Halperin was hot at the Hyatt — and so was the audience
Last week, I went to hear Mark Halperin speak as the premiere event in Forum Truth’s 2010/2011 lineup of speakers … and he ROCKED THE HOUSE.
Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce Aligns with Off-Shore Drilling?
Sarasota H-T Political Reporter Jeremy Wallace reported on his Political Insider blog recently that the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce recently decided to endorse Doug Holder for State House Representative District 70.
I’m not sure what they’re smoking over there — but seriously? Holder voted last year for a bill that would allow oil drilling just beyond the three-mile mark off of areas like our gorgeous Siesta Key Beach.
Are the Chamber members forgetting that? The beaches are Siesta Key’s bread and butter — not to mention the horror of what we saw last summer further up the gulf. (more…)
Jack is baaaa—aaaaccck! Jack Gurney back at the Pelican Press … and not a moment too soon!
Jack Gurney — former Sarasota City Commissioner … and wasn’t he the Mayor for a while too? — is BACK … in a BIG way already! — at Sarasota’s Pelican Press newspaper. His front page cover story this week reports on whether or not “Mayor Kelly Kirschner violated state procurement guidelines” when he made a certain call to a Tampa parking meter vendor recently. Yikes and Yowza — read the piece here: Jack is Back and Hotter than Ever Reporting on our Local Mayor!
And not a moment too soon. (more…)
Yippee!!
Does that weather not feel FABULOUS outside this morning!!
Mark Halperin chats with MC about honesty and integrity … among other things
I had a nice chat with Mark Halperin this morning — he’s the editor-at-large and senior political analyst for Time magazine.
photo courtesy of HarpersCollins.com
Eat Prey Dove
So, yesterday morning, I woke to a cacophony of blue jay screeches outside my window, making their many different strident and fearful cries of warning. There may have been only 10 blue jays — but they sounded like 20 or 30.
I went out to investigate. And spotted this fellow on the wires near my bird feeder — the one meant to attract blue jays, cardinals, and similar small birds of song — not birds of prey! 
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Black and white and red all over
I know — it’s supposed to be “read” all over as in that old childhood joke — What’s black and white and read all over? A newspaper! But if you read this blog, you’ll have the context for why I’m writing it as red, not read.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the comments I received on this blog recently — questioning why I identified Sarasota’s new Police Chief as African American and why I felt it was important to comment about having a black individual in this role, particularly in Sarasota.
I answered some of the concerns in the comment section of that blog — you may want to check out readers’ and my comments here.
I do feel that sometimes, in a story, or in a discussion, a description of the people involved — their race, religious or political affiliation, their ethnicity, their socio-economic background, their marital status, even their sexual preferences — can be relevant and important and provide context.
In our culture right now what’s terribly, terribly missing nearly all the time is context. (more…)
Day of atonement
Lesson 101 on building and maintaining and building and maintaining — and building and maintaining — a successful blog? A blog that has relevance and holds the interest of its loyal, longtime, and new, potentially regular readers? (more…)
Welcome, Sarasota’s New Police Chief
Sarasota has a new Chief of Police and I couldn’t be happier. I’m so glad the powers that be came to their senses and hired Mikel Hollaway, who has been serving as Interim Chief since May.
Mikel Hollaway (photo courtesy of City of Sarasota website)
Sarasota’s Economic Development — Playing Poker with Taxpayers Dollars
I just read a fascinating article in the September issue of BIZ941 Magazine. The piece is by Johannes Werner — titled Incentive Poker: Sarasota’s aggressive game of creating jobs is hurting neighboring counties.
Here’s an outtake:
It seems we’ve swung from one extreme to the other — from bullying a small manufacturer to shower it with tax rebates and cash. (more…)
