“A subjective political process for approval changes the redevelopment landscape of the community and makes investing in Sarasota risky and uncertain,” Argus Foundation Executive Director Christine Robinson said. “If you don’t like what’s going on, change the code, not the process.” Although staff presented a proposal that would lower the standards for holding public hearings downtown, a…

But in a letter to commissioners, Christine Robinson, executive director of the business group Argus, argued against politicizing the planning process. “Requiring community workshops are one thing,” she wrote, “but a subjective political process for approval changes the redevelopment landscape of the community. It makes investing in Sarasota risky and uncertain.”

On Monday, the City Commission will be considering a staff proposal for altering, or, eliminating administrative review for projects. Administrative review was an important part of The Downtown Master Plan 2020, which received input from hundreds and hundreds of people.  It was adopted in January 2001.The concepts of administrative review were contained in this plan.

The northerners are coming. I know, snowbird season is over, but they are still coming and coming fast. They are fleeing the high taxes, high regulation, and the uncertain business environment of northern states and coming here in droves. How fast do you ask? Some estimates put it at 1,000 people are coming to Florida…

March letter to state officials complaining about ‘golden parachute’ deal was later forwarded to School Board Sarasota’s most prominent business organization is not happy with the Sarasota County School Board. The Argus Foundation complained to Gov. Ron DeSantis and Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran regarding Superintendent Todd Bowden’s contract, according to a copy of a…