What is the cost of Gulf of America?

On Feb. 24, Gov. Ron DeSantis, in an effort to cut back Florida's spending, announced he signed an executive order to establish a state-level version of DOGE to eliminate wasteful government spending. 

Days later, Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, introduced Senate Bill 1058 that proposes to rename Tamiami Trail/U.S. 41 between State Road 60 and U.S. 1 in Miami-Dade, Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee and Hillsborough counties as “Gulf of America Trail.”

What is the financial cost of the name change to government and business? 

How many street signs will need to be changed and at what cost to taxpayers in making the signs, removing the old signs, installing the new signs, disposing of the old signs, changing state maps and changing state brochures distributed through the state and in other states to attract visitors? 

How many businesses are along Tamiami Trail? What is the cost for the businesses to change their signage, menus, contracts/purchase orders, business cards, business displays, websites, etc.?

Tamiami Trail is a key 284-mile roadway in Southwest Florida. It has been in existence since 1928 and built through the Everglades as a way to remove the economic development barrier between Tampa and Miami. 

If we are looking at cutting back waste, why would our elected officials be in favor of the name change? Is not the current name descriptive of the great connector of the state?

— Beth Gotthelf, Longboat Key

Keep The Ringling under FSU stewardship

I have just read your March 6, 2025, Opinion from the Longboat Observer regarding the possible transfer of the Ringling Museum to New College of Florida.

As a past chair and board member of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Foundation, I am deeply disturbed by the prospect of this transfer. I cannot think of a worse thing that could happen to The Ringling.

I visited the museum when it was under the stewardship of the secretary of state’s office, and there were 50-gallon trash cans collecting rainwater in the Rubens Gallery! 

FSU President Sandy D’Alemberte appointed me to the board in 2003. When he agreed to take control of the museum, D’Alemberte requested the Legislature provide funds to cover the deferred maintenance at the museum and for several projects that were in the planning stages. 

When these funds were approved, the FSU Board of Trustees released one-half of the funds and challenged the Ringling Foundation trustees to confirm they could raise the funds that would help with the projects and cover the increased operating costs of the expanded Ringling campus. 

I worked with the Foundation Chair, Vern Buchanan, and the other board members to raise the required funds in fewer than 12 months. These funds were used for the McKay Visitors Center, the Searing Wing, the Tibbals Learning Center and the restoration of Ca d’Zan.

Thank goodness for the hard work and foresight of Bob Johnson, Bob Blalock, John McKay and Sandy D’Alemberte. 

I do not believe that New College has the capacity to manage the Ringling Museum, maintain its facilities and continue the high level of programming that has been and should be provided in the future to the citizens of and visitors to Florida. 

As the State Museum of Florida, the Ringling Museum needs to remain part of FSU.

—Frank “Sandy” Rief III, Tampa