😁 Good

As we face staggering growth, Sarasota County Commissioners unanimously agreed to put The Environmentally Sensitive Land Protection Program (ESLPP) on the November ballot to extend the program through 2049.

☹️ Bad

DeSoto County voted to rezone 34 acres to build a massive AI data center, which could become the largest in the country. Where was the public input on water use, noise, pollution and greenhouse gases?

☹️ Bad

The new Congressional map, creating a redrawn District 16 in our region which sprawls from downtown St. Pete to Wauchula and north Manatee County, makes no sense and violates our 2010 Fair Districts amendment.

☹️ Bad

With zero community support, New College of Florida still managed to take over the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus during a late-night legislative budget session. So much for listening to constituents and also leaving thousands of students in the lurch.

🤔 Baffling

Controversial and entertaining provocateur Martin Hyde (who formerly ran for Sarasota City Commission and Congressman Vern Buchanan’s seat) has declared he’s going to run again as an independent for the Florida Legislature. Which state office? He hasn’t decided.