amendment 3 passes at the ballot box in November, with the Sheriff’s Office alone standing to lose more than $50 million of the property [...]
St. Armands garage is straining Sarasota’s parking finances
When the city of Sarasota debuted its St. Armands garage in 2019, the four-story building was heralded as a state-of-the-art solution to solve years of parking woes on the island. The $15.6 million project was [...]
