Editor's Note:
I am inspired by Tom Tryon, editorial page editor of the Sarasota Herald Tribune, to use the word Naked in a headline to get more readers.
It worked for him and for columnist Laura Sperling, so go to it Google!
INSIDE WASHINGTON:
Le tout Capital is buzzing over the president taking an elbow in the lip and it wasn't even from John Boehner. In the interest of national security the White House press office at first did not disclose the name
Posted By Ed Martin at 2:31 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Wednesday, 24
SHORT-TERM RENTAL: LONG-TERM HEADACHE.
Residents in “Single Family Residential” (RSF 1) zoning districts began to bring their concerns to the City Council back in 2005 or 2006, while Fred Hammett was Mayor. Complaints came from various areas of the City and involved lesser known citizens and some more recognized, former Mayor Merle Graser, former Airport Advisory Chair Paul Hollowell and Mrs. Hollowell, (who took the lead in presenting to Council.)
Council wrestled with not wanting to interfere with short-term rentals
Posted By Ed Martin at 1:55 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Friday, 19
Venice Loses A Unique Watchdog--Herb Levine.
As I began to take an interest in Venice Government and Politics, there were certain issues that Herb Levine called to the public’s attention. Then Council Member Jan Collins was often identifying the same issues, which seemed like problems to me.
Two Council members at the time,(not including Collins), speaking only with the promise of anonymity, told me they felt Mayor Dean Calamaras and some other Council Members and City Manager George Hunt were too close to E.G. and Jeff Boone,
Posted By Ed Martin at 11:57 AM in Category:Inside Venice
Wednesday, 17
Replies to article in Washington Post. Schoen and Caddell, Zero Favorable. What Do You Think?
Letters to the Editor of the Washington Post, published
Patrick H. Caddell and Douglas E. Schoen are wrong ["One and Done," Outlook, Nov. 14]. Why should the Republicans work with President Obama after he announces he is not running - the goodness of their hearts? Patriotism? Statesmanship? Why would they not choose to follow their own path to the next election? And why should the Democrats follow the president into tough battles when they are going to be around to face the elector
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the The Washington Post.
Posted By Ed Martin at 5:48 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Monday, 15
Cannon appoints ‘Fair Districts’ foe as chair of state House redistricting committee
By Cooper Levey-Baker 11/15/10 9:56 AM Florida Independent.
In advance of the state legislature’s organizational meeting and special session tomorrow, incoming state House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, today unveiled the names of state House committee chairs. Among them: state Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, who will head up the committee overseeing the redistricting process after the conclusion of this year’s census.
Weatherford was a vocal foe of Amendme
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the The Florida Independent.
Posted By Ed Martin at 7:30 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Friday, 12
What's the New Council Facing--Reality Sets In
Three years ago, the day after Ernie Zavodnyik, Sue Lang and I were elected, (before the results were certified or we were sworn in a week later), Ernie emailed us, saying something like let’s get together and make a “to do” list so we can get off to a good start. Sound’s good, I replied.
Before the meeting took place, (it never did), I was talking with City Clerk, Lori Stelzer and she told me it would violate the Sunshine law, that two or more members could not discuss or deb
Posted By Ed Martin at 9:53 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Monday, 8
ON MEDIA: Suspending Keith Olbermann: Pretending the World is Flat.
MSNBC, lagging behind Fox and CNN came up with a new business plan--they were going to be the anti-Fox. Where Fox had lip-curling, salivating, conservative lay clergymen, (and occasional woman), MSNBC would have, progressive, witty, compassionate “progressives.”
It worked. Liberals, moderates, progressives, mostly Democrats, discovered Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow--an oasis in a desert of right-wing talk radio and TV. MSNBC climbed in the ratings, passing CNN, (but not appro
Interesting Links Through Campaign Funds, Aris Mardirossian, Greg Roberts, John Holic and Jeanette Gates--Let’s See What Happens
Aris Mardirossian made some news in Venice in 2006 when he led a proposed hotel project to be built on the airport property leased to the Lake Venice Golf Course. The Marriott Corporation was linked to the proposal as well.
The Golf Course is on city/airport property leased by the Venice Golf Association, a private company, represented by E.G. Boone. The lease with the City, (approved by the FAA), includes references to “municipal,” “public” etc. although the business is priva
Posted By Ed Martin at 8:16 PM in Category:Inside Venice
"Trib" and "Gondo" Recognize Gains of Last Three Years, Urge Moderation in Changes.
From the HERALD TRIBUNE, November 5, 2010
"The council spent much of the past three years drafting a comprehensive plan that aims for what many consider sensible growth. Much citizen input was sought and received in the process. Flaws in the plan should be corrected, but it shouldn't be summarily dismissed as the newly elected members suggest. Reasonable land-use regulations can be adopted to implement the plan.
“Things are never as bad as they seem…” Harper Lee in “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
I have also seen this broadened to “things are never as bad as they seem when things are going bad, nor as good as they seem when things are going well.”
In any case, I wish the newly elected Council Members well as they work to improve the City and preserve its charm.
I also want to express appreciation to Sue Lang and Ernie Zavodnyik for the tremendous effort they put
Posted By Ed Martin at 9:26 AM in Category:Inside Venice
Tuesday, 2
Marshall Happer Writes To Bob Mudge, Editor of the Gondolier About Special Interests. Good Luck!
I like Bob Mudge, "some of my best friends are editors,"
But he thinks that neighbors, non-profit groups, etc. who make no organizational contributions to candidates are "special interests" just like the CQG or a Municipal Union, or the Realtors, Builders, etc. who contribute multiple dollars, I find no one else who feels that equation makes sense. (Possible exception, former publisher Bob Vedder, who wrote similar Alice in Wonderland views.)
