Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/101651
Sarasota News Leader January 4, 2013 ty, and how we can bring resources to bear on the revolving door of the most prolific persons who get involved with disturbing the peace. Some of these people have been through the revolving door 50, 60, 70, 100 times. They have substance abuse issues, maybe mental health issues. That���s going to be the priority of the task force, how to address that. Page 27 I���ve met a lot of folks since coming here, and before coming here, and I feel a lot of people think this is kind of the gemstone of the cultural life of the west side of Florida. SNL: What would you consider your greatest achievement in these first 100 days? Barwin: Early on I sensed morale was pretty low in the city organization, so I made it a point to reach out, try to meet as many people working for the city as possible. I spent a lot of time in the Police Department. I spent time at Public Works, time at Utilities ��� been to each and every division here at City Hall. I think I���ve met 75 to 80 percent of our employBarwin: That is a great observation, a great ees. question. Ferndale and Oak Park were like a precinct in the big urban city. I worked a lot in It���s going to take them awhile to know me, Detroit. I knew Mayor Daley in Chicago. trust me. But we started a dialogue and try SNL: Ferndale was a suburb of Detroit. Oak Park was a suburb of Chicago. In both cases, you managed a satellite community adjacent to a large metropolis. What is the difference between that type of management and the management of a freestanding city like Sarasota? The difference is Sarasota City is kind of [like] the Chicago of the region. It���s the county seat; it���s the central community. When I���m out and about within the county and have these regional conversations, they talk about ���the city.��� They mean Sarasota, the city. And the media is centered here, too. It���s a little unusual to have this degree of media in a city this size. The difference is Sarasota is the central city and it���s kind of like Chicago sets the image for the region, like Detroit sets the image for the region; Sarasota City has a special relationship and responsibility to the region to set the tone. And it does, in many, many ways. With that comes some of this passion we���ve been talking about, to keep polishing it and improving it, making it as attractive and special a place as possible. I think it bodes well for everybody. Tom Barwin and his wife, Margaret Bailey-Barwin, attend the Oct. 5 reception for finalists for the job of Sarasota police chief. Photo by Norman Schimmel