Opinion | Longboat Key | Your Observer

Longboat Key | Opinion

By Letter to the Editor
June 4, 2025

Republicans against Trump must stand up

Those who state they don't like him, just sit back and watch without speaking up.

Longboat Key
Opinion

Matt Walsh
June 4, 2025

Actually, we're in safe zone

Over a 125-year period, Manatee and Sarasota counties have been among the safest coastal counties in Florida when it comes to hurricanes.

Sarasota
Opinion

Matt Walsh
May 28, 2025

A missed opportunity?

With a looming $14 million library-community center a football field away from the $2.1 million Tidewell building, it makes you wonder.

Longboat Key
Opinion

Matt Walsh
May 28, 2025

Arts can (and should) stand on their own

Whenever the region’s arts organizations and their leaders and representatives convene for a conference or summit, inevitably, discussions get around to lamenting the state of taxpayer funding for the arts.

Sarasota
Opinion

By Letter to the Editor
May 27, 2025

Democracy takes foresight and forethought

One should consider the consequences before making a decision, a reader says.

Longboat Key
Opinion

By Adrian Moore, Eliza Terziev
May 21, 2025

How to boost affordability

There are some simple steps Sarasota city and county can take to relieve the lack of housing that is affordable — and it’s not requiring public subsidies.

Sarasota
Opinion

Matt Walsh
May 21, 2025

How we compare

Living in a capitalistic, competitive society, we all like to know how we compare. Are we best? Worst? First? Last?

Sarasota
Opinion

Matt Walsh
May 14, 2025

Manatee does it again

Learning Manatee commissioners voted to pursue voiding a contract was too much for SMR’s Rex Jensen.

East County
Opinion

Matt Walsh
May 7, 2025

LBK survey: What about $?

It's no surprise Longboat Key residents expressed high satisfaction in the town survey. That's great. But maybe they also should be asked about their taxes.

Longboat Key
Opinion

Matt Walsh
April 30, 2025

Tyranny of Trump's tariffs

Who is ripping off whom in international trade. How can Donald Trump know more about tariffs than 250 years of economic evidence? Tariffs punish everyone.

Sarasota
Opinion

By Randall G. Holcombe
April 30, 2025

In truth, our trade deficits benefit Americans

While the Trump administration’s economic policies are aimed at least partly toward eliminating the nation’s balance of payments deficits, Americans should understand that they benefit from those deficits.

Sarasota
Opinion

Matt Walsh
April 30, 2025

Noted economists past and present on tariffs and free trade

In any discussion to understand free trade, protectionism and tariffs, there is no debate among credible economists: Free trade: good; protectionism and tariffs: bad.