Culture Clash: The Observer's Slanderous Portrayal of Sarasota Food not Bombs
Submitted by Anonymous on May 15, 2009 - 1:37pm.
A few weeks ago the Sarasota Observer
published a grossly inaccurate article about the local Food not Bombs
chapter titled, "Culture Clash." Just like the last
article the Observer published about us, we believe this one was
published in order to misrepresent our group and to support the
interests of the rich and powerful in Sarasota. The Five Points
Neighborhood Association has been increasingly hostile to the fact
that homeless people sometimes gather in a public park near their
multi-million dollar condominiums. Police have also stepped up
harassment of both homeless people and Food Not Bombs volunteers in
Five Points Park. The message is clear: Poor people and groups which
aid the poor are not welcome in downtown Sarasota.Stadium Update - Call to E-mail Commissioners!
Submitted by Anonymous on May 12, 2009 - 9:39am.On Wednesday, May 13, the Sarasota County Commission will once again discuss funding a renovation of Ed Smith stadium to satisfy the demands of another professional baseball team. Your input is needed! But first….
Good News! Last week the city wisely decided against bonding stadium debt for the county, as it would expose the city to significant legal and financial risk. As we have shared with you all before, our Sarasota County charter requires a public referendum on any bond issue over twenty million. The county and city were planning to sidestep the referendum requirement by having the city issue the stadium bonds over twenty million, and executing an interlocal agreement that would have had the county promise the city Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax revenue.
Reclaim the Streets PARTY - May Day
Submitted by marlon on April 12, 2009 - 9:56pm.It's that time of year again, and we're going to throw another
street party for May Day. Bank bailouts, corporate welfare, and
outsourcing of labor threaten the security of the American worker. All
workers in the United States should join together in opposition of such
practices. This will not be a boring and sterile protest, it will be a
FUN PARTY, so keep that in mind when you show up. Try to bring any
musical instruments of noise making devices you have lying around.
Last year the party was a huge success. This year we can all help make it even better than last.
The party will begin at 5 Points Park (across from Selby Library) at 3PM on Friday May 1, 2009. We will be there, and hope you will too.
Three Activists Arrested at Miami Demonstration in Solidarity with Tristan and Palestine
Submitted by marlon on March 17, 2009 - 8:01am.March 16, 2009; Miami, FL - Three people were arrested today 
outside of the Israeli Consulate in Miami for protesting both U.S. and Israeli involvement in human rights violations in Palestine. Along with approximately thirty others, they demonstrated in solidarity with U.S. activist Tristan Anderson who was critically injured in Palestine last Friday when a tear-gas canister fired by Israeli military forces hit him in the head.
outside of the Israeli Consulate in Miami for protesting both U.S. and Israeli involvement in human rights violations in Palestine. Along with approximately thirty others, they demonstrated in solidarity with U.S. activist Tristan Anderson who was critically injured in Palestine last Friday when a tear-gas canister fired by Israeli military forces hit him in the head.Miami activist moves “homeless people into peopleless homes”
Submitted by Hannah on February 26, 2009 - 12:34pm.
On Wednesday, Feb16, Max Rameau, an activist based out of Miami, explained his approach to unbalanced housing in Florida: “moving homeless people into peopleless homes.”
Rameau is a co-founder of a Miami-based organization called Take Back the Land which is focused on actively combating government and bank foreclosures of land by identifying and occupying houses in Miami-Dade county that have been foreclosed. These houses are then used as homes for families and individuals who had previously been living without shelter.
Bicycle Parking Amendment Passed by Sarasota City Commission
Submitted by Anonymous on February 23, 2009 - 11:02pm.Dear friend of bicycling and walking in our community,
First, let me begin with some grrrrrrrreat news! On February 17, 2009, the Sarasota City Commission passed the Bicycle Parking Amendment to the Zoning Code. This amendment will place secure bicycle parking in all future city parking garages. With this amendment, Sarasota becomes one of the most, if not the most, progressive community in the state in bicycle parking.
Bicycle parking may lack the pizzazz of a rail-trail conversion but, if you want to see people commuting to work on a bicycle, they have to be able to park their bikes without expecting theft. This amendment is a major step in providing the necessary infrastructure for bicycle transportation.
First, let me begin with some grrrrrrrreat news! On February 17, 2009, the Sarasota City Commission passed the Bicycle Parking Amendment to the Zoning Code. This amendment will place secure bicycle parking in all future city parking garages. With this amendment, Sarasota becomes one of the most, if not the most, progressive community in the state in bicycle parking.
Bicycle parking may lack the pizzazz of a rail-trail conversion but, if you want to see people commuting to work on a bicycle, they have to be able to park their bikes without expecting theft. This amendment is a major step in providing the necessary infrastructure for bicycle transportation.
Sarasota Critical Mass
Submitted by Anonymous on January 25, 2009 - 2:16pm.Date/Time:
Friday, January 30, 2009 - 8:30pm
Location(s)
New College Parking Lot on Corner of US41 and General Spaatz
US 41 and General Spaatz
SarasotaUnited States
17 Everglades Earth First!ers Arrested at Barley Barber Swamp Stand-Off
Submitted by Anonymous on January 11, 2009 - 3:09am.
On
Saturday, January 10 of this year, seventeen Earth First! activists
were arrested for entering the Barley Barber Swamp to demand the
protection of Florida old growth ecosystems. The Barley Barber Swamp is one of the few remaining old growth cypress swamps in the Southeast. Several
of the bald cypress trees in Barley Barber are over a thousand years
old. They are the oldest in Florida and the entire Southeast region.
(click here to see a short video clip of Barley Barber and the 1100 year old bald cypress: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Premier Ignores the Demands of 78% of Sarasota's Voters Who Want IRV
Submitted by viva la revolucion on December 30, 2008 - 12:41am.Join the Coalition for Instant Runoff Voting in Florida, or CIRV:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CIRV-talk/
After Sarasota City voters approved the Instant Runoff Voting charter amendment--a system of voting explained in the attached video from Fairvote that allows more options for voters than just two, including majority winners--one year later, the City and voting system vendor haven't even had a phone conversation.
"It is disappointing. We worked so hard to talk to our neighbors, handing out leaflets explaining the system at precincts, getting our over 3000 of our neighbors to add their name officially in support of IRV on petitions, sending out informative brochures prior to the elections, and the voters got the issue and approved it; all 78% of them in record city turnouts," said Chairperson Anthony Lorenzo of the Coalition for Instant Runoff Voting in Florida (CIRV) when asked.
There were twelve other issues on the ballot.
Sarasota County and City have very high bicycle/pedestrian accident rates
Submitted by Anonymous on December 17, 2008 - 3:39pm.The Highway Safety Matrix, published by FDOT, shows that
Sarasota County and City have particularly high rates of bicycle and/or
pedestrian fatalities and injuries (F&I), relative to other types
of crashes and to other communities. The latest Matrix uses data from
Florida counties and cities, collected over the 5 years from 2002-2006,
to provide reliable rankings in ten different types of traffic crashes.
The county Matrix (attached) shows that Sarasota County, among 23
Florida counties with population of 200,000+, ranks 20th in total
F&I, from 10th to 23rd in other crash types, but 4th in bicycle
F&I and 18th in pedestrian F&I. The City of Sarasota, in the
Matrix of 95 Florida cities with population from 15,000-75,000
(attached), ranks 27th in total F&I, from 20th to 48th in other
crash types, but 5th in bicycle F&I and 15th in pedestrian F&I.
In raw numbers, 2006 statistics for Sarasota County show five
cyclists were killed and 124 injured while five pedestrians were killed
and 121 injured (statistics attached).
