Streets, trash and safety

When one of our Longboat Key readers and residents read last week about the “climate change” sign-post at the north entrance to Lido Beach, he sent this message our way:

“Sarasota proudly announces to tourists with permanent beach signage info on when barrier islands and area waterfront property will be going underwater based on questionable climate change computer projections. 

“Our tax money is paying for signage communicating to visitors ‘enjoy the area while you can, but don’t invest here!’  

“Great for the real estate market and Sarasota area economy …

“Sarasota needs to start pointing the gun away from ourselves!

“Stunningly STUPID!” 

We had to see it for ourselves. 

Oh, my.

All four sides of this handsome post were full of urgings to beachgoers on how to be better, environmentally correct earthlings. The three that really grabbed us are shown in the photo below. 

“Stunningly STUPID!”? Well, it’s not right; that’s for sure.

These urgings all contain a point of view, a judgment. They’re an urging on how you should live your life, and someone telling you what is better and not good for the environment.

That someone is Sarasota City Manager Tom Barwin.

Over the years, Sarasotans have learned and seen that Barwin is a man of good intentions. He wants Sarasota to be a good place to live; he sincerely cares about the city’s quality of life.

But Barwin has shown a tendency to use his position as the chief operating officer of the city to promote his beliefs. 

Almost a year ago, in the wake of the massacre at the Orlando nightclub, Barwin proposed the Sarasota City Commission adopt a resolution that would ask federal and state officials to work toward “limiting the availability and use of military grade, high capacity magazine assault weapons to law enforcement agencies.” Thankfully, city commissioners recognized that was not Barwin’s place.

On traffic, Barwin has said on various occasions he supports Sarasota adopting “traffic-calming” techniques and becoming more pedestrian friendly. That’s fine, but that position appears to be at the exclusion of other alternatives. Consider the city’s stance on Fruitville Road. It appears determined to narrow it. 

And now, Barwin is using his position as a pulpit to influence people on climate change and “sustainability.” To that end, the city of Sarasota even has a job for a “sustainability manager.”

These are good intentions — at least from Barwin’s perspective. Obviously, he believes the world would be a better place if we adopted what he believed. And he apparently sees no problem with his using the city’s resources and platforms to further his views. Barwin explained his climate-change post at Lido Beach to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune by saying: “We want to put the poles up to give people a heads-up to what’s likely to be coming.”

“Likely to be coming”? Says who?

The city’s beach post informs visitors that sea levels are expected to rise in 15 and 30 years, predicting they could rise as much as 2.4 feet by 2060, covering 30% of St. Armands Circle and South Lido Beach with water.

Mind you, there is a source note — the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. But Barwin surely knows the subjects of predicting climate change, rising sea levels and the effects of greenhouse gases are as politically charged as the name Donald Trump. Even on the website the city cites as its source, NOAA says: “This tool should be used strictly as a planning reference tool and not for navigation, permitting or other legal purposes.” 

Nevertheless, Barwin takes it upon the city (and himself) to educate the public. But we  question whether this kind of educating is the job of the city.

Sure, there are occasions when it’s appropriate for our different levels of government to educate us. 

It’s a public service, for instance, when law enforcement officers and firefighters instruct us on steps we can take to increase our safety.

But let’s cut to the quick: Barwin’s enviro-post on Lido Beach must go. The city of Sarasota should not be telling you to drive instead of fly; it should not be telling you to reduce the amount of red meat you eat. Or to compost your food waste. 

Barwin’s beach post reminds us of what Sarasota City Commission candidate Martin Hyde Jr. recently told our sister paper, the Sarasota Observer: “I think I should decide how I live, not the government.”

Agreed.

City Manager Barwin should leave the lecturing to proseltyzers and  policy decisions to the elected city commissioners. A city manager’s job is to stick to the city’s knitting: streets, trash and public safety.