Welcome you to the website of
the
working together
to protect our
homes and neighborhoods,
and to improve our
community
West
Neighborhood
Associations
COMMUNITY IN CRISIS
"CONCH REPUBLIC?"
REPORTS THAT ONLY THREE OUT OF FORTY
EMPLOYEES ACTUALLY LIVE IN THE KEYS.
THE REST OF THE EMPLOYEES COMMUTE
DAILY FROM MIAMI-DADE COUNTY BY BUS.
LARGEST IN MARATHON, WILL BE
REPLACED BY CONDOMINIUM UNITS AND
EMPLOYEE HOUSING, BECAUSE THE
OWNERS CAN'T FIND ENOUGH LOCAL
WORKERS TO STAFF THE HOTEL.
NATIONWIDE, HAS TAKEN A "HIT." PRICES
ARE ACTUALLY DROPPING IN SOME AREAS.
AS USUAL, WHEN THE COUNTRY GETS A
COLD, MONROE COUNTY SUFFERS FROM
PNEUMONIA.
CURRENT LEVELS BECAUSE OF THE
RECENT SPECULATION IN "SECOND
HOMES," AND THE PROHIBITIVE COST OF
WIND AND FLOOD INSURANCE, THERE ARE
NO "REGULAR" FAMILIES MOVING INTO
MONROE COUNTY.
ACTIONS FILED IN MONROE COUNTY IN 2007
IS 500% GREATER THAN THE NUMBER FILED
IN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR!
THEIR JURORS WHO HAVE TO STAY
OVERNIGHT IN KEY WEST
$278 PER NIGHT FOR A HOTEL ROOM.
WEST WILL BE MORE LIKE ISLAMORADA.
TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOODS WILL BE
SECOND HOMES OR HOUSING FOR
SEASONAL WORKERS.
WILL INCREASE, BECAUSE FEWER
NEIGHBORHOODS WILL HAVE
PERMANENT RESIDENTS.
ORGANIZATIONS WILL SHRINK. WE WILL
HAVE TO TRAVEL TO THE MAINLAND FOR
MOST MEDICAL PROCEDURES. BASIC
SERVICES WILL BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE,
BUT WILL BE LOWER QUALITY.
MUCH OF THIS IS UP TO OUR ELECTED
OFFICIALS
PROBLEMS.
ONE PROPOSAL IS TO INCREASE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND TO MAKE THE HOMESTEAD
EXEMPTION "PORTABLE" WITHIN THE STATE. (SOME SAY THAT THE PORTABILITY SCHEME MAY NOT BE
CONSTITUTIONAL.)
ANOTHER PROPOSAL IS TO INCREASE THE SALES TAX. SOME SAY THIS WOULD BE TOO "REGRESSIVE." IT
SEEMS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE SUGGESTS AN INCOME TAX.
THE INSURANCE CRISIS, IN SPITE OF SOME ENCOURAGING SIGNS, IS STILL NOT RESOLVED.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT IS GOING ON IN TALLAHASSEE CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION
ON WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING LOCALLY SEE BELOW OR GO TO THIS LINK: www.FIRMkeys.org
A Continuing Update....
- LAST STAND calls for letters to the Governor about the tailor-made-for-developers plan to
reduce the "hurricane evacuation time." THIS MEANS TROUBLE FOR ALL OF US.
- LAST STAND and REEF RELIEF are calling for letters to our Representatives and Senators in
Washington to let them know how we feel about oil drilling along our coast. (If you saw the
beaches in California in the Seventies, you'll know what we mean.)
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.last-stand.org www.reefrelief.org
- There have been some hopeful signs in the INSURANCE CRISIS, but it did NOT happen by
accident. It came about by a lot of hard work by some dedicated home and business owners. If
you haven't joined FIRM (Fair Insurance Rates in Monroe) yet, it's time you did. For more
information on this problem which could destroy our community in a few short years, click on the
following link: www.FIRMkeys.org
- There have been some interesting developments on the Transient Rental front. Key West The
Newspaper (the Blue Newspaper) has been following the story. Suffice it to say that the struggle
to maintain reasonable residential zones in appropriate place is far from over. If we feel that a 30
day rental limit serves all residential (not commercial) purposes, and enhances the values of our
individual properties, then we'd be best advised to keep an eye on the situation. Once it goes
honky-tonk, it won't go back. And Old Town is not laid out like Truman Annex.
ANOTHER SIGN OF THE TIMES
A fellow we know, who provides essential
services to one of our government agencies, and
who pays $1400 a month plus utilities for a
small apartment on William Street in Key West,
reports that adjacent transient renters routinely
keep him awake on weeknights, allowing their
kids to cavort in the pool until midnight.
When are we going to wake up, Key West?
What will it take to get good, enforceable
zoning??
PS: Another middle-class worker is leaving.**
**(Update: make that "has left.")
Last Stand
www.last-stand.org
And our own Newsgroup
The KWNA Yahoo Group
Bob Kelly's Informative Friends and Family
Key West "Blog" Site
http://therealkeywest.blogspot.com
KEY WEST CITY SITE
AGENDAS, CODES, INFORMATION
www.keywestcity.com
Another Useful and Informative Site:
www.floridahometowndemocracy.com
WORTH FIGHTING FOR--
IN IRAQ, IN AFGHANISTAN,
AND HERE AT HOME.
YOU DO NOT TAKE A NEWSPAPER
EDITOR TO JAIL FOR EXPRESSING
AN OPINION WITH WHICH YOU DO
NOT AGREE IN AMERICA.
TOO MANY HAVE DIED TO
PRESERVE HIS RIGHT, AND YOURS!
WORTH SAVING
AND WORTH FIGHTING FOR
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"transient rental settlement" and who contacted the
Mayor and City Commissioners about our concerns.
What might be good for the investors in "Shipyard" is
not necessarily going to be good for OUR neighborhood
or situation.
We will try to keep Key West people informed, as we deal
with the inevitable changes that will come from this
action.
CLICK HERE