I love this City and it has been my honor to serve on the Sarasota City Commission for the past five years. I am running to continue serving because I believe that the City is at a crossroads where we either move forward with the progress we have made, or we halt our progress and go back to old ways of thinking.

Some of the accomplishments of which I am most proud are supporting a $5,000 grant to small businesses that have been harmed by the COVID pandemic. Being one of the first communities in our area to pass a mandatory mask ordinance to help stop the spread of COVID. Supporting moving forward with the plans for The Bay Project. A Housing First initiative which has helped lower the number of homeless on our streets by 60%. Adoption of a “Ready for 100” sustainability plan to have city facilities using all renewable energy by 2030 and city wide by 2045. Adoption of a climate adaption plan to deal with sea level rise. A plan for the Bobby Jones Golf property, which will restore the historic course and create a new almost 100-acre park and place the property with the Conservation Foundation to maintain it as an important watershed and green space forever.

We are working on a modern multi-modal transportation plan to ease congestion and make our community even more walkable and bike friendly. I want to make sure that we do everything possible to maintain our cultural and historic assets, especially the Orchestra and Selby Gardens that need to be able to accommodate their growth or they will find a new venue outside of the City. In listening to my opponent in the various forums we have participated in, it has become clear to me that if he is elected, this progress would be stopped.

It takes vision to see how things benefit our community and add to the richness of our lives in Sarasota. It will take vision to bring back the vitality to our community that has suffered and is still suffering from the pandemic. My opponent just wants to complain and hasn’t offered a vision of his own. It also takes vision and courage to stand up to special interests. I have proven that I have the ability to do that. It is not easy to vote for something when there is a room full of people in opposition. However, I have not been afraid to take the difficult votes to achieve a broader community goal.

My vision is why I have been endorsed by a broad coalition of groups and individuals including Ruth’s List, Equality Florida Action PAC, the Retired City Firefighters Association, the Sarasota Police Officer’s Association, Local 6045, the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee, The Gulf Coast Builders Exchange, the Stonewall Democrats, and recommended by The Sarasota Observer, former County Commissioner Joe Barbetta, former City and County Commissioner Paul Caragiulo, Progressive Sarasota and theSarasota-Charlotte Democratic Progressive Caucus.In addition, I am endorsed by Sean Sellers and Lynn Nilssen, the co-organizers of Sarasota Ready for 100, Emeritus Professor of Urban Planning Roger J. Barry, School Board Member Shirley Brown and former City Commissioner and Vice-Mayor Ken Shelin, who stated, “Liz has consistently demonstrated a high sensitivity and concern for projects and ideas which will help the City of Sarasota meet its future needs. We need her vision.” In order to make this vision happen, I am asking for your vote to keep Sarasota moving forward. Thank you.

Liz Alpert is a candidate for Sarasota City Commission District 2.