Sarasota Letters to the Editor July 20

Leave Big Pass alone, dredge elsewhere

I write this with the deepest concern.  We are blessed here with the most wonderful and rich natural resources. Our waters are full of fish, mammals, sea urchins, coral, birds and waterfowl, and the sea grasses that support them all. One of the most wonderful ways to enjoy all of this is by boat. The amazing natural sand bar that is Big Pass holds all of this for everyone to enjoy and treasure. Dredging that natural area, (that should be a national park), would destroy and change this natural environment.  The water would be fouled and murky and the sea grass destroyed.  Without the sea grass and fresh water, the sea life will die or leave for a more inviting environment. Even the bird life that lives nearby will look for another fishing area. Boaters and nature lovers will be forced to leave, too.  That also means lost money for the boat-rental companies as well as boating businesses. 

  This dredging also opens up another issue. If this natural barrier is dredged and taken away, what will stop the large sea waves from growing and destroying more coastal areas such as Bird Key and all areas north and south on the Intracoastal Waterway? This includes large waves from tropical storms that could come ashore in downtown Sarasota.  There is a study that shows this will happen.  

  I do believe that Lido Key needs sand. But I also know that there are many other ways to supply this to them, and they can get it immediately. Turtle Beach just underwent a re-nourishment, as did an area of Longboat Key.  They found sand without dredging a precious natural resource area.  

 Please, please stop this insanity of ruining this amazing and beautiful, natural wildlife area.  Have we not lost enough of our natural beauty here in Florida?  Please leave this area alone.

Rae Spicer

Sarasota

Are we thinking about sea-level rise?

I read with great interest a story recently about a neighborhood in our area dealing with flooding not when a catastrophic rain came, but rather a garden-variety afternoon storm. Driving through some Longboat Key and Bradenton Beach and Lido Key neighborhoods, I wondered more broadly at the same problem. 

What kind of plans are in place for our community for the next five or 20 years in dealing with flood control and drainage when sea levels are predicted to rise and tides affect the way rainwater disappears from our streets and neighborhoods.

Like it or not, science is pretty clear. Tides are getting gradually higher, which means nothing to places even a few miles inland. But for us, I just hope some smart people are doing some hard thinking now. This isn't the kind of thing that gets fixed cheaply or quickly.

Edgar Vogler

Bradenton Beach

City needs to make up its mind  

I refer to three articles in your July 13 edition. Two of them discuss ways to market Sarasota: On page 10A the Downtown Improvement District is actively searching for a campaign to improve Sarasota's image. On page 12A “You 'Ota Know about New Campaign” is another effort to attract more visitors – although the slogan needs some work.

Then on page 4A, unbelievably, is found “City Considers bringing back Thunder by the Bay”. What are they thinking? We have two campaigns to improve Sarasota's image and then a move to bring back motorcycles amped over the legal limit, closed streets and residents running for cover, or at least peace and quiet. I recognize that one of the arguments for doing this is to raise money for Suncoast Charities for Children. However, do we want to turn our beautiful city, once again, in to a thunderous speedway for a charity that uses 40% of its funds for charity?

Helga Williamson

Sarasota