« Back To SRQ Daily Archive

SRQ DAILY Apr 22, 2017

Please allow images to view this email properly

"It appears there is good reason to have hope for real progress on the homeless crisis, with a potential role for all who care about this issue."

- Tom Barwin, Sarasota City Manager
 

[Under The Hood]  Forum Fumble
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

Politics has a real power to turn personal slight into a level of scandal, as happened at an Arlington Park Neighborhood Association meeting this week. Apparently, the association held a meeting where members could meet all remaining candidates for the Sarasota City Commission, but one candidate never got an invitation. How that happened depends who you ask.

Candidate Martin Hyde says he never got an invitation, and his email has been well publicized both by his own team and by City Hall, which has published candidate information online.  Nathan Wilson, president of the APN, says he sent out an email, but inadvertently sent to a business address for Hyde, the last address from which Wilson received an email from Hyde. Hyde suggests sending an email to a business address at the start of a long weekend doesn’t count as very much notice, and besides, his business never got the email anyhow. “It’s small town politics,” says Hyde, who notes Wilson has signs in his yard promoting Jennifer Ahearn-Koch and Hagen Brody, the other candidates in the race.

Wilson says no slight against Hyde was intended. “I'll take the blame for not following through,” he says, but maintains an email went out. Regardless, Wilson has apologized for the oversight, and Hyde, who was notified mid-meeting by a supporter who was present, did show up mid-meeting and was granted an opportunity to speak.

The event actually came about following a request from Brody, who has asked neighborhood associations throughout the city for the chance to meet with members. In Arlington Park, the association responded saying that was fine, but that all candidates would be invited to make their own case to voters. “From my perspective, that’s what happened,” Brody says. Ahearn-Koch also got the email and attended.

Of course, the candidates all have countless engagements in the lead-up up to the May 9 election. Ahearn-Koch, Brody and Hyde are running for two at-large spots on the commission, with the top two vote-getters earning seats. A little more than 900 votes separated the candidates in a March 14 first election, so the chance to interact with any groups of voters creates opportunity for campaigning.

Even then, candidates can’t always make every event. Ahearn-Koch this week missed an American Institute of Architects forum because of a conflict. Hyde supporters suggest, though, that Hyde gets intentionally left out of some neighborhood forums.

“But,” he notes, “these actions don’t always have the desired effect, do they?” He says many at Arlington Park spoke to him after the event, and thinks any effort to silence him may backfire. Of course, even if some organizations don’t invite Hyde to events, which would be an act of bad taste, it also might show a distaste for him among certain community leaders.

The bigger question may be what gets achieved at these forums in the first place. The Arlington Park event had 35 or 40 people there, according to Wilson. That’s pretty good attendance for a neighborhood meeting, but nearly 7,200 voters cast ballots in March.

Ahearn-Koch says the forums provide a chance for candidates to hear from voters. “You better understand important issues that maybe you were familiar with but this pushes you to look deeper into them,” she says. Brody says neighborhood associations need to be heard by candidates, and Hyde says he relishes any chance to get in front of voters to promote his platform.

I still wonder if these events do as much good for campaigns as going door-to-door reaching out directly to voters. But as long as these happen, candidates will clamor for the chance to go.

Jacob Ogles is contributing senior editor of SRQ Media Group. 

[City Government]  Hope on Homelessness
Tom Barwin, Thomas.Barwin@sarasotagov.com

Although the challenge of chronic homelessness in the Manatee-Sarasota County region remains daunting, some very positive information and promising developments have emerged this month.

To qualify for federal funding to help address homelessness in our region, the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), requires the local Continuum of Care (COC) responsible for coordinating the homeless response in Manatee and Sarasota Counties complete a one day homeless survey each year. The survey is known as the point-in-time (PIT) survey to count the homeless.

The local COC responsible for coordinating and monitoring the flow of federal grants to local agencies is a local not-for-profit known as the Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness. The partnership is also responsible to undertake the annual homeless count.

This year’s 2017 homeless count took place on January 23. The 2017 PIT survey revealed that homelessness in the City of Sarasota was down by 200 people, which is a 32 percent reduction from the 2016 count. I attribute the significant reduction of homelessness within the City to the work of our Homeless Outreach Team, the Sarasota Police Department and their partners in the community who work to bring appropriate interventions to those languishing day to day on the streets.

Although this is positive news, 429 individuals remain homeless in the city and another 448 homeless were counted in Sarasota County outside of the city borders. Together the homeless count in Sarasota County is 877. Another 570 individuals were documented as homeless in Manatee County.

This adds up to 1,447 homeless individuals in our two-county area, which is less than one quarter of one percent of our 702,000 full-time population. Of the 1,447 homeless in the two-county region, the report has identified 285 individuals as being chronically homeless, i.e. deteriorating on the streets for over a year.

Shortly after the annual homeless count was released, the Sarasota City Commission received the April 2017 report from Florida homelessness expert Dr. Susan Pourciau, who was retained by the city to independently review our region’s approach to dealing with homelessness, as compared to the best practices in the state and country.

Dr. Pourciau has quietly and methodically dialogued with city and county staff, city and county elected officials, most homeless service providers in the region, local foundations, housing specialists and others to evaluate how our region works on this difficult and complex challenge.

Her full report can be found on the City of Sarasota website at http://www.sarasotagov.org/PDF/CM/SarasotaCreatingAnEffectiveHomelessSystem.pdf and is titled “Creating an Effective HOMELESS CRISIS Response System.”

Having worked for over a decade in the homeless response field, Dr. Pourciau has based her findings and recommendations on her extensive experience, knowledge of best practices and hard data from throughout the state. Her top recommendations, as outlined below, are focused on the gaps she observed in the current system.

CLEAR AND ACHIEVABLE RECOMMENDATIONS

#1. Our region needs to get organized as a coordinated and unified team. This can be achieved by the establishment of an influential Leadership Board working in close partnership with the Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness. The Leadership Board should include city and county representatives and other key public and private sector leaders accountable to various elements of the community who are concerned with this problem and wish to help.

#2. In collaboration with the Leadership Board, create a Funders Council to address resource allocation, collaboration and performance metrics.

#3. The Leadership Board and Funders Council should create an effective communications and messaging plan to build community support to create the Homeless Crisis Response System.

#4. The Leadership Board, in collaboration with the Funders Council and the Suncoast Partnership should establish specific processes for tracking, investigating and responding to specific outcome-focused performance measures for the system as a whole, as well as for individual programs and agencies.

#5. Two specific adult sub-populations should be identified and addressed first: 1) homeless veterans, and 2) single adults who are long-term homeless and have disabling conditions.

I am pleased to report the Sarasota City Commission has directed my office to begin to implement Dr. Pourciau's recommendations with the community. I am also pleased to report that the Suncoast Partnership Board has also agreed to implement Dr. Pourciau's recommendations. The Sarasota County Commission will consider the recommendations very soon as well.

It appears there is good reason to have hope for real progress on the homeless crisis, with a potential role for all who care about this issue.

Tom Barwin is Sarasota city manager. 

[Letter from Pat Neal]  Rent Tax Stifles Florida's Economic Future
Pat Neal

The business rent tax is the only state-sanctioned sales tax on commercial leases in the entire country and Florida is the not-so-proud holder of that title. Not even tax-happy havens like California and New York impose this state tax on their businesses. Due to this burdensome tax, Florida businesses shell out more than $1.7 billion dollars every year to the state. As a result, our state economy dramatically suffers in the form of suppressed job growth and economic activity.

Luckily, Gov. Rick Scott is committed to cutting this tax on hardworking small business owners and budding entrepreneurs. The governor has repeatedly made cutting or abolishing this tax one of his top priorities for numerous years as part of his commitment to creating jobs for Florida families. Recently, he has hit the road advocating for a 25-percent cut in the tax—a move that could save Florida businesses more than $400 million per year and reduce prices for Florida consumers.

The business rent tax places a disproportionate burden on small businesses and startups that do not have the capital to purchase bigger office space, hire new employees or expand to other locations. All of this creates a chilling effect on many of Florida’s more than two million small businesses.

Florida TaxWatch’s research has shown that this rent tax presents an impediment to the success of the state’s businesses, and TaxWatch’s long-standing recommendation has been that Florida’s policymakers should take efforts towards reducing or eliminating this tax.

The fairness and competitiveness of our tax structure is paramount to Florida’s continued success. If we want to continue to be recognized as the top place in the country for business, we must promote incentive programs like Enterprise Florida and commit to reduce or eliminate the business rent tax. This is the one area where Florida cannot afford to be unique.

Pat Neal, president of Neal Communities, is a former state senator and chairman-elect for the board of directors of Florida TaxWatch. 



[SCOOP ] 

Sarasota Orchestra announces the 2017–18 season, featuring the appearance of Midori as a violin soloist and a season full of a wide range of musical experiences. The 2017–18 season is composed of four concert series. Highlights of the Masterworks series include a performance by world-renowned violinist Midori and the celebration of composer Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday. This upcoming season for Pops Series includes Principal Pops Conductor Andrew Lane in a concert of The Best of Broadway, guest conductor Jack Everly with the Doo Wop Project, and jazz trumpeter and guest conductor Byron Stripling in a concert entitled The Cotton Club.The eight concert Chamber Series expands to encore performances for select concerts. The season of concerts featuring small ensembles feature principal musicians of the Orchestra. The Chamber series features a crossover of guest artist Lukas Vondracek, who is also a Masterworks soloist. The six-concert Great Escapes Series includes Pops and light classics with commentary by the conductor. Great Escapes concerts will be conducted by Jacomo Bairos, Christopher Confessore, Andrew Lane and Stefan Sanders.   

Sarasota Orchestra

[KUDOS ]  Eclipse Agency Takes Home Two FPRA Awards

Kim Livengood of the Eclipse Agency was honored with two awards during the Central West Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association’s (FPRA) recent award luncheon. She received an Image Award for her national media outreach efforts for Tervis to drive awareness of their Super Bowl Championship products and an Award of Distinction for promoting the International BMX Supercross World Cup. According to the FPRA, winners of these prestigious awards demonstrate the very best examples of innovation and planning in the field of Public Relations.  

Eclipse Agency

[SCOOP ]  Goodwill Launches Veteran's Mock Interview Program

Through a new program at Goodwill Manasota, area veterans and military families are being trained to prepare a resume, conduct job interviews and receive a business outfit to help them dress for success during the job hunt. The Mock Interviewing Program, which began in January, is a four-part monthly series that takes place on Wednesday and covers how to maneuver through a federal application, job interview training, resume training and live mock interviews.  Goodwill’s Veterans Services program, which is staffed by veterans, offers one-on-one guidance, access to employment preparation courses, educational and technical skills classes and work resources, all aimed at helping veterans to find meaningful employment so that they may advance beyond their military careers and regain a sense of pride, dignity and purpose. 

Goodwill Manasota

[SCOOP ]  It's IncrediBello at The Ringling this Summer

This summer promises to be a hair-raising event when Feld Entertainment brings Bello Nock back to the Sarasota stage June 13–July 29 at the Asolo Theater. Bello, the world-renowned, gravity-defying comedic daredevil with the unmistakable foot-high hair, returns to his hometown to engage audiences with his lovable personality, trademark humor and playful antics. An international talent, Bello was the youngest inductee into the Circus Ring of Fame, won the Gold Clown at the 2011 Monte Carlo International Circus Festival, the Walt Disney Creative Entertainment Award and top honors at festivals in France, Russia, Switzerland and Japan, including Grand Champion of the 2013 DAIDOGEI World Cup in Shizuoka. Tickets are $15 adults and $12 for children 12 and under.  

The Ringling

[KUDOS ]  Michael's On East Day

Michael's On East Co-Proprietors Michael Klauber and Philip Mancini accepted a proclamation from Mayor Willie Shaw on behalf of the City of Sarasota earlier this week during a City Commission meeting at City Hall. The proclamation commemorated the restaurateurs' three decades of success in the culinary world and commitment to the Sarasota community through their fine dining restaurant, boutique wine cellar and prominent catering division. The official 30th anniversary of the restaurant's founding is next week on April 27, 2017. The proclamation conclusion read: "Now, therefore, the City Commission of the City of Sarasota, Florida, and on behalf of the citizens of our community, takes great pride in recognizing April 17, 2017 as 'Michael's On East Day,' a day of special importance and worthy of the recognition of the citizens of the city of Sarasota."  

Michael's on East

[KUDOS ]  Sarasota YMCA Sharks Win 16th National Championship

The Sarasota YMCA Sharks Swim Team won the 2017 YMCA Short Course National Championships held in Greensboro, North Carolina on April 3–7. Over 70 teams competed in the four-day event which featured swimmers ages 12 to 18. The Sharks have won 16 YMCA National Championships since the late 70s and 2017 marks their third consecutive win. “We are proud of the hard work and dedication that our swimmers bring every day at practice and to our meets,” said Brent Arckey, head coach of the Sharks swim team. “This meet was particularly exciting as the Men’s 100 backstroke, Men’s 400 Medley Relay and Men’s 800 Free Relay broke National YMCA records!”  

Sarasota YMCA

[SCOOP ]  MCF Funds Bradenton Blue Foundation

In partnership with the City of Bradenton Police Department, Manatee Community Foundation has established the Bradenton Blue Foundation, a charitable fund that allows citizens to provide tax-deductible contributions supporting the needs of the police department. Charitable gifts to the fund support public health and safety, community outreach, officer wellness, training, officer recognition and support in the event of a catastrophic occurrence impacting the City of Bradenton Police Department personnel. The first grant from the fund will be $5,000 to provide officers with funding for Narcan, a medication used to block the effects of heroin and opioids, especially in cases of overdose. The drug has been in high demand to save lives as officers respond to calls within our community from those struggling with addiction. 

Manatee Community Foundation

SRQ Media Group

SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email

Copyright © 2024 by SRQ Media Group, 331 South Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236.
Powered by Sarasota Web Design | Unsubscribe

Read More

Where Oil Meets Water

Where Oil Meets Water

Phil Lederer | Mar 1, 2024

Freedom to Wander

Freedom to Wander

Laura Paquette | Mar 1, 2024

Drive and Dine

Drive and Dine

Laura Paquette | Mar 1, 2024

A Mesmerizing Journey

A Mesmerizing Journey

Barbie Heit | Mar 1, 2024