Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/352007
Siesta Seen AVENIDA DE MAYO AND THE HOMELESS On July 15, representatives of the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office and officers of the Siesta Key Association (SKA) had an oppor- tunity to talk about the parking situation on Avenida de Mayo and matters pertaining to the homeless on the Key, SKA President Michael Shay told me. Lt. Debra Kaspar of the Sheriff's Office's Administrative Law Enforcement Division had requested the meeting, primarily to review with SKA leaders the handling of July Fourth holiday events. (A number of concerns were raised at the June SKA meeting in regard to illegal fireworks.) "I think it went very well," Shay told me after the meeting. "I think they wanted to assure us the [illegal parking issues] and homeless are priorities." Shay has voiced concerns in the past that more county attention seems to be paid to keeping tourists and business owners happy, with residents as a third priority. The Sheriff's Office representatives "were very adamant that that is not the case," he said. Sheriff's deputies say Lance, who is commonly seen in his wheelchair on the north end of Siesta Key, is not violating any law by staying on the sidewalk. File photo Sarasota News Leader July 25, 2014 Page 73