America’s justice system shouldn’t be weaponized for the sake of politics. That hasn’t stopped either side from doing exactly that. While it’s easy to point to the national climate for the current morass, there’s plenty of examples at the local level of people asserting civil fines and political consequences aren’t enough. Increasingly, many want their opponents carted off in handcuffs. You can see it as campaign finance violations in Sarasota prompt calls of criminality.

First, let me say there’s reason election laws exist. I recognize as well as anyone campaign contribution databases at the state and federal level can be difficult to navigate even for seasoned experts. But the ability to trace donations and identify influence creates a safeguard on American democracy not present everywhere in the world. Considering the difficulty in passing any type of election and campaign reform, it’s a testament to our purest democratic ideals any level of transparency exists. Those who unethically work around or flat out violate ethics and elections statutes deserve fines and repercussions.

But let’s talk now about Eric Robinson. The outgoing School Board member holds a certain reputation in the political world. He’s been called “The Prince of Dark Money,” a title that irks him and generates morning calls any time the phrase gets published here. At any moment his name can be found on dozens of active political committees engaging in state politics. The Venice accountant notes you can trace all the money through records so the term “dark money” shouldn’t apply. But the waters remain murky if not truly opaque. It’s why complaints sometimes get filed with the state saying his treasury work runs afoul of the intention of transparency laws, though to Robinson’s credit he has successfully defended himself against those time and again.

But this year, someone went a step farther and accused Robinson of stepping out of the bounds of administrative hearings and into the realm of criminal law regarding financial reporting. The matter became public when State Attorney Ed Brodsky recused himself from an investigation because Robinson serves as his campaign treasurer; actually Robinson does the books for every nearby Republican state attorney, so the matter landed in the office of Democratic State Attorney Andrew Warren in Tampa. Brodsky, while not discussing details, hinted strongly the matter likely won’t result in any charges. But every day the investigation sits open, it allows attacks on Robinson and everyone connected to him.

Robinson is a Republican, but this isn’t a tactic used just by the left against the right. The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate three Democratic county commission candidates — Mark Pienkos, Cory Hutchinson and Alice White — for accepting donations in excess of local contribution limits. That’s accepting them, not writing the checks. Weeks after Republicans (rightfully) pointed out the donations ran afoul of county charter, the matter has yet to resolve. That’s despite the fact Pienkos, the only one of these candidates with much chance in November, immediately returned all the excessive money when the matter became public.

Robinson in August lost his seat on the School Board as opponents painted him as a tool of dirty politics. The county candidates may all go down in November if voters feel their ignorance of campaign contribution limits constitutes a disqualifying offense. Fine. Voters may reject candidates for any reason they choose.

But it’s wrong to turn the screws of law enforcement to exaggerate issues for merely the chance to dismiss opponents not merely as mischiefs but outlaws. We shouldn’t make candidates risk arrest if they dare venture into political activity. It undermines democracy and deters the very type of honorable service this well-regulated process intends to produce. And it’s why good candidates seem so hard to find.

Jacob Ogles is senior contributing editor for SRQ MEDIA. 

Last month, I shared my belief creativity is the path that will lead us through this pandemic. In the coming months, I will highlight areas of life and the economy in which creativity is not only keeping us going, but also driving innovations that may well remain as we emerge from this crisis. As Clay Lord, vice president of Americans for the Arts, said, “We know that there can be no recovery without creativity. On the other side of all of this, we cannot simply end up with the systems and structures that we had before.”

Nationally, arts and culture adds $877 billion to the annual economy, supporting 5.1 million American workers. The arts account for 4.5 percent of the annual GDP. An Americans for the Arts study commissioned by the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County shows the nonprofit arts and cultural community in Sarasota generates $295 million in total economic activity and supports 7,445 full-time equivalent jobs. Plus, the plethora of arts and culture in this community distinguishes Sarasota from other Florida beach towns. However, according to a USA Today study, from April to July 2020, this sector lost about 2.7 million jobs and $150 billion in revenue nationally.

These losses are felt in local communities. More than 100,0000 theaters, galleries, performance venues and arts organizations closed their doors. The lights of Broadway are dark, and will remain so until 2021. New York’s Metropolitan Opera cancelled its 2020-21 season. Locally, most of the performing arts groups cancelled their seasons, at least through the end of this year. Most movie theaters remain closed, while television viewers are being subjected to a steady dose of reruns. Some galleries and museums reopened, though with comprehensive health and safety protocols in place.

Artists found ways to adapt. Most are swapping physical experiences for virtual ones. According to Barbara Stcherbatcheff for weforum.org, “Many artists have responded to this challenge with the kind of ingenuity you would expect from highly creative minds.”

Museums and galleries, including Sarasota Museum of Art of Ringling College and Galleries at Ringling College, transitioned from in-person exhibits to virtual ones. As a result, these organizations not only continued to engage with guests, but also expanded access to those who would not otherwise have been able to participate in the art and cultural offerings these institutions provide. These organizations are thinking creatively to deliver in-person experiences in a post-COVID world, considering tools like timed ticketing to help keep guests healthy. Even as plans for a return to normalcy begin, as they are for the Sarasota Art Museum (which reopened to the public on Oct. 16), the unexpected benefits from the necessary transition to virtual exhibits and experiences mean they are likely here to stay.

Musicians redefined live performance to stay connected to their art and their fans. The musicians of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra used technology to record a virtual rendition of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” from their homes. “We’re adjusting to a new reality and we’ll have to find solutions in order to support each other,” the musicians said in their video, which received more than 2 million views in less than two weeks.

Artists have reimagined how they deliver, and how we fans experience, arts and cultural events. Their creativity has expanded access to art in ways we would not have considered a year ago. Beyond keeping us connected, these new ways of bringing performance and art to the world made it possible for more people to feel the joy and inspiration that come with experiencing art. Maintaining, and even building upon, these creativity-fueled innovations that have expanded accessibility to art will benefit not only artists and arts organizations, but society at large 

John Killacky, legislator in the Vermont House of Representatives, put these lessons learned in perspective, saying, “We are in this liminal moment imagining a post-pandemic art world. The opportunity in this crisis will be lost, if, in hindsight, we simply rush to put everything back together the way it was.”

Dr. Larry Thompson is president of Ringling College of Art & Design. 

Screencap of Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra.

Recent revelations regarding incumbent County Commissioner Mike Moran serving as Executive Director of the Florida PACE Funding Agency deserve attention. Does it serve citizens for a public official to have a lucrative job with a business which requires that same official’s approval and oversight? The answer to that question used to be “absolutely not.” The conflict of interest is obvious. Today, there are enough people profiting from or rationalizing such arrangements, that others may find themselves thinking this is normal. It’s not.

PACE stands for Property Assessed Clean Energy. Property Assessed Clean Energy is a way to attain money for “clean energy” home improvements. One PACE financier lists 84 improvements which can be financed with a PACE loan. The list includes ceiling fans, skylights, insulating carpeting and padding, french glass doors, water heaters, and more, along with hyped solar improvements.  

Here’s the important part: Unlike a loan, funding through PACE is acquired by putting a tax lien on your home, and payment is collected through your property taxes. That’s why PACE requires the approval of local government to operate in any jurisdiction. In 2017, PACE was approved with three affirmative votes from County Commissioners, which included Moran. Commissioners opposed cited concerns like those outlined by FHA. Residential PACE financing is only available in three states: California, Florida and Missouri. 

A PACE tax lien becomes the first lien on the property, taking priority over the mortgage.

According the Federal Housing Finance Agency, “underwriting for PACE programs results in collateral-based lending [in this case, the collateral is your home]  rather than lending based upon ability-to-pay..” Sound familiar? Think about the no-doc mortgages in the early 2000’s. FHA goes on to say that PACE financing is absent “the Truth-in-Lending Act and other consumer protections” and there is “uncertainty as to whether the home improvements actually produce meaningful reductions in energy consumption.”

A PACE tax lien remains with the property—not with the original borrower—if it hasn't been paid off by the time a property is sold. A local mortgage broker shared that he is seeing mortgage lenders refuse to lend for a property with an existing PACE lien, making it difficult for PACE borrowers to sell. If a PACE borrower falls on hard times and is making their mortgage payments but unable to pay the PACE lien when property taxes come due, they can lose their home to foreclosure. This has happened to PACE borrowers. PACE loans sound simple, but the truth (and risk) is complicated.

Commissioner Moran is paid $150,000 a year to serve as Executive Director of Florida PACE Funding Agency, considerably more than his $91,821 County Commissioner salary. How can we trust a Commissioner to look out for constituents when he is paid handsomely to look out for PACE? In the County’s PACE hearings, Moran argued against consumer protections for PACE borrowers. Perhaps, with this election, it’s time for Sarasota to let the fox out of the hen house, and let Moran work full-time for PACE.

Cathy Antunes is host of The Detail. 

Picture courtesy SCGov.net

As a City Manager, I probably pay more attention to the Federal Government than most people because a local official’s ability to help communities flourish goes up or down based on the laws, policies and economic reality as controlled or influenced by the federal government.   At the local level, we see and experience what works well, and what is not working.  We, at the grassroots, usually have to pick up the pieces when aspects of our society aren't functioning as well as they could or should.   

At the Federal level, the President sets the aspirations and civic tone of our country.  I have managed cities under 7 presidents, and observed their strengths, weaknesses, priorities, and how unforeseen events they had to respond to, and even how their personalities, have impacted our communities. It is often subtle, yet very real.   

Most of the major candidates and Presidents I have worked under in our governmental arrangement have visited the cities I was managing.  Although City Managers are nonpolitical, because we work with whoever gets elected, I have often helped locals welcome candidates and presidents when they visited, and have been in the local banquet rooms or field houses to hear Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Joe Biden here in 2012, and Donald Trump in 2016. 

Local police agencies also coordinate with the Secret Service to assure their safety.  I am only mentioning this because we are just over a week away from what many, myself included, believe is the most important election in the past 40 plus years.  The more people who vote, from all walks of life, the more confident we can all be that our country will be moving forward based on the collective wisdom and needs of the people and important national priorities.  That is how representative democracy works.   

COVID-19 may make voting a concern for some. But you should know that smart voting safety measures have been put in place. We have outstanding, dedicated people supervising our elections.Ron Turner in Sarasota County, and Mike Bennett in Manatee County, are experienced professionals who, with their staffs, will make sure your vote is counted and that voting can be done safely.

I want to especially urge employers to do whatever you can to flex time or schedules to help make it possible for your employees to vote, including early in-person voting, to help minimize lines. The greater the vote, the greater our potential. It is time to do what you can do for your country, our country. Vote. I look forward to seeing you at the polls. 

Tom Barwin is Sarasota City Manager. Email him at Thomas.barwin@sarasotafl.gov.    

Thomas.barwin@sarasotafl.gov