Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Sarasota County Feb 08 Weekly Crime Report: 687 Incidents and 27 Crime Stories

For full article & crime map:

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/33272...-crime-stories

During the last week, a total of 687 crime cases were reported in Sarasota County. The majority of these cases were classified as 'Suspicious Situation', amounting to 355 incidents, which constituted over half of the total crime cases.

This was followed by 64 cases categorized as 'Other', 53 cases of 'Disturbance', and 44 cases related to 'Domestic' issues.

Other notable categories included 'Theft' with 38 cases, 'Assault' with 37 cases, 'Trespass' with 30 cases, 'Arrest' with 24 cases, 'Vandalism' with 22 cases, and 'Burglary' with 19 cases.

The least number of cases were reported under 'Hit & Run' with only 1 incident.

These statistics offer a glimpse into the types of crimes that are most prevalent in the place, with 'Suspicious Situation' being the most common, suggesting a concerning level of uncertainty and potential risk among the residents.

[wondermint2]

Sarasota's self-proclaimed 'Annuity King' could have bail revoked over GoFundMe donations

For full article:

https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/...s/72535587007/

Sarasota's self-proclaimed "Annuity's King" said he will be appearing in court on Wednesday to discuss his right to have a GoFundMe account soliciting donations to help pay for legal fees during his appeals process.

Phillip Wasserman, 67, was sentenced on Jan. 31 to 15 years in federal prison followed by three years supervised release after he was found guilty in May on multiple counts of wire fraud and mail fraud, as well as conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. Wasserman also pleaded guilty to evasion of payment of income taxes.

Wasserman is out on bond but is expected to surrender to the U.S. Marshals by 2 p.m. on Feb. 23 to be escorted to a federal prison to begin his sentence. The hearing Wednesday is regarding the government seeking to revoke Wasserman's bond, according to Wasserman.

[wondermint2]

There might be a paywall for this article but it's the only source I found. The Bradenton Herald offers full free access for 48 hrs. if you provide your name, email & answer 1 question.

Florida builders seek millions in ‘Live Local’ tax breaks, build few affordable units

Read more at:

https://www.bradenton.com/news/state...285261532.html

When Florida lawmakers passed legislation to create thousands of affordable housing units last year, it was considered long-overdue relief for low- and middle-income Floridians. The Live Local Act, as it was called, was a top priority for the Senate president, and no one blanched at its $711 million price tag.

Less than a year later, communities across the state are in uproar. Local officials complain of proposed developments ruining the character of neighborhoods. Some say they’ve lost control of local planning. And the law has allowed developers to avoid millions in local taxes without providing much affordable housing for lower-income residents.

A report on one of the bill’s key components shows that fewer than 500 new apartments meriting tax breaks are affordable for Floridians earning 80% or less of the median income. Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, and other state lawmakers have recognized the outrage. The Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a “glitch” bill addressing some — but not all — of the complaints. The legislation still has to pass the House.

[beach43ofus]

Florida considering reducing property taxes, then eliminating them totally, & replacing the lost revenue w/ consumption taxes

https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/fl...0being%20taxed.

Initally, the State would not tax the first $100k of property value for an individual, or the first $250k for 65+'ers.

While this is implemented, they'd study eliminating ALL property taxes.

The bad news is, they'd replace the lost $'s w/ a consumption tax, which would shift tax burden from resident homeowners to tourists & part-timers.

[wondermint2]

Lakewood Ranch High School shines at national, regional dance team competitions

For the full Vin's People column from today's Sarasota Herald-Tribune:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/oth...e7be5fff&ei=27

January was a big month for Lakewood Ranch High’s Silver Stars.

The LRHS dance team went on a roll, taking third in varsity pom and fourth in jazz at the Universal Dance Association Nationals in mid-January at ESPN Wild World of Sports. Two weeks later, coach Hayley Milne’s squad captured first place in varsity pom at the Dance Team Union Regionals at Seminole High.

[wondermint2]

North Port Night Out rescheduled for Feb. 16 due to weather

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/new...e7be5fff&ei=63

The North Port Police Department will now be hosting North Port Night Out on Feb. 16 because of inclement weather, the free event will be hosted from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. North Port Police Department and First Responders will be at the event for residents to meet and learn about how they serve the community.

It will be held at North Port City Green, 4970 City Hall Blvd, North Port, FL, 34287.

The event will feature activities for residents of all ages including:

Public Safety Demos

Static Displays

K-9 Demo

Music

Laser Tag

Entertainment

Food

Bounce Houses

Vendors

[wondermint2]

Summit offers residents chance to quiz Manatee representatives

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...presentatives/

Could your community use a garden? Do you have a question about your utility bill?

Manatee County staff members and Commissioner Ray Turner say they are ready to answer all questions from residents.

The county is hosting a Neighborhood Summit at the Lakewood Ranch Library 9:30 a.m. to noon Feb. 23. Only 60 spots are available and over half are filled already. Registration is required to attend. Visit MyManatee.org, call 749-3030, or email neighborhoodconnections@mymanatee.org to register.

The half-day program offers networking before and after the Q&A session. It’s a chance to meet people from other neighborhoods and interact with county staff members. The school district, Manatee 311 and the Natural Resources Department, among others, will have booths set up.

“I’ll allot probably an extra hour at the end of this for a Q&A if people have bigger concerns,” Turner said. “Big concerns that residents have right now are the speed of the growth, the environment, things like that. It doesn’t matter what party they vote for, everybody has those same concerns.”

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

With Arroyo in minority again, Sarasota city commissioners approve expansion of vacation rental program to mainland

For full article:

https://sarasotanewsleader.com/with-...m-to-mainland/

Taking their second, required vote on the proposed ordinance, the Sarasota city commissioners this week approved the expansion of the city’s vacation-rental program from the barrier islands to the mainland.

Vice Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch made the motion during the board’s regular meeting on Feb. 5; Commissioner Debbie Trice seconded it.

Only Commissioner Erik Arroyo voted “No,” contending — as he has during past discussions of the proposal — that the measure violates private property rights and that it hinders residents from generating extra income they need by renting their homes to visitors through online rental platforms, such as Airbnb.

Ahearn-Koch emphasized that the expansion of the program will provide safer conditions for tourists, as a home registered for vacation rentals must undergo an initial inspection and then annual inspections.

“It’s about keeping people safe,” she stressed. “We swear an oath to safety, and, for me, that’s the biggest piece of this … that we are keeping those folks that come to our city safe.”

Her primary interest in expanding the regulations to the mainland, Mayor Liz Alpert said, is that the registration process for the owners of vacation rental properties includes the requirement that one or more persons be designated as points of contact in emergencies.

As Hannah Chabica, a city code compliance specialist, pointed out during a staff presentation that day, those individuals are responsible for responding to emergencies within one hour of being notified of problems. “This information is available to all city officials,” Chabica noted, “and will be also made available to the public. [It] gives neighbors a better chance to be able to reach out to who is responsible [in the event of an emergency].”

Moreover, Alpert stressed, a vacation rental is “a commercial enterprise. … And any business in the city has some sort of regulation and registration. It’s really no different from that.”

Commissioner Debbie Trice concurred with those points.

A machete instead of a scalpel

Of the 14 people who addressed the commissioners during the hearing this week, 10 expressed opposition to the ordinance. All but one of those, by count of The Sarasota News Leader, is engaged in the vacation rental business.

Max Brandow, vice president of advocacy and consumer programs for the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee, indicated in his remarks that he had encouraged the opponents to appear at the hearing.

Michael White, an artist who said he has lived in the city for 30 years — and who added that he has won the “Super Host” designation from Airbnb — stressed to the commissioners, “We’re just getting by, a lot of us. I use Airbnb to get by, to afford my home. … Don’t need more regulation and fees.”

More details here:

Vacation rental ordinance expanded citywide

The registration period for short-term rentals in Sarasota will be July 1 to Oct. 31, and the new law will go into effect Jan. 1, 2025.

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...nded-citywide/

Beginning July 1, owners of vacation rental homes throughout the city will be required to register their properties with the city of Sarasota. At its Feb. 5 meeting, the City Commission by a 4-1 vote approved on second reading expanding the ordinance from the barrier islands to citywide.

Likening the ordinance to killing an insect with a sledgehammer, Commissioner Erik Arroyo cast the lone dissenting vote.

Owners of short-term rentals can register their properties July 1-Oct. 31 with the ordinance going into effect Jan. 1, 2025. The cost to register is $500, which includes an initial safety inspection by the city, with an annual renewal fee of $350 and a re-inspection fee, should one be necessary, of $100.

In September, 2023, commissioners approved an increase of those fees on properties under the prior vacation rental ordinance in an attempt to recover costs to the city. Those fees could be pre-empted by legislation working its way through Tallahassee. Senate Bill 280, which was approved by that chamber on Feb. 1, would limit local governments to an application fee of $150 and a renewal fee of $50.

During the Jan. 2 commission meeting, City Attorney Robert Fournier said the legislation could be invalidated by legal precedent.

“There is case law that says when you have a regulatory fee like this, the local government is entitled to recoup its costs, so it's definitely contrary to that,” he said.

Under the city’s prior ordinance, which covered the barrier islands only, there were 135 properties registered. Software employed by the city indicates more than 700 homes operated as vacation rentals on the city’s mainland, about which residents have complained about disruptions to the ease of enjoyment of their properties.

The ordinance does not apply to owner-occupied homes that offer rooms for short-term rent. On first reading on Jan. 2, commissioner-recommended changes to the ordinance include:

[wondermint2]

Coast Guard: captain went down with ship near Anna Maria Island

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2024/02/0...outputType=amp

According to the Coast Guard, searches have ceased for the man driving the 28-foot-boat that capsized and crashed off the coast of Anna Maria Island.

Emergency crews rescued two people and brought them to EMS. The crash happened about 35 miles off the coast.

The Coast Guard searched for 11 hours but gave up shortly before 9 p.m. on Feb. 9.

If you have any information, call Sector St. Pete at 727-824-7506.

[wondermint2]

Season of Sharing raises more than $4 million for Sarasota, Manatee residents in crisis

For full article:

https://www.newsbreak.com/sarasota-f...ents-in-crisis

Following what was possibly one of its most critical fundraising campaigns ever, this year's Season of Sharing campaign saw $4.21 million in community donations – the second-highest amount raised in the fund’s 24-year history.

By the season’s close at the end of January, more than 2,600 contributions had been made by donors of all means during the three-month campaign, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County announced.

The donations included $700,000 in matching gifts by The Patterson Foundation, which commits every year to giving $100,000 for each block of $500,000 raised from the community for Season of Sharing.

This year was only the second time that donations topped $4 million since the Community Foundation and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune launched Season of Sharing in 2000 to help prevent homelessness.

The $4.21 million total was just shy of the $4.4 million record set two years ago.

As in the past, the monies will be distributed year-round through area nonprofits to residents in crisis in Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto and Charlotte counties. The assistance covers one-time emergency expenses in rent or mortgage payments, utilities, childcare or vehicle repairs.