- March 28, 2024
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Coffee Talk (Sara/Mana edition)
Argus to host Bush basher
When Caren Lobo, owner of Sarasota News & Books, invited Bush-bashing-billionaire George Soros to Sarasota as a speaker (no surprise there), Soros' people said their man wanted to deliver his message to conservative business types. Lobo knew just the right audience - The Argus Foundation, the not-for-profit business group made up mostly of Sarasota-Manatee CEOs.
She suggested the idea to Argus Executive Director Kerry Kirschner. Kirschner thought: In spite of Soros' views of Bush, why not? Kirschner knows what to expect from Soros, but that's OK. Bring him on, he says. Kirschner expects his members will have some pointed questions for the big-spending financier.
Soros has agreed to be the guest speaker at the Argus Foundation's Oct. 20 "Meet the Minds" session in the Grand Foyer of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
Soros ranks 24th on the Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans with an estimated net worth of $7.4 billion. He is most noted as one of the world's most successful hedge fund managers and currency traders and in recent years has gained notoriety as a world philanthropist. National Public Radio says Soros has donated more than $4 billion of his personal fortune to charitable causes over the past two decades through his not-for-profit foundations and the Open Society Institute.
Lately, Soros has been on an all-out mission to defeat Bush. On tour wherever he can to deliver his beat-Bush message, the Hungarian immigrant also has been one of the principle financiers of the now-infamous "527" political organizations airing anti-Bush commercials on TV and radio.
The "Meet the Minds" session will start with an 11:15 a.m. check-in. To reserve a seat, send $35 per person to The Argus Foundation, Box 49361, Sarasota, Fla. 34230, or call Sharlene Hillier, (941) 365-4886, or e-mail her at [email protected].
Morton, Currin to receive lifetime achievement honors
Two weeks after hosting financier George Soros, the Argus Foundation will fete two longtime Sarasota business leaders. Argus will honor the namesake of Morton's market, Ted Morton, and the late Russ Currin Jr., 22-year chairman of FCCI Insurance Group, at its Nov. 4 Lifetime Achievement Award Banquet.
The third annual award night will be held at the Serendipity Racquet Club at the Country Club of Sarasota. At $75 per person, it will include an open bar, hors d'oeuvres, dinner and a video presentation honoring Morton and Currin. For reservations, contact Sharlene Hillier at The Argus Foundation, 365-4886, or [email protected].
Supreme Court to consider government takings
Bill Moore, managing partner of the property-rights law firm of Brigham Moore LLP, looks forward to next year. On Sept. 28, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a court case considering eminent domain condemnation for economic redevelopment.
In Susette Kelo, et al., v. City of New London, New London wants to condemn and raze several homes - including Kelo's - to create a riverfront hotel, health club and offices to help revitalize the area. In March, the Connecticut Supreme Court found voted 4-3 for New London. The central question of the case relates to economic growth as a "public purpose" for a condemnation taking.
Although, the court's decision is uncertain, for Moore it holds the possibility of correcting what he sees as government abuse in areas such as Murdock Village in Charlotte County.
Moore says: "It's about time that they take up the issue. This could have a big effect on the constitutional requirement of a public purpose. Although the case does not involve blight, the underlying issues are very similar. Government believes that the need for economic redevelopment is enough of a reason to use eminent domain."
Asked what the economic effect would be if the Supreme Court reduced governments' ability to use eminent domain, Moore responds: "If we win, it would reduce the number of cases we have. It would actually be to our economic disadvantage. But that is not really the issue that we are concerned about. What they are doing is wrong and somebody needs to stop them."
The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the matter late next year.
Plaza Veri deal: Stalled or dead?
Plaza Verdi, the largest real estate development currently planned for downtown Sarasota is in serious jeopardy. A frustrated Community Redevelopment Agency has given developer Ersa Grae a 60-day extension to reach purchase agreements with the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre and the Sarasota Opera. The CRA made it clear at the Sept. 28 special meeting that the new 60-day deadline is a drop-dead date.
A lot of the irritation, from the somewhat terse CRA special session, stemmed from a confidentially agreement question brought to light mere days before the end of the CRA's first 90-day deadline for an agreement. The Golden Apple Dinner Theatre, speaking through its agent John Harshman, president of Harshman & Co. Inc., was requiring a confidentially agreement before negotiating with Ersa Grae on the property sale. Ersa Grae in turn sent a letter to the CRA, on Sept. 17, requesting that they give the developer some direction on whether or not it could sign the agreement.
At the special session, the CRA defeated a measure that would have supported Ersa Grae signing such an agreement. Harshman now says the Golden Apple's position remains the same.
"We feel without the confidentiality agreement, we will not be able to pursue the sale of the property to Ersa Grae," he says. "The Golden Apple is a private company and would like to keep its business dealings private."
Ali Ebrahimi, president of Ersa Grae, says he remainsl hopeful a solution can be found. "The way that they (CRA) voted showed that we made the right decision," he says. "We are still looking to find a good compromise. Being a developer you have to be optimistic. I am 90% certain we will find a solution; we just haven't found it yet."
Plaza Verdi is designed as a hotel, 116 condominiums, a 10-story mixed-use building, with an 840-space parking garage, new theater facilities for the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre and Sarasota Opera and a pedestrian galleria to link the project with Ersa Grae's Plaza at Five Points.