Read the latest articles about topics that are effecting our community.
"Now, today, we are finding shortfalls for sudden unprioritized issues in some governments because they failed to budget and plan. Some governments are seeking more revenue sources for items or issues they never identified as a budget priority nor directed staff to...
"According to the community movement Strong Towns, the first of the five immutable laws of affordable housing is that 'developers don’t pay the costs of construction: tenants and buyers do.'" "What this means is that fees don’t just magically disappear, and it’s not...
Sarasota County has taken some important actions to try to make a dent in the affordable housing problem. It has been aggressive, using data and proven techniques which try not to fight the market with requirements and regulations, a method that failed miserably and...
Christine Robinson, a former county commissioner and executive director of the pro-business group, the Argus Foundation, said that while she encourages the county to add the words “mental health” to its priorities this year, it should not create a separate taxing...
The City of Miami, and especially its Mayor Francis Suarez, has decided to seize upon the heavily taxed state business exodus and unroll the red carpet for tech companies. Mayor Suarez has been aggressive and he has been very clear that Miami is open for business. He...
"Governments at all levels have tried to figure out what to do. They need the private sector to build affordable housing, but inherently place barriers in the way of the private sector in terms of planning documents, regulations, process, and zoning. It’s a problem...
“This was a great example of the community coming together, many different facets of the community coming together and most importantly listening to what that particular area, that particular community needed and really following through on it, setting aside any...
A collaboration of community organizations has helped guide this responsiveness. My Gulf Coast colleague Jon Thaxton has worked closely with leaders from the Argus Foundation, Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, local arts organizations, and others to raise a...
