Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/147897
Sarasota News Leader August 2, 2013 OPINION Although the owner, or owners, of the property would not communicate with the county about the violations, they continued to rent the property, accommodating at least seven parties since the first Notice of Violation was served. Perhaps with rental rates of $4,500 per week, they figured they still were coming out ahead on the county's cumulative fines of $3,500 per week. Page 79 area. Even on the upper floor there is only one exit, which could be blocked in the event of fire, trapping the occupants. Worse, the malingering intransigence of the owners is potentially putting innocent lives at risk. While this matter drags through the courts — and one can only assume by the deft elusion so far of the property's owners and their erstwhile pettifogs that the case will test When it appeared nothing would coax the the cunctative limits of our judicial system — owners or their attorneys to even acknowl- the specter of tragic conflagration grows nearedge the property's shortcomings, the county er. filed a lawsuit to force compliance with the No one would deny a property owner the codes. right to maximize the honest return on his or However, despite taking that action on July her investment. What no one wants, howev17, the county was unable to properly "serve" er, is for the nation's television cameras to be the defendants until July 25. The defendants trained on Siesta Beach as 40 charred bodies have 20 days from that date of service to file are brought out of the smoldering ruins. their answer to the county's complaint. It is far past time for the owners of the house This entire situation concerns us greatly. First, at 6537 Sabal Drive — whoever they might despite the convenience and obvious conviv- be — to do the right thing and put their house iality that can result from assembling a party in order. % of dozens of friends or family under one roof, the risk of cramming so many people into a LETTERS TO THE EDITOR single space outweighs those benefits. Were The Sarasota News Leader welcomes letters to the editor from its the house subject to the same standards as horeaders. Letters should be no more tels — required to have fire alarms, sprinkler than 300 words in length, and insystems, adequate exits and an emergency esclude the name, street address and telephone number of the writer. Letters should be emailed to cape plan — there would be less concern. But this house does not even comply with the minimum requirements of the county for safe ingress and egress. The entire ground level of the structure is an illegal accommodation, violating FEMA rules against occupancy in that Letters@SarasotaNewsLeader.com, with "Letter to the Editor" in the subject line. Letters actually printed will be selected based on space available, subject matter and other factors. We reserve the right to edit any letters submitted for length, grammar, spelling, etc. All letters submitted become the property of The Sarasota News Leader.