Friday's letters: Negative columns about Sarasota could turn off tourists

Columnists write ugly things about Sarasota

As a destination, Sarasota is a tropical resort town, clean and safe, with a friendly atmosphere and a reputation for excellent service from our resort hotels and local businesses.

Unfortunately, two Herald-Tribune columnists recently stated their disdain for our town, with one large headline noting our “ugly traits” and disappointment that our quality of life is becoming dangerous, difficult and inequitable.

Wow! How’s that for our tourists to read?

Opinion: Sarasota’s ugly traits are anything but tasteful art

Opinion: It's easy to love Sarasota. But are we loving it to death?

More: How to send a letter to the editor

Generally, I email the writers with my concerns, but both columns are far beyond just my complaint.

We spend millions enticing visitors to our area, explaining all our distinctive qualities, and now these writers are highlighting perceived ugliness, and claiming that Sarasota is deteriorating from uncontrolled growth and residents are divisive and snide.

Not only would I not want to visit here, I would not want to live here or bring my business here.

For the decades I have lived in Sarasota and “sold” the area while booking hotel rooms, I have met only friendly and engaging people in this community, and everyone was grateful to be living in such beautiful surroundings.

The “ugly Sarasota” must abide in the Herald-Tribune and some of its writers.

Carole Nikla, Sarasota

DeSantis’ reelection drove us out of state

A letter May 28 was headlined “DeSantis’ Florida: Love it or leave it.” Good advice, really.

My wife and I had 10 wonderful years in Venice after we retired, living as full-time residents and snowbirds. We lived in an over-55 community and made some wonderful friends.

We are Massachusetts liberals who found enough like-minded people to feel safe most of the time. We were pleasantly surprised by the significant number of Biden-Harris signs that appeared in our neighborhood.

We left before the midterm elections, in May 2022, for our home state of Massachusetts, fully expecting to return in the winter.

However, in November, Gov. Ron DeSantis won a second term by a large margin, with a tame Legislature to boot, and started his campaign of hate.

Our stay in Florida is over and we haven’t looked back.

William N. Sullivan, Marlborough, Massachusetts

Don’t run away: Stand, fight

“DeSantis’ Florida: Love it or leave it”:

In response to the, er, gentleman who suggested in a letter that liberals depart Florida if we don’t like the way our radical governor is running it, I say, “Not a chance!"

I’ve been here for 19 years and am sticking around to fight back against the fascism that has pervaded our state since Gov. Ron DeSantis was first elected. I’m fighting for the civil and human rights of women, teachers, students and LGBTQ+ individuals, and I’m not going anywhere.

I’m not alone. Millions of us fought for justice in the ’60s and ’70s, and here we go again.

It is worth reminding the gentleman that DeSantis personally gerrymandered the state and disenfranchised a huge swath of African American and Hispanic voters.

In fact, 51% of Florida Democrats didn’t show up to vote in 2022, perhaps because they felt their votes no longer counted. In many respects, they don’t.

To the governor’s claim that people from “up north” are flocking to the state to escape high taxes and high crime, I would like to point out that murder rates were higher in red states than blue states in 2020, according to a think tank analysis.

Something to ponder as we prepare to take our state back.

Tina Steele, Sarasota

Use law enforcement here, not at border

So we can spare more than 1,100 state law enforcement and Florida National Guard personnel to send to the Texas-Mexico border at our expense.

Which brings to mind, who’s protecting Florida? To me it seems we have too many law enforcement people.

More: DeSantis says Florida forces will help police the border

Fort Myers is still a mess from Hurricane Ian. Why not use their services in the state that’s paying them?

Rodney Andrews, Ellenton

Correction

The correct number to call about vote by mail in Manatee County is 941-741-3823.

The number was incorrectly added to “Sign up again to vote by mail in 2024," a letter published May 31.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: 'Ugly' columns about Sarasota could drive away tourists