Parking in Sarasota is a pain in the wallet - and the rear, too

Sarasota's annoying parking meters

Recently there’s been discussion about doing away with some of the parking meters around Sarasota.

Recently my wife and I decided to go to Lido Public Beach for the first time in a long while.

Before leaving we made sure we took quarters for the meter so that we didn’t have to take our wallets to the beach. Plus, my wife has the Park Mobile App on her phone.

As we walked to the parking kiosk, I said, “Remember the license plate number.” The sun was shining on the meter, making it almost impossible to read the instructions, something we have experienced frequently.

After we entered the license plate number, we realized this meter did not take coins. So we used the app, which turned into an ordeal with logging in through email and re-entering all the information. Then the meter declined the stored payment method.

So much for a relaxing morning walk on the beach. We gave up and went home rather than risk a ticket.

If the city absolutely has to have paid parking, wouldn’t it be nice to have old-fashioned parking meters?

But that would mean carrying quarters in your car – and the city would have to pay someone to empty the meters.

William Townsend, Sarasota

Steube irresponsible on Trump shooting

On July 14, the day after an assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump, Rep. Greg Steube of Sarasota sent an email to the residents of his district. While on one hand Steube appeared to speak out against violence, he also included language meant to incite others to retaliation and violence.

Referring to Trump and the shooting, Steube stated, “First, they tried to jail him and now they’ve tried to kill him,” implying that the Biden administration was behind this assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.

This rhetoric, typical of Rep. Steube, is irresponsible and dangerous.

It also perpetuates the animosity and discord in this country that is encouraged by the current version of the Republican Party – and it must be stopped!

Michael Smith, Sarasota

Shooting about gun violence, not democracy

On July 15, I was dismayed to see the front-page headline in the Herald-Tribune, “An attack on our democracy.”

This headline is a quote from U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, commenting about the attempted assassination of former president, current presidential candidate and convicted felon Donald Trump.

I disagree with the attorney general: This was an attack on a person, not on our democracy. It was a crime, no doubt, but not an attack on our democracy.

When was last assassination attempt?: March 30, 1981, when Ronald Reagan was shot and required emergency surgery.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, 18,854 willful, malicious and accidental deaths – and 36,338 willful, malicious and accidental injuries by gun – occurred last year in the United States (suicides not included).

We need to make it harder for people to buy guns.

Linda Billings, Sarasota

Reconsider funding unique art program

I have always supported the Embracing Our Differences program. I feel it is a wonderful opportunity to educate the younger generation about how we can all live together in a peaceful environment.

I am amazed that the Sarasota County Commission has decided to stop supporting the program, and I am not sure why the commission has concerns about it.

Is it the number of people the art exhibit brings to the county? Is it the positive message that is given about diversity, having a positive self-image and embracing what makes each of unique but equally important? Is it the message that we can all live together peacefully?

In light of the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, I think we need this program and the message it sends now more than ever before.

I hope the commission reconsiders its decision for the sake of our community.

Dale Otterman, University Park

Project 2025 not Trump’s guidebook

A letter July 5, “Project 2025: Road map for fascist state,” attempts to link former President Donald Trump to the conservative guidebook without any supporting references.

Trump was president for four years and did none of the things listed in the Project 2025 playbook, and there is no evidence that it would be his policy in the future.

The letter is about as accurate as the claim that President Joe Biden’s debate performance was just "a bad night" rather than the norm for an 81-year-old with declining cognitive abilities.

As to weaponizing the Justice Department, the Democrats are the only ones to have done that – against Trump.

Deporting millions of migrants allowed to enter the country due to Biden’s failure to enforce our immigration laws is long overdue, and it was supported by more than half of Americans surveyed in a recent poll.

But one thing in the letter I do agree with: Your life might depend on who wins this election.

If you want to continue a failed foreign policy, historical inflation and millions illegally crossing our border, then vote for President Biden – someone who can’t do the job now, let alone for the next four years.

Artie Reiss, Sarasota

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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota's parking meters are costly and annoying