SCANNING Sarasota PLANNING

Giant Texas-based builder DR Horton has been plagued with stormwater violations that have damaged communities near homes it has built in Florida, North Carolina, Alabama, and South Carolina, according to recent reports. A drainage pond created by DR Horton which the owner says has caused flooding and mold in her home. Photo from   TC Palm   In Sarasota, Horton proposes to build 170 homes on land that will require a stormwater pond and fill - which if not done properly could endanger surrounding communities. This issue is in addition to many other concerns raised by the proximity of this proposed development to the nesting area of an internationally renowned area of the Celery Fields ,which draws tourists from the world over. Does Sarasota County wish to risk a $70 million investment of our tax dollars to allow this developer to build on this land? Wouldn't it be preferable to find a benign, environmentally beneficial use for the property? Pensacola: D.R. Horton agrees to pay fine

  July 24  Event  Scan Sarasota  and  Cathy Cannon Antunes Fruitville Library  5:30 - 7:30 pm Duration: 2 hr Public     Since the Supreme Court's Citizen United decision, elections are flooding with money, some of which is impossible to trace. Join SCAN and Cathy Antunes, who has traced some of these sources back to their mysterious "homes."  Cathy has a wealth of data about this mysterious wealth, used to buy power in Sarasota and throughout the US. Read Cathy's latest Substack about her new research , then come to Fruitville Library July 24, 5:30 pm

For more on this topic, see the talk by Dr. Tiffany Troxler, who spoke at a SCAN meeting in June. Katie Brigham, HeatMap The Biden administration  loves a hub . There are the  hydrogen hubs , the  direct air capture hubs , and now there are the  tech hubs.  Established as a part of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, the $10 billion program has so far seeded 12 such hubs across the country. Four of these are focused on clean energy and sustainability, and one is located in the great state of Florida, which  recently passed legislation  essentially deleting the words “climate change” from state law. The  South Florida ClimateReady Tech Hub  did not, in the end, eliminate climate from its name. But while Governor Ron DeSantis might not approve, the federal government didn’t seem to mind, as the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration awarded the hub $19.5 million to “advance its global leadership in sustainable and resilient infrastructure.” “Regardless of how you f

    HOW TO EVALUATE CANDIDATES Elections present voters with important choices. How will these local races affect you and your community? It’s a time to consider the issues that you care about and decide which candidate you support. But how do voters go about comparing and then judging the candidates? All too often slogans, controversy and personality are all that come through in campaign materials. However, it is possible to move beyond style and toward substance. Check out these steps to help you judge a candidate and make the best choice for you on Election Day. Qualities Important to Consider in Selecting an Elected Representative When selecting an elected representative, the following qualities are important to consider: Integrity and Ethics: A track record of honesty, transparency, and ethical behavior, prioritizes the public interest over special interests and personal gain. Experience and Knowledge: Relevant experience in public service, community leadership, or a related field

  HOSPITAL BOARD REPUBLICAN PRIMARY  THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2024 - 5:30pm JACARANDA LIBRARY attend in person or watch virtually more info   view live on YouTube   SARASOTA SCHOOL BOARD FINAL ELECTION  WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2024 - 5:30pm JACARANDA LIBRARY attend in person or watch virtually more info   view live on YouTube COUNTY COMMISSION REPUBLICAN PRIMARY (DISTRICTS 1 & 3) MONDAY, JULY 22, 2024 - 5:30pm VIRTUAL ONLY more info     view live on YouTube SUBMIT A QUESTION FOR THE  CANDIDATE FORUMS Submit Questions for the Forums     All candidates appearing on the August ballot for these contests have been invited. Of the eight candidates vying for four Hospital Board seats, six have accepted the League’s invitation to date. Of the five candidates running for the two available seats on the School Board, only three candidates, Thomas Babicz, Liz Barker and Tom Edwards have accepted at this time.  According to the League’s website, lwvsrq.org, “All candidates are asked the same questions