Great Event at WSLR / Fogartyville coming in February

 

A WSLR show that cares about Our Changing Environment

From Tom Matrullo:

Earlier this year I was a guest on a local low-power FM radio show: Our ChangingEnvironment on WSLR. 

Jono Miller

The hosts, Julie Morris and Jono Miller have been scouring the region to find subject matter experts to share their insights and knowledge with the WSLR community. Where else are you going to hear about local seagrasses, sea turtles, and nesting shorebirds, or how Siesta Key and East County are changing? Experts have brought listeners up to speed about local flooding, Sarasota Citizen Action Network, native landscaping, and trends in backyard fruit trees. These one-hour shows are archived and available from WSLR at https://archive.wslr.org/?qtajax=true.  My show aired on April 30th.

Julie Morris

It doesn’t cost much to support truly local radio -- being a LISTENER sponsor works out to ten cents a day. Your membership not only supports Our Changing Environment, but also the other public affairs programming and great music (and the Fogartyville venue). 

In order to become a member, go to WSLR.org, find the DONATE button at the top, choose an amount and fill out your contact information, click on News and Public Affairs, and then, on the drop down menu, choose Our Changing Environment!

(The WSLR Fall membership drive continues through Nov. 19) 

History in the Un-Making: Sarasota teachers talk back

 

Giving Challenge Short List

Giving Challenge 2020 offers a 24-hour opportunity for us to recognize 700 amazing nonprofit organizations in our area. Just a few:

Audubon: protecting and preserving our public lands at the Celery Fields.

Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast: preserving priceless lands and waters in perpetuity.

The Multicultural Health Institute: protecting and preserving equal healthcare in Sarasota's underserved communities.

Peace Education and Action Center: educational and resources hub for small local coalitions.

Suncoast Waterkeeper: took on Sarasota's failing wastewater system, sued and won. Our water will be cleaner thanks to this group.

WSLR + Fogartyville: protecting and preserving progressive thinking, great music and community vision.

Giving Challenge 2020 Home Page

Citizen Power at Fogartyville

This past Tuesday evening, Cathy Antunes spoke with Pat Rounds and Bill Zoller, both longtime advocates for sensible planning and for the public good. The topic was Single Member Voting Districts: how the new electoral structure put in place by a citizens' amendment will actually work in the 2020 election. 

Alice White District 5

Fredd Atkins

They also talked of pushback: The County immediately redistricted in order to remove potential opponents to sitting Commissioners Mike Moran and Nancy Detert, using a map fashioned by the invisible hand of Bob "Adam Smith" Waechter. 

And they noted that the County has also amended the Charter to make citizen amendments so difficult as to be essentially obsolete.

The video is here, with links to the entire evening's discussion. including a lively Q & A with those in the audience. 

Two candidates for the Board were also present: Alice White (People for Trees) is running in district 5, and Fredd Atkins, currently in district Limbo until a a federal lawsuit against the Board is resolved. This year's election holds the opportunity to change the course of Sarasota's public sector. Citizens for District Power is a new group working on getting out the vote. Have a look:

Rounds, Zoller, Antunes: Single Member Districts and Citizen Power

Citizens for District Power: Feb. 25 at Fogartyville

Joining the conversation will be architect Bill Zoller, an original member of Sarasota's Multi-Stakeholder-Group (MSG) that prepared the way for sensible growth efforts in the 90s.

More about Single Member Districts:

Why Citizens voted overwhelmingly for Single Member Districts

Developers Counter-Attack

The Federal Lawsuit against the Board's redistricting

The County Commission's decision to redistrict

A conversation about zoning: How it works and how it can fail

A conversation about urban planning, transportation, commuting, and about how zoning works and sometimes doesn't. With Cathy Antunes and Andrew Georgiadis, in Sarasota, FL. Antunes often writes about development, growth, and dark money at The Detail. Georgiadis is an urban planner with Plusurbia. They spoke on Feb. 6, 2020 at Fogartyville.

Video courtesy of Critical Times SRQ

More on transportation:

How Transportation And Infrastructure Became Political Footballs - an interview with Charlie Zelle, the Minnesota Commissioner of Transportation.

Fogartyville Invite from Adrien Lucas - Tues April 18th

Hi Florida Friends,

If you are free this Tuesday, I am co-hosting a potluck at Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, to share information and update everyone about Our Celery Fields and the county battle regarding the sales of surplus lands surrounding the Celery Field.

I'm bringing a giant vat of a white bean salad and a mound of surgar'ree sweet something for dessert. Beverages are available for purchase at Fogartyville. A beverage purchase helps WSLR, so come thirsty!

There will be a short presentation by Luigi Verace, and Tom Matrullo and I will be giving a brief update in relation to the timeline and battle that we are preparing for. Yes, I'm calling it a civic battle, The People vs. The County. We'll end with a Q&A session where hopefully we will be able to answer any questions thrown our way and audience members can share any insight, suggestions or strategies.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1321339744594454

APR18

Going

Preserve The Celery Fields

Tue 6 PM · Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center · Sarasota, FL

Adrien, Vicki and 7 friends

Free Admission - bring a plate

Sarasota LWV panel on Newtown - Sandy Hook shootings April 24

The Sarasota LWV is proud to announce a screening and panel discussion of the acclaimed documentary Newtown on April 24 at Fogartyville Community Center. Official selection of the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, Newtown describes the aftermath of the deadliest mass shooting of schoolchildren in American history.

The national conversation about gun violence is often laced with partisan politics. Newtown offers the opportunity to broaden the dialogue. A panel and audience discussion on how we can work together as a community to prevent a similar tragedy in Sarasota will follow the film.

• Doors open at 6:00 pm

• Panelists include: Dr. Frank Alcock, Associate Professor New College; Patti Thompson, M.A, psychotherapist; Willie Shaw, City of Sarasota Mayor; Michael Andreas, Director of Safety for Sarasota County Schools.

• Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Seating is limited. purchase tickets here: http://www.lwvsrq.org/events/newtown-the-film/

• Location: Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota (Parking on Lemon Avenue and Boulevard of the Arts)

• Food on site for purchase