Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

'Trigger Leads' becoming a new enemy for home buyers

https://baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2...r-home-buyers-

A bill proposed in the U.S. House that would block what is known as “trigger leads” is creating debate between consumers and the financial sector.

Currently it is legal for companies to buy targeted data from major credit ratings reporting agencies
All three major credit reporting agencies are currently selling their data in batches to companies that tailor marketing and advertising campaigns to consumers.

The sale of that data and what companies are doing with it has created a problem known as trigger leads.

Credit reporting data is used by companies to find “triggers” in credit reports, allowing companies to target consumers that have just applied for new credit.

In the case of Brice Tortorici and her husband, they received more than 100 unsolicited calls.

The couple was in the process of selling their home in Bradenton and buying a new home in Tampa.

Tortorici says minutes after their credit was pulled for a new mortgage, the calls began.

“Our phones were blowing up. I had well over 100 calls in only two days,” said Tortorici. “They were back to back to back to back, like there was almost no break between calls.”

A new act proposed in the U.S. House, Protecting Consumers from Abusive Mortgage Leads Act, would block companies from mining data that is leading to trigger leads.

On its face, the bill would fight back against the hundreds of calls some consumers get from telemarketers.

However, some argue the bill would have a chilling effect on companies across all areas of advertising and marketing.

As the bill is still pending in Congress, Tortorici is hopeful lawmakers will eventually push the bill through, helping other consumers avoid what they faced this fall before closing on their new home.

“I think any legislation is a step in the right direction,” Tortorici said. “There needs to be something in place protecting homebuyers as they go through this process.”

There are two websites available to all consumers that can help mitigate telemarketing and trigger lead calls:

https://www.optoutprescreen.com/

and:

https://www.donotcall.gov/

[wondermint2]

Florida is one of the most dangerous states to drive during the holidays, study says

Most travelers during the holidays are driving. There's also typically an increase in drowsy and impaired driving.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfV7cnHsFNk

[wondermint2]

This is a letter from the 'Letters to the Editor' column in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

For the full column with more letters:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/gol...cf3c4d58&ei=24

Bobby Jones city golf course too costly for regular folk

New Bobby Jones course for rich folk

The story Dec. 17 on the reopening of the Bobby Jones Golf Course and Nature Park made it sound like the new course was meant for all Sarasota residents. Nothing could be further from the truth.

It was built so the rich folk of Sarasota could have an exclusive place to play on the taxpayers’ dime.

Fact 1: Playing 18 holes there could cost $100 or more, depending on the day. Not exactly priced for the average golfer.

Fact 2: An advisory committee of regular patrons of the course was appointed to make recommendations on the renovations. Not one of the committee’s suggestions was followed. They were neither seen nor heard by the powers that be.

Fact 3: Prior to closing the course for renovation, several organized groups played there regularly: The Wednesday group consisted mostly of white players, while the Monday group was mostly Black players. Guess which group was invited back to play? The Wednesday group said no, too costly.

The new course was designed for rich folk.

[wondermint2]

Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee hands out holiday meals for 600 families

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/me...cf3c4d58&ei=27

Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee gave away enough ham dinners for 600 families on Monday.

The event was originally supposed to start at 4 p.m. at the Manatee Food Bank in Bradenton but instead started at 3 p.m. because of demand, according to CEO and President Maribeth Phillips. Phillips said cars lined up around the building starting at noon.

Phillips said after COVID, they thought the need for help would decrease. Instead, she said it continues to grow especially now with inflation.

“First it was gas, then it was the housing cost, you know the rental prices going up. I continue to hear people say my rent just went up $400. You know, people aren’t, they just can’t afford to go out and pay for food which is also so much more expensive,” said Phillips.

[wondermint2]

Masonite buys Venice-based PGT Innovations

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/tops...cf3c4d58&ei=44

Masonite, a major manufacturer of doors and windows has purchased Venice-based PGT Innovations in a $3 billion cash and stock deal.

Last week, PGT Innovations rejected a bid from Miter Brands, according to Reuters.

Under the terms of the agreement, PGT Innovations shareholders will receive $41.00 over each PGT Innovations share they own, comprised of $33.50 in cash and $7.50 in common shares of Masonite.

[wondermint2]

Appellate court rules for Gran Paradiso residents in North Port irrigation fee lawsuit

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/real...cf3c4d58&ei=49

A state appellate court sided with Gran Paradiso Property Owners in their suit against the West Villages Improvement District over a 100-year contract for irrigation water that the residents say is both too long and too high.

A three-judge panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal heard arguments on Dec. 5 and issued a unanimous affirmation eight days later of a verbal ruling by 12th Judicial Circuit Judge Hunter W. Carroll for a temporary injunction against the West Villages Improvement District using a rate schedule outlined in a 2018 agreement with Gran Paradiso.

In his ruling last Feb. 9, Carroll called one aspect of the district's irrigation contract "obscene."

Since then any money homeowners paid for irrigation water exceeding $0.39 per 1,000 gallons per customer should have been going into an escrow account while a lawsuit over the dispute proceeds.

“At the end of the day, we want what we always wanted: a fair product for a price that’s fair and reasonable," Steve Glunt, president of the Gran Paradiso Property Owners Association, told the Herald-Tribune.

Much of the 30 minutes of argument centered on whether residents were given proper notice to comment during a Sept. 13, 2018 public hearing where that rate structure was adopted.

The West Villages district is a special government created by the state Legislature to charge fees to property owners in the district to build and maintain infrastructure, primarily on property once known as the Thomas Ranch.

Four of the five board members are appointed by the developer, while the fifth – currently Gran Paradiso resident John Meisel – is elected by residents.

The district includes both Wellen Park within the city of North Port, and Winchester Ranch, which is being developed on portions of the former ranch in unincorporated Sarasota County.

Special districts in Florida are initially controlled by the developer building the subdivision, but as homeowners buy in they eventually gain control.

The WVID is currently facing lawsuits over the method used to transition control of the five-member board to and a decision to levy an assessment on all property owners that use irrigation water to pay the district’s legal fees in the Gran Paradiso irrigation fee lawsuit.

[wondermint2]

Southwest Airlines fined record $140 million for last year’s holiday travel fiasco

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/new...cf3c4d58&ei=54

As we head into one of the busiest travel weeks of the holiday season, the The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced a record $140 million fine against Southwest Airlines.

The fine is for violating consumer protection laws nearly a year ago when millions of passenger were stranded during holiday travel following severe weather.

The DOT said the penalty is 30 times larger than any previous fine for violating consumer protection rules.

Passengers could get $75 for delays under Southwest settlement

“Today’s action sets a new precedent and sends a clear message: if airlines fail their passengers, we will use the full extent of our authority to hold them accountable,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a news release.

The DOT said Southwest didn’t provide enough customer assistance, give prompt flight change notifications, or quickly provide reimbursement or refunds in a timely manner.

[wondermint2]

Humphris Park in Venice closed for repairs following weekend storms

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/to...cf3c4d58&ei=64

Wind and tidal action from last weekend's storms damaged Humphries Park at the South Jetty, prompting the closure of the park at 2000 Tarpon Center Drive both Sunday and Monday.

The city ‘s Public Works department is scheduled to evaluate the flooding damage and make repairs.

The South Jetty walkway has been closed due to pedestrian hazards and other damage from Hurricane Idalia.

The Venice Municipal Fishing Pier remained open and trees recently installed on West Venice Avenue were fine, according to a city news release.

[wondermint2]

Final 44th Avenue extension looks to reduce traffic from Bradenton to Lakewood Ranch

For full article:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/final-44t...200814723.html

With a ceremonial groundbreaking, Manatee County Government officials on Monday officially launched a three-year project to extend 44th Avenue East over Interstate 75.

It is the sixth and final phase of the thoroughfare project, connecting Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch and the neighborhoods in between.

It is also the most complex and expensive phase, costing an estimated $160 million.

“It’s going to be an amazing reliever for all of Manatee County,” Manatee County At-Large Commissioner Jason Bearden, said in a news release.

“This has been in the works for decades, and now we are at the point where we are going over I-75,” said Bearden.

The first phase of the 44th Avenue East extension started in 2013 between U.S. 41 and 19th Street Court East. The most recent phase included a new bridge over the Braden River, which opened in August.

44th Avenue could reduce traffic

The project has been designed to handle 36,000 vehicles per day and to reduce demand on parallel thoroughfares — State Road 64 and State Road 70 — by a combined 21,000 vehicles per day.

The final segment of the 44th Avenue East extension project includes approximately 1.9 miles of new roadway, starting just west of I-75 and extending over I-75 to the intersection of 44th Avenue East and Solutions Lane on the east side of I-75 in Lakewood Ranch.

Lena Road will also be extended about a quarter mile south of the roundabout. This added section will connect 44th Avenue East with the existing segment of Lena Road to the south.

Estimated completion date: spring 2026.

[wondermint2]

Resort opposition: Island heritage threatened

For full article:

https://www.islander.org/2023/12/res...land-heritage/

The question: Are they history or will they be history?

Before any vertical construction can take place for a planned 106-room Bridge Street Resort in Bradenton Beach, existing structures must be demolished, a process that began in mid-December with the teardown of the former Joe’s Eats and Sweets building at 219 Gulf Drive S.

City commissioners Dec. 7 voted to approve a planned development allowing for the resort project, a decision that sparked concern among preservationists who said some buildings in the design plans are registered on the Florida Master Site File.

The site file contains an inventory of historical and archaeological resources and properties considered vital to the past and possible focal points for preservation efforts.

Christine Johnson, part of the opposition to the proposed resort — a venture spearheaded by developer Shawn Kaleta and Bradenton Beach businessman-Commissioner Jake Spooner — cited the irreversible loss of the city’s cultural heritage as a point of dispute.

Buildings in the development plans include eight properties on Bridge Street, Gulf Drive and Third Street South.