St. John residents and visitors to this lovely gem need parking in Cruz Bay. St. Croix residents and tourists have similar problems in Christiansted.
Businesses, government services and public services need parking for their patrons and employees. Government, of course, provides parking for government activities. After all, government is us; right? We are responsible for us; right?
And responsible merchants provide parking for their workers and patrons. After all, businesses must have employees to operate, and they must attract customers who will purchase their goods and services. Right?
Now we get to all those other businesses and property owners who totally fill their land with buildings “for maximum profit” of course. Do all the workers use mass transit? Do they live in Cruz Bay, Christiansted, etc.? Do tourists magically appear with money and plastic hot in their hands, literally dropping from heaven?
Shop at Cost-U-Less and Tutu Mall, Orange Grove, Sunshine, etc. and they have parking.
CZM Chairman Albert Paiewonsky’s Piccolo Marina, however, doesn’t provide adequate parking. Restaurant dinners are expensive enough without the added $$ for a parking lot. So what do diners do? They eat at Frigate or Senor Pizza, which does provide patron parking.
Some may argue their businesses support our community with the taxes they pay. Has anyone attempted to prove it? Or are we, in fact, supporting these businesses?
On St. John, it is most clear the St. John residents and businesses are supporting several businesses. Those “parasites” squat on public land at no cost and take customers from legitimate businesses. Is CZM blind? Does Licensing and Consumer Affairs really issue business licenses to someone who doesn’t have a legitimate place of business?
Mobile food service is an ice cream, frako, bakery, pate truck moving down the road. There have been a few. A pate man used to have good conch and, now and then, whelk pates, which provided a pleasant break from office tedium.
Food trucks on the sidewalk, in the parking lot, in the street – NO WAY! Shanties in the highway right-of-way, overlooks, intersections are NOT legitimate businesses. They are living off a host. They meet the definition for parasite, barnacle, squatter. A restaurant with chairs spread out in the public parking lot – WHAT? This squatter is denying the public use of THEIR parking lot AND is living off the backs of legitimate businesses.
Why do we have so many parasites, squatters, and barnacles? Because we allow it.
Coastal Zone Management officials, Legislature, Planning and Natural Resources, Licensure: Do your job and earn your pay, or earn the public’s contempt.
Editor's note: Kirk Grybowski of St. Thomas recently retired from 31 years with the Virgin Islands government.
