04/07/2025
Open Letter to Sarasota's Commissioners and Developers:
I grew up in Sarasota when the beaches were quiet, neighborhoods were warm, and the skyline didn't block the sunset. Now, every corner I turn reveals another soulless business: a car wash, another storage unit, another cheaply built apartment complex overshadowing the town we love.
Commissioners, developers, and Nathan Benderson Development — are you proud of turning Sarasota into a place none of us recognize? Your obsession with profits is killing the soul of this city. You're replacing local charm with concrete boxes, pushing out families who've been here for generations.
We don't need another quick-profit project. We need thoughtful, responsible planning that respects what Sarasota once was—beautiful, quiet, welcoming.
I grew up here. I remember when Sarasota had character, when it felt real. I watched sunsets through open spaces, knew local businesses run by people who cared, and felt pride that this town was ours—not a playground for greedy outsiders.
Look around now. Apartments built overnight, cheap, flimsy, overpriced—stacked high and deep, blocking skies and choking out the sun. Who exactly are they built for? Certainly not us. They're soulless money grabs disguised as "progress."
And don’t even get me started on the food scene. Some* Cookie-cutter, quick-turn "find dining" restaurants owned by absent investors chasing easy profit, serving tasteless meals without heart. Some* owners who've never set foot in a Sarasota kitchen, treating customers like numbers rather than neighbors. We’re losing real food made by real people who once cooked with pride and love.
You’ve traded Sarasota’s warmth, charm, and authenticity for cold corporate greed. Commissioners & developers: the damage you've caused runs deep, and it's permanent. You’ve robbed future generations of experiencing the true Sarasota, replacing our identity with concrete slabs and profit margins.
We don’t recognize our hometown anymore. It’s heartbreaking. The Sarasota we cherished is nearly gone — and you are to blame. Shame on you for turning your back on your community. Shame on you for selling out our soul.
R.I.P Snook Haven Restaurant
R.I.P Sarasota Florida
Like, Share, and Comment if you're a fellow Sarasotan who CAN'T STAND what is happening to our town!
