Sarasota County’s controversial pursuit of off-year redistricting seems destined for court. For that reason, an exchange between County Commissioner Nancy Detert and consultant Kurt Spitzer stood out.

Spitzer drafted Sarasota’s new district map into “legally defensible” form and has drawn county or city district maps probably 15 times.

“It’s probably not fair to ask how many went to court,” Detert asked, “because it’s probably more fair to ask, anybody that redistricts, do they ever not go to court?”

His answer surely surprised her, as Spitzer explained only one time had he created a map that drew a court challenge. That case involved a dispute on whether federal prisoners should impact district boundaries. “It was not over data or lines or that sort of thing,” he said. “It was over a separate issue everybody understood.”

"So you would say the work you have done in the past has a good track record of holding up on a legal basis?” she asked.

“Well," he said, "we’ve not been challenged.”

The commissioner pivoted to suggesting a lack of legal challenge meant Spitzer’s redistricting procedures were beyond reproach. But that ignores the problem people actually have with Sarasota County redrawing its lines in the year 2019 in a way that disenfranchises a minority community.

In so many ways, hearing commissioners justify tossing lines before the U.S. Census felt like witnessing the creation of court evidence in live time. Officials explained this specifically was a response to a voter initiative for single-member districts. They flat out rejected a map originated by Spitzer despite his proposals better balancing district populations. When pressed on whether the map ultimately approved was truly a citizen submission from a GOP operative, Spitzer made clear it was absolutely based on that outside proposal.

But nothing stuck with me like the Detert-Spitzer exchange on court challenges.

One could forgive Detert her confusion. In fact, this is the third redistricting she’s been involved with, and all seemed destined early for court. In fact, the drawing of her old state Senate district became crucial to judges tossing a map lawmakers drafted after the 2010 Census. But that’s a cheap shot; statewide maps impacting high-stakes Congressional and state Legislative races truly seem destined for court challenges no matter what.

The more important part to me was actually Spitzer’s record of staying out of court—as opposed to winning. It points out local redistricting efforts rarely generate the same controversy as the county’s decision to toss its lines one year before the U.S. government conducts a Census.

There’s always politics in redistricting. Commissioner Alan Maio has brought up (ad nauseum) how folks speculated in 2011 a friendly district was drawn for him. He swears that never happened, for what it’s worth. But it’s important to remember it doesn’t much matter. County commissioners have tremendous leeway in redistricting. Indeed, that power may lead to a court victory here.

But what’s abnormal now isn’t truly the lines. It’s the timing and malice. This redistricting strips people of the right to vote rather than just impacting a handful of prospective candidates. If commissioners redistrict again in 2021, which seems inevitable, they will likely create a class of thousands of citizens denied the right to vote for six years.

It’s why UF officials said not to redistrict unless necessary. It’s why civil rights seem a real concern despite Sarasota having no majority-minority districts. And it’s why chambers filled to the brim with citizens angry over a map.

Spitzer has no history defending this type of malfeasance. He’s never done it before. Neither has Sarasota County. The actions offend common sense and increase distrust of government. While trying to argue every map has its detractors, Detert actually exposed how unusual a course Sarasota has decided to take.

Jacob Ogles is contributing senior editor for SRQ Media Group.

There is no denying that planet Earth is under increasing strain. According to the United Nations, the human population will exceed 9.7 billion by 2050 (it is currently 7.7 billion), putting incredible pressure on natural resources, such as food and clean water, that are essential to life on Earth. Added to the challenges posed by an increasing population are the effects of a changing climate.

Addressing these serious challenges will require a different approach to problem-solving, one that blends our analytical understanding of the issues with thinking that is collaborative, holistic, and creative. In short, solving the complex problems before us will take the hallmark thinking of the Creative Age: Seamless integration of left-brain and right-brain skills that arises only when both sides of the brain are allowed to be developed.  

The impact of bringing both left- and right-brain skills to bear to solve problems cannot be overstated. Let’s consider the following examples.

Meet 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. What began with one young girl standing outside her country’s Parliament with a simple sign ended up with millions of young people and their families marching on behalf of our planet in what was the largest climate protest in history. Greta Thunberg was not afraid to try something new, to think big, or to fail – the defining characteristics of creativity. She used every tool at her fingertips, from that hand-drawn sign to a worldwide social media campaign, to convey her message on behalf of Mother Earth.

Or, let’s consider Boyan Slat. In 2010, while diving in Greece, he was dismayed to realize that he was seeing more plastic in the water than fish. Inspired to find a way to clean it up, he devoted the next two years to considering ways that he might do just that. In 2012, the then-18-year-old was invited to present his ideas at a Tedx Talk. Soon thereafter, Ocean Cleanup was born. After numerous attempts, a group led by Slat created a device that is successfully capturing and removing plastic—from large cartons and crates to tiny microplastics—from the ocean. Stoyan and his team combined right-brain creativity with left-brain technical expertise to find innovative solutions to an unsolved problem. The company is now beginning the development of the next phase for the device that will enable it to endure rough ocean conditions and retain the collected plastics until they can be processed for recycling.

Let’s move a little closer to home.

Sea level rise is difficult for many people to comprehend. There needs to be a way for citizens of a place like Florida’s Gulf Coast to understand it and its possible effects. Tim Rummage, faculty at Ringling College of Art and Design, and his students recognized the importance of raising awareness about the potential impacts of sea level rise to our area. Their solution was to create a way for people to visualize what sea level rise means to Sarasota. The result of their desire to convey an important scientific message in a creative and accessible way was the Rise and Run project.

On display first on Lido Beach and then on Siesta Key Beach, the project consisted of a series of flags that showed what high tide lines will look like when sea level rises by 6-inches, 2-feet, and even 3-feet. Providing these visual markers enabled the public to actually see—and begin to understand—the effect sea level rise could have on themselves, the environment, housing in the area, and the local economy.

Similarly, Mote Marine used last year’s innovative display Sea Debris: Awareness Through Art to bring awareness to the serious environmental issue of ocean pollution. Its larger-than-life, marine-inspired sculptures were made of plastic and other debris gathered from the Oregon coastline. This creative approach offered a novel way for people to visualize and understand the scale of this environmental problem.

More and more, we see the value creative thinking brings to problem solving. Combined with our already-strong left-brain skills (analysis, numeracy, linear thinking), the development of our right-brain skills (creativity, instinct, holistic thinking) will bring about ideas and approaches that will amaze us. From problems such as red tide, overfishing and coral replenishment to deforestation, sustainable food production and clean energy, our ability to find real solutions will come not from analytical and linear thinking alone, but from the powerful combination of our technical and creative strengths.

Those who understand that simple, yet profound, truth, that creativity is as important as analytical thinking, will lead the way in the Creative Age.

Dr. Larry Thompson is president of Ringling College of Art and Design. 

Photo courtesy City of Sarasota

The Bayside Club introduces ‘Events on May Lane’, ongoing events in the Rosemary District, with a mission to foster community in the district and support local businesses through a monthly block party that brings together the best of the neighborhood including arts, music, food & beverage.” Tucked away on May Lane in Sarasota’s Rosemary District - between the soon-to-be-built Bayside Club and Cityside Apartments - will be “Events on May Lane,” which includes “Music on May Lane” and “Night Market on May Lane,” premiering with its inaugural event on December 5, from 4-8pm. The night market will be a free, public event encouraging visitors to enjoy a bit of al fresco fun, eating, drinking and shopping, while enjoying live music and the cool night air. The Night Markets will be held the first Thursday of every month, from 4pm to 8pm. The December event will capture the spirit of the season, as guests stroll through a beautifully decorated holiday gift market, with its own Christmas tree farm, where you can purchase a tree, wreath, or choose a poinsettia for your home or office. For more information, contact Jordan Culler, jculler@thebaysideclub.com,(941) 787-3333, or stop by The Bayside Club’s Sales Office located in CitySide at 700 Cocoanut Avenue. 

The Bayside Club

Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy, Inc. (SMART) is pleased to announce they have received a $3,000 grant from the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund of the Manatee Community Foundation. The grant will be used to provide partial and full scholarships for therapeutic riding and equine assisted learning sessions to children with disabilities in the Lakewood Ranch area. “We are honored to be a part of such a giving community,” said Dee Danmeyer, executive director of SMART, and are so grateful to the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund for their continued support of our mission.” Lakewood Ranch Community Fund is a fund of Manatee Community Foundation. Established in 2000 by the Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, the Fund has awarded more than $1.3 million to impact the arts, human services, education, animal welfare, the environment, civic engagement, and health-related causes. 

SMART Riders

International sand sculpting champions were declared on November 17 during the 10th annual Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival, which is drawing thousands to Siesta Public Beach. Awards were presented to winning teams of two and solo master sand sculptors. The Crystal Classic drew seven teams of two and nine solo artists from nations around the world, including Singapore, Canada, Italy, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Columbia, Ireland and U.S. states including California, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Texas. Team sculptors Walter McDonald, U.S.A. and Abe Waterman, Canada, won first prize ($4,000) for “Mine is Bigger Than Yours.” First place in the solo artist category was John Gowdy, Italy, for “Sand Man Rises,” $2000. A portion of the proceeds from this year’s Siesta Key Crystal Classic will benefit student scholarships at Ringling College of Art and Design and will assist talented, creative students so that they may be able to pursue their dreams of higher education in art and design. 

Siesta Key Crystal Classic

Three Sarasota County teachers were surprised Thursday, November 14th, when they were revealed as finalists for the district’s elementary, middle and high school 2020 Teacher of the Year honors. The 2020 finalists are: Heather Young, Venice Elementary School; Marissa Dobbert, Sarasota Military Academy Prep; Josh Grant, Venice High School. One of the three finalists will be named the overall Sarasota County 2020 Teacher of the Year at the Education Foundation of Sarasota County’s Ignite Education Awards Celebration on December 11th at The Westin Sarasota. The district Teacher of the Year will represent Sarasota County Schools at the Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year Program and will serve as a spokesperson for and representative of the teaching profession at various events throughout 2020. The annual Teacher Tribute Tour team travels to each finalist’s school. This year’s team included Sarasota County Schools’ (SCS) Assistant Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer Laura Kingsley; SCS board members Jane Goodwin, Eric Robinson, and Caroline Zucker; Education Foundation of Sarasota County (EFSC) Board Chair Britt Riner, President Jennifer Vigne, and other EFSC board members; EFSC founder Shirley Ritchey; 2019 Teacher of the Year finalists Tessa Healy, Ashlee Middleton, and Shane Swezey; other representatives of the foundation and school district, sponsors and special guests. The team congratulated finalists as their families, students, principals and fellow teachers joined the surprise tributes. 

Sarasota County Schools

The Orioles today announced that they will host an additional home game during their 10th anniversary season in Sarasota. The Orioles will play against the New York Mets at Ed Smith Stadium on Monday, March 23, at 1:05pm. Single-game tickets for the club’s Grapefruit League season, which now features 17 home dates in Sarasota, will go on sale on Saturday, January 11 at orioles.com/spring or by calling 941-893-6300. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report on Tuesday, February 11, while the full-squad report date is set for Sunday, February 16. The 2020 season will mark the Orioles’ 11th consecutive Spring Training season in Sarasota and the club’s 10th at renovated Ed Smith Stadium. 

Orioles

PEL, a 501 non-profit and PEL consignments its affiliated company, run estates sales awarded a $12,700 grant to Coastal Behavioral Healthcare’s Compass Center. Those who donate or shop at PEL enables its nonprofit arm of it its operations to help a variety of causes that support youth in the community. The issue of youth at risk in the community is serious. Through estate sales, PEL has dedicated itself to helping those most in need. PEL provided Coastal Behavioral Healthcare with the funding to purchase the Apex Virtual Learning System for Coastal’s Compass Center. 

Personalized Estate Liquidation

Due to audience demand, Florida Studio Theatre (FST) announces the extension of its opening Winter Mainstage production, Bright Star, which was nominated for five Tony Awards and won the 2016 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music. Called “Magical. Romantic. Pure.” by the New York Post, Bright Star tells an uplifting tale about family, enduring love, and the power of forgiveness.“This musical is about our basic human longing for connection, love, resolve, and for reconciliation,” shared Kate Alexander, FST’s Associate Director At-Large and the Director of Bright Star. With Music, Book, and Story by Steve Martin and Music, Lyrics, and Story by Edie Brickell, Bright Star has been held over through Saturday, January 11 in FST’s Gompertz Theatre. Tickets range from $36-59 and are now on sale at floridastudiotheatre.org, or by calling (941) 366-9000. 

Florida Studio Theatre