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Public comment fiasco avoided – somewhat

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Editorial, Feature, Opinion.

John Burns is a First Amendment champion.
The Bradenton Beach Planning and Zoning Commission member asked the right questions
of the board’s attorney last week when the attorney tried to discourage the board from
taking public comment at the second of two hearings on a controversial hotel/restaurant/
retail project planned at the corner of Gulf Drive and Bridge Street.
As a result of Burns’ intervention, the board reversed its decision to close public comment
at the second hearing, and nine people opposed to the project were able to have their say
as a result.
Under the direction of its attorney, the board had announced at the project’s first hearing on Nov. 1 that public comment would be closed at the end of that hearing and would remain closed at the Nov. 13 hearing because it was a continuation of the Nov. 1 hearing.
The board’s attorney said it would “create an issue” to reopen public comment at the second hearing, explaining that more comments would require rebuttal from city staff and the project owners, one of whom is a city commissioner.
Public comment is designed to let officials know what their constituents think. If that’s
creating an issue, then so be it.
We will never know how many people stayed away from the Nov. 13 meeting, thinking it
would be futile to attend since they were told they would not be allowed to express their
views to the board, which is a recommending body to the city commissioners they elected.
That’s known as a prior restraint. A lot of law has been written about the illegalities of government action prohibiting speech before it is spoken. Books about it would fill all 106 rooms in the new hotel.
We don’t like it, and we’re glad the Planning and Zoning Board doesn’t like it either.

Historic Island house saved

A long time coming

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Editorial, Opinion.

Back in the dark ages of flower power and love beads, everyone in Manatee County knew these three things about Anna Maria Island.

Anna Maria was the rich end of the Island.

Holmes Beach was the residential, kids and dogs heart of the Island.

Bradenton Beach was the Island’s seamy underbelly, with our beloved Gregg Allman (God rest his soul) and everyone else and their brothers and sisters doing drugs funneled through Cortez.

But now it’s 2022.

The cheapest shack in Bradenton Beach is in the six digits. It ain’t seamy no more.

There are not nearly as many dogs and kids in Holmes Beach.

And Anna Maria is still rich, but so is the rest of the Island.

People in most of the rest of the world would look at us and marvel at the stocked shelves in Publix – even with pandemic shortages – the restaurant prices, the Bentleys, the yachts at Galati Marine, the $16 million house on the beach, the sheer wealth that is now AMI.

It’s not that we’re ungrateful to the tourists who have made our local businesses and real estate market thrive. Not at all.

But when it becomes front-page news that a 1927 cottage in Bradenton Beach has been saved instead of being replaced with a three-story vacation rental, it just makes us a little melancholy.

It’s been a long time coming, but the change has come.

Some good stuff

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Editorial, Opinion.

Just when you thought there wasn’t any good news for the local fishwrap, along comes some uplifting bits of information.

Just take a look at The Sun’s front page this week.

First, Island native Jason Sato wins top real estate salesperson in Manatee County for 2017.

Next, our local fire department honors the best of the best within its ranks, recognizing the amazing job these first responders do year in and year out.

And finally, the city of Anna Maria is included in Coastal Living Magazine’s 10 “happiest seaside towns in America.”

Not a bad collection of good news for one week.

Sato, whose office is on Pine Avenue, was recognized as the top real estate seller in Manatee County for the third year in a row. He grew up on the Island and after earning a college degree in business, he turned to real estate, opening Sato Real Estate with his mother, Barb.

Sato knows what buyers are looking for because he has been living the dream all his life. He said he is seeing more buyers purchase homes for their own use, a good trend for the future of the Island. He also acts as an ambassador to the buyers because of his local background. Nice going Jason.

West Manatee Fire Rescue also handed out its honors recently. Firefighter Jeff Philips was named Firefighter of the Year for adapting to his new assignment with the department’s marine unit. He also works at the fire school at Manatee Technical College.

Richard Losek, a 30-year veteran, was recognized as Officer of the Year for his dedication. Fire Chief Tom Sousa said Losek tries to move the department forward every day.

Buddy Bowen was honored with the Meritorious Service Award for his additional work as union representative and working on health and safety issues at the department.

These are people who work hard every day to make life on our Island paradise a little better.

And while some may agree or disagree with the “happiest seaside town in America” designation for Anna Maria, it’s all in good fun and should be taken as such.

As for the honorees in the other categories, a hearty congratulations to you and continued success. What you do enhances Anna Maria Island for everyone.

Umbrella

Reclaim your joy

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Editorial, Opinion.

Mass shootings, hurricanes, national anthem protests, divisive national politics, further attacks on home rule rights by the state Legislature, noisy neighbors, traffic jams, local political discord and more…

It’s enough to steal – or at least borrow without interest – one’s inner and outer joy. But at times like this, we must also remember all that’s right here on Anna Maria Island.

We cannot fully escape the horrors, challenges and minor inconveniences of modern-day life, but we can take a reprieve and soak in the best escapes this Island life still offers.

Spend some quiet time at one of the beautiful beaches that stretch from end to end. Take a seat in the sand, dip a toe in the surf, ponder nature’s beauty and humankind’s limited importance in the grand scheme of things.

Hop on the free trolley and ride from tip to tip taking in sights not fully appreciated when stuck behind the wheel of a car. And hop off from time to time to enjoy a snack, an ice cream cone, a soft drink, a smoothie or a glass of wine.

Go shopping and marvel at the multitude of retail offerings.

Go boating, fishing, kayaking, swimming, scuba diving, paddle boarding or parasailing, if that’s your thing.

Go walking, bicycling or take a long leisurely stroll with your dog or visit the dog park if that’s more your speed.

Call a friend, family member or neighbor you haven’t spent enough time with lately and get a good dose of quality time. Find a quiet place and catch up on the lost art of conversation while enjoying a cup of coffee or tea.

Go to a restaurant and feed your body, soul and spirit with a favorite dish.

Find a noisy place and get lost in live music, laughter and libations for a little while.

Take in a play by the Island Players, admire the art on display in the local galleries or sit and read a book in some serene and scenic spot.

Do whatever it takes to rekindle that sense of Island magic, and forget for a while things more troubling and tragic.