Diana raised $9788.00 as of last report. Shannon raised $6928.70. I raised $946.32.

How much did you contribute? Don't be ashamed to tell yourself the truth! How much do you think came from outside of the district?

Diana is straight outspoken, a self-proclaimed "liberal" - "honest" she calls it. She declared that she will directly raise the tax rate by whatever it takes to fund Police pensions, Police are "special risk". She said she was going to fund downtown and the arts to the hilt as well, agreeing, with four or five others, to the suggestion that $100 million to the arts would return $700 million to the community. Not to forget trees, 280 which she has already hand-watered with a bucket herself. Finally, a few mills from you and me to encourage "business", such as her friend's bed and breakfast in Laurel Park.

Shannon is more circumspect, thus his plan requires a lot of thought to understand. To explain it in more direct words than he, the neighborhood is prompted to identify eyesore properties within it that are then redeveloped in the grandest of grand scale "absolutely wonderful".

We need jobs in Sarasota – BUT we have to be careful that what we support with public money to create jobs, actually WILL create jobs. Most of the proposals only create one job, the usually lush job created for the person proposing the proposal! OK, sometimes the proposal will include a receptionist and maybe even an assistant – but the rest will be temps from out of town who never actually live here. That and a lawyer or two.

Several years ago, after endless discussion and I dare say conflict, this body approved a site plan for the ever Notorious School Avenue Project. Although approved, the project is yet to be even started. The buildings remaining on the site are evidently unsecured and frequented by underworld figures of various description.

This attractive nuisance has alarmed the homeowners who live nearby.