To the Source:
This is in response to the earlier Open Forum letter "Big Two aren't about to slash prices here".
It may be unfair to criticize solutions to high gas prizes as I sit here in Williamsburg, Va., where gas is currently around $1.30 per gallon, but I feel compelled to respond to Mr. Grybowski's ideas for lowering prices. He and I absorbed completely different lessons from our economics classes, but that may be because I didn't pay as much attention. One of the first things I remember as we started to draw supply/demand curves was that artificial price ceilings and floors create either waste or shortages.
I'm not such a believer in graphs and the power of the invisible hand that I think the free market and my Economics 101 class are perfect indicators of real world events, but it is general economic principle that price controls lead to artificial shortages. The idea is that if the government requires sellers to sell at a specific price, the sellers have no motivation to meet the market demand. The unintended consequence of a price control may be lines at gas stations. Of course, economics models are only decent at predicting situations in a perfect world.
Perhaps the gas distributors really are taking advantage of the situation and artificially increasing their prices. All things being equal, this is a pretty compelling scenario, given that gas prices on St. Croix are often 50 cents or more cheaper than on St. Thomas. That alone suggests the need for some governmental intervention. However, whether that means that price controls are in order isn't so clear.
Most gas stations on the mainland are more efficient, with automated pay-at-the-pump features and much less need for attendants. I haven't been home in over a year, but I don't think that local gas stations have all these features. A hidden factor in gas prices is federal and local taxes. A station in Williamsburg proper sells gas for $1.37 a gallon, while just across the county line, the same gas is $1.30 a gallon; and in rural Virginia or on military bases, that same gas is $1.22 a gallon.
How much is the tax on gasoline in the Virgin Islands? Even if we decide that high gas prices are caused by gas distributors, do we really want the government stepping in to set the prices? Who will decide what a fair price is? I shudder to think of our fuel system becoming anything like the Water and Power Authority. Gas prices might become the latest pawn in our electoral battles, with candidates offering progressively lower prices until no one is willing to supply gas to St. Thomas any more.
Lest I be labeled a critic with no ideas of my own, I will offer several solutions.
– First, someone (government agency, private group) needs to find out why gas prices are different between St. Thomas/St. John and St. Croix (unless this is obvious to everyone but me). I know that some difference is reasonable because the refinery is right there on St. Croix, but I don't think the huge difference in price can be explained solely through transportation costs. If it is just a matter of opening Hess stations on St. Thomas and St. John, then let's find someone with the money to do that.
– Second, our gasoline research group should find out why gas prices are so high — whether it's taxes, excess profits, supply issues, or high overhead. It's easy to demonize big business and energy companies; but while they sometimes gouge consumers, it is unfair to assume they always do. Governmental regulations and taxes have a way of driving costs up, and the increases get passed directly to consumers. Even if gas stations are inflating the prices, it may be simply a seasonal measure to allow for lower prices later in the year.
– Third, even if it is outright extortion, to expect the Virgin Islands government to fix anything is marvelously hopeful. I think we would all be better served if the government were left out of things, at least until it has dealt with more important problems. I was born on St. Thomas and spent my entire life there (until college/law school) and I will return when school is done, and I know just how important a car is. Our public transportation is woefully inadequate, and it's too hilly to bike anywhere, so a boycott of gas stations wouldn't really work. But any way that people could collectively reduce their consumption, whether it is car pooling or driving more fuel-efficient cars, would be a step in the right direction.
I realize that these ideas may seem woefully inadequate to those paying $2 a gallon. I was frustrated at paying $1.85 a gallon when I was home last summer, and I wish somebody would do something. However, relying on the government for a solution is overly optimistic at best and extremely dangerous at worst.
Travis Wheatley
Williamsburg, Va., and St. Thomas
STRIDRION: 'SUPER MAX' SECURITY IS 'HELLACIOUS'
Aug. 14, 2001 – Calling it "hellacious," Attorney General Iver Stridiron on Tuesday described life at a Virginia prison where he and three other government officials were last Friday meeting with authorities and V.I. inmates.
Wallens Ridge State Prison is considered a Level 6 or "super max," for highest maximum-security, facility. It was opened in April 1999.
A Level 6 prison as defined by the Virginia Department of Corrections is for individuals serving single life, multiple life and life-plus sentences; and those who are disruptive or assaultive, are escape risks, or display severe behavior problems or predatory-type behavior.
Rehabilitation is not at the top of the priority list at Wallens Ridge, Stridiron said Tuesday afternoon at a press conference on St. Thomas. Security is.
Currently 15 Virgin Islands prisoners reside at the prison in Big Stone Gap, Va. A dozen of them previously were incarcerated in other mainland institutions.
When 90 prisoners were returned to the territory from mainland prisons last year, the Corrections Bureau director, Horace Magras, asked that those 12 be kept on the mainland. Looking at a staff of rookie corrections officers ill-equipped to handle more dangerous and disruptive prisoners, Stridiron agreed to Magras's request.
At Wallens Ridge, a typical day for the V.I. prisoners — who are together in a "segregation unit," as are prisoners from New Mexico, Connecticut and Virginia — is 23 hours in a cell and one hour of "recreation." That hour might consist of one of the three showers they are allowed each week, or time in a 6 by 9 foot outdoor cage that strongly resembles the dog cages at the Humane Society of St. Thomas.
The prisoners can get "sun" while in the cage, Stridiron said.
Before leaving their cells, prisoners are shackled hands and feet to ensure the safety of security personnel and other prisoners. Stridiron said two corrections officers walk each inmate to the shower or the outdoor cage.
Magras, who accompanied Stridrion to Wallens Ridge, said the facility was well managed and well controlled and meets the accreditation requirements of the American Correctional Association. He said the differences between St. Croix's Golden Grove Correctional Facility and Wallens Ridge are "startling."
At Golden Grove, Bradley "Hurtie" Maxwell could walk the grounds. Those days are over for Maxwell, confined at Wallens Ridge at least for now. Maxwell, a convicted murdered, escaped from prison twice in the Virgin Islands.
The V.I. prisoners could "earn their way back to the Virgin Islands," Stridiron said, but doing so would be a "Herculean task" that would depend entirely upon their behavior. The inmates also can earn their way to lower-level prisons if they behave themselves, he said.
Stridrion said he hoped that describing the severe conditions of Wallens Ridge at a press conference might have the effect of deterring some young people from pursuing a criminal lifestyle that could end them up there or at some other mainland maximum security facility.
"It's hardest on the families," the attorney general said, "especially the mothers and grandmothers" who cannot afford to travel to Wallens Ridge.
The V.I. prisoners currently serving time at Wallens Ridge are:
Dennis Blyden
Thomas Freeland
Beaumont Gereau
Matthew George
Delroy Josiah
Ruben Maduro
Bradley Maxwell
Eric Miller
Gent Mosby
Roy Parrott
Julio Perez
Ruben Rivera-Morena
Alrick Roberts
Roberto Smalls
Meral Smith
Wallens Ridge State Prison is considered a Level 6 or "super max," for highest maximum-security, facility. It was opened in April 1999.
A Level 6 prison as defined by the Virginia Department of Corrections is for individuals serving single life, multiple life and life-plus sentences; and those who are disruptive or assaultive, are escape risks, or display severe behavior problems or predatory-type behavior.
Rehabilitation is not at the top of the priority list at Wallens Ridge, Stridiron said Tuesday afternoon at a press conference on St. Thomas. Security is.
Currently 15 Virgin Islands prisoners reside at the prison in Big Stone Gap, Va. A dozen of them previously were incarcerated in other mainland institutions.
When 90 prisoners were returned to the territory from mainland prisons last year, the Corrections Bureau director, Horace Magras, asked that those 12 be kept on the mainland. Looking at a staff of rookie corrections officers ill-equipped to handle more dangerous and disruptive prisoners, Stridiron agreed to Magras's request.
At Wallens Ridge, a typical day for the V.I. prisoners — who are together in a "segregation unit," as are prisoners from New Mexico, Connecticut and Virginia — is 23 hours in a cell and one hour of "recreation." That hour might consist of one of the three showers they are allowed each week, or time in a 6 by 9 foot outdoor cage that strongly resembles the dog cages at the Humane Society of St. Thomas.
The prisoners can get "sun" while in the cage, Stridiron said.
Before leaving their cells, prisoners are shackled hands and feet to ensure the safety of security personnel and other prisoners. Stridiron said two corrections officers walk each inmate to the shower or the outdoor cage.
Magras, who accompanied Stridrion to Wallens Ridge, said the facility was well managed and well controlled and meets the accreditation requirements of the American Correctional Association. He said the differences between St. Croix's Golden Grove Correctional Facility and Wallens Ridge are "startling."
At Golden Grove, Bradley "Hurtie" Maxwell could walk the grounds. Those days are over for Maxwell, confined at Wallens Ridge at least for now. Maxwell, a convicted murdered, escaped from prison twice in the Virgin Islands.
The V.I. prisoners could "earn their way back to the Virgin Islands," Stridiron said, but doing so would be a "Herculean task" that would depend entirely upon their behavior. The inmates also can earn their way to lower-level prisons if they behave themselves, he said.
Stridrion said he hoped that describing the severe conditions of Wallens Ridge at a press conference might have the effect of deterring some young people from pursuing a criminal lifestyle that could end them up there or at some other mainland maximum security facility.
"It's hardest on the families," the attorney general said, "especially the mothers and grandmothers" who cannot afford to travel to Wallens Ridge.
The V.I. prisoners currently serving time at Wallens Ridge are:
Dennis Blyden
Thomas Freeland
Beaumont Gereau
Matthew George
Delroy Josiah
Ruben Maduro
Bradley Maxwell
Eric Miller
Gent Mosby
Roy Parrott
Julio Perez
Ruben Rivera-Morena
Alrick Roberts
Roberto Smalls
Meral Smith
STRIDRION: 'SUPER MAX' SECURITY IS 'HELLACIOUS'
Aug. 14, 2001 – Calling it "hellacious," Attorney General Iver Stridiron on Tuesday described life at a Virginia prison where he and three other government officials were last Friday meeting with authorities and V.I. inmates.
Wallens Ridge State Prison is considered a Level 6 or "super max," for highest maximum-security, facility. It was opened in April 1999.
A Level 6 prison as defined by the Virginia Department of Corrections is for individuals serving single life, multiple life and life-plus sentences; and those who are disruptive or assaultive, are escape risks, or display severe behavior problems or predatory-type behavior.
Rehabilitation is not at the top of the priority list at Wallens Ridge, Stridiron said Tuesday afternoon at a press conference on St. Thomas. Security is.
Currently 15 Virgin Islands prisoners reside at the prison in Big Stone Gap, Va. A dozen of them previously were incarcerated in other mainland institutions.
When 90 prisoners were returned to the territory from mainland prisons last year, the Corrections Bureau director, Horace Magras, asked that those 12 be kept on the mainland. Looking at a staff of rookie corrections officers ill-equipped to handle more dangerous and disruptive prisoners, Stridiron agreed to Magras's request.
At Wallens Ridge, a typical day for the V.I. prisoners — who are together in a "segregation unit," as are prisoners from New Mexico, Connecticut and Virginia — is 23 hours in a cell and one hour of "recreation." That hour might consist of one of the three showers they are allowed each week, or time in a 6 by 9 foot outdoor cage that strongly resembles the dog cages at the Humane Society of St. Thomas.
The prisoners can get "sun" while in the cage, Stridiron said.
Before leaving their cells, prisoners are shackled hands and feet to ensure the safety of security personnel and other prisoners. Stridiron said two corrections officers walk each inmate to the shower or the outdoor cage.
Magras, who accompanied Stridrion to Wallens Ridge, said the facility was well managed and well controlled and meets the accreditation requirements of the American Correctional Association. He said the differences between St. Croix's Golden Grove Correctional Facility and Wallens Ridge are "startling."
At Golden Grove, Bradley "Hurtie" Maxwell could walk the grounds. Those days are over for Maxwell, confined at Wallens Ridge at least for now. Maxwell, a convicted murdered, escaped from prison twice in the Virgin Islands.
The V.I. prisoners could "earn their way back to the Virgin Islands," Stridiron said, but doing so would be a "Herculean task" that would depend entirely upon their behavior. The inmates also can earn their way to lower-level prisons if they behave themselves, he said.
Stridrion said he hoped that describing the severe conditions of Wallens Ridge at a press conference might have the effect of deterring some young people from pursuing a criminal lifestyle that could end them up there or at some other mainland maximum security facility.
"It's hardest on the families," the attorney general said, "especially the mothers and grandmothers" who cannot afford to travel to Wallens Ridge.
The V.I. prisoners currently serving time at Wallens Ridge are:
Dennis Blyden
Thomas Freeland
Beaumont Gereau
Matthew George
Delroy Josiah
Ruben Maduro
Bradley Maxwell
Eric Miller
Gent Mosby
Roy Parrott
Julio Perez
Ruben Rivera-Morena
Alrick Roberts
Roberto Smalls
Meral Smith
Wallens Ridge State Prison is considered a Level 6 or "super max," for highest maximum-security, facility. It was opened in April 1999.
A Level 6 prison as defined by the Virginia Department of Corrections is for individuals serving single life, multiple life and life-plus sentences; and those who are disruptive or assaultive, are escape risks, or display severe behavior problems or predatory-type behavior.
Rehabilitation is not at the top of the priority list at Wallens Ridge, Stridiron said Tuesday afternoon at a press conference on St. Thomas. Security is.
Currently 15 Virgin Islands prisoners reside at the prison in Big Stone Gap, Va. A dozen of them previously were incarcerated in other mainland institutions.
When 90 prisoners were returned to the territory from mainland prisons last year, the Corrections Bureau director, Horace Magras, asked that those 12 be kept on the mainland. Looking at a staff of rookie corrections officers ill-equipped to handle more dangerous and disruptive prisoners, Stridiron agreed to Magras's request.
At Wallens Ridge, a typical day for the V.I. prisoners — who are together in a "segregation unit," as are prisoners from New Mexico, Connecticut and Virginia — is 23 hours in a cell and one hour of "recreation." That hour might consist of one of the three showers they are allowed each week, or time in a 6 by 9 foot outdoor cage that strongly resembles the dog cages at the Humane Society of St. Thomas.
The prisoners can get "sun" while in the cage, Stridiron said.
Before leaving their cells, prisoners are shackled hands and feet to ensure the safety of security personnel and other prisoners. Stridiron said two corrections officers walk each inmate to the shower or the outdoor cage.
Magras, who accompanied Stridrion to Wallens Ridge, said the facility was well managed and well controlled and meets the accreditation requirements of the American Correctional Association. He said the differences between St. Croix's Golden Grove Correctional Facility and Wallens Ridge are "startling."
At Golden Grove, Bradley "Hurtie" Maxwell could walk the grounds. Those days are over for Maxwell, confined at Wallens Ridge at least for now. Maxwell, a convicted murdered, escaped from prison twice in the Virgin Islands.
The V.I. prisoners could "earn their way back to the Virgin Islands," Stridiron said, but doing so would be a "Herculean task" that would depend entirely upon their behavior. The inmates also can earn their way to lower-level prisons if they behave themselves, he said.
Stridrion said he hoped that describing the severe conditions of Wallens Ridge at a press conference might have the effect of deterring some young people from pursuing a criminal lifestyle that could end them up there or at some other mainland maximum security facility.
"It's hardest on the families," the attorney general said, "especially the mothers and grandmothers" who cannot afford to travel to Wallens Ridge.
The V.I. prisoners currently serving time at Wallens Ridge are:
Dennis Blyden
Thomas Freeland
Beaumont Gereau
Matthew George
Delroy Josiah
Ruben Maduro
Bradley Maxwell
Eric Miller
Gent Mosby
Roy Parrott
Julio Perez
Ruben Rivera-Morena
Alrick Roberts
Roberto Smalls
Meral Smith
GERS RETIREES MEETING
The Government Employees Retirement System will hold a meeting to hear grievances and suggestions from retirees at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 24, at the Curriculum Center, St. Croix.
GERS RETIREES MEETING
The Government Employees Retirement System will hold a meeting to hear grievances and suggestions from retirees at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 31, at the Curriculum Center, St. Croix.
GERS RETIREES MEETING
The Government Employees Retirement System will hold a meeting to hear grievances and suggestions from retirees at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 23, at the GERS Conference Room, St. Thomas.
ST. JOHN VETERANS MEETING
There will be a general meeting of all st. John Veterans at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 21, at Mooies Bar meeting room.
All veterans are urged to attend and bring another veteran.
All veterans are urged to attend and bring another veteran.
GERS RETIREES MEETING
The Government Employees Retirement System will hold a meeting to hear grievances and suggestions from retirees at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 23, at GERS Conference Room, St. Thomas.
ALL ST. JOHN VETERANS MEETING
There will be a general meeting for all St. JOhn veterans at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 21, at Mooies Bar meeting room.
All veterans are urged to attend and to bring another veteran.
All veterans are urged to attend and to bring another veteran.
GERS RETIREES MEETING
The Government Employees Retirement System will hold a meeting to hear grievances and suggestions from retirees at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 23, at the GERS Conference Room on St. Thomas.
