Sarasotans speak on issues

Recently, four Sarasota residents conducted a survey to assess views on current Sarasota issues. The survey forms and results were published in several local newspapers. Tabulation of results was done by a local accounting firm.

Responses were recieved from 736 people. The top issues and their results were as follows

1. 95% indicated new projects needed to be analyzed for traffic flow.
2. 91% said better traffic flow is needed.
3. 89% believe traffic impact agreements should be enforced.
4. 89% say new construction should not cover the entire lot, from curb to curb.
5. 88% oppose city owned property for private development.
6. 87% favor control of vagrancy in downtown and neighborhoods.
7. 86% favor public parking garages.
8. 83% oppose subsidizing private development.
9. 82% want the Bay Front Drive retained as 4-lane and US 41.
10. 82% favor strategic sidewalks in neighborhoods.

While these results would not be considered a scientific survey, they do represent the opinion of a sizeable number of Sarasota people. These results are a confirmation of what many of us hear on a daily basis. The issues of traffic, downtown development, parking and vagrancy are issues that need to be addressed more thoroughly.

We applaud the backers of this survey (John Sandefur, Bob Peterson, Bob Tate and Gil Waters) for funding this survey. The better we can define the issues we face, the better the chance that the issues will be addressed and resolved. Public discussion is needed on these issues.

Save Our Sarasota™ favors discussion of these issues. The residents of Sarasota agree with our city's vision: "A city of urban amenities with a small town living and feeling." The issues defined in this survey are more closely associated with large cities. We wish to retain the small town living and feeling that has been a defining characteristic of Sarasota.