"T'ings" are not the only ting looking up at Red Hook

http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_home?id=17614883

Oooo, I just got to that story - nice increase!! Looking up but going up.....

Oh definitely looking UP - and up and up and up as the transformation of a wonderfully quiet little hamlet segues into the Caribbean version of Route 1. In my opinon, the whole essence of Red Hook has been steadily eroded over the last 20 years and most particularly recently. The monied people looking for investment opportunities don't give a rat's patootie about environmental issues concerning either the USVI or anywhere else on the planet. Building is money and money rules.

I have no doubt that the monstrous complex currently being erected opposite the ferry facility will house a whole bunch of offices and stores along with an alternative parking lot and will be carefully planted with imported palms and bougainvillea and other lovely stuff to ensure that the "Caribbean" theme will continue. Such is "progress."

Meanwhile, all the crap from that construction site has filtered down across the road into the mangroves. While the parking concerns in Red Hook continued to be addressed, commuter cars were parked bumper to bumper alongside the road for a year or more in violation of federal EPA rules which specifically ban parking next to mangroves.

Parking barriers were finally put in place but the damage has already been done and the results of that damage will show up within just a few years.

Global warming is a threat which I take to heart most seriously and environmental abuse goes along with that. The older I get the wearier I get, so that's a "good night" from me about Red Hook changes. Cheers!

Time to sit back and remember, if you are old enough ....
Big Yellow Taxi

They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hot spot
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got
Till its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

They took all the trees
Put em in a tree museum
And they charged the people
A dollar and a half just to see em
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got
Till its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

Hey farmer farmer
Put away that d.d.t. now
Give me spots on my apples
But leave me the birds and the bees
Please!
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got
Till its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

Late last night
I heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi
Took away my old man
Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got
Till its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

-Joni Mitchell

Sorry, I think my "sounds good" was a bit too all-encompassing about the changes at Red Hook. I AM happy to see some of the confusion at the ferries be resolved (I must be getting a lot older and/or a LOT less tolerant, but when we were there in May it was pretty chaotic). Not liking some of the other changes, tho. I miss the little Starfish Market and the Grateful Deli with the good soup and the old computers - not sure that the Food Center was really needed out that way. Always a tough call - we think it's a good thing if it brings jobs but sometimes things that appear good on the surface just aren't.

I remember heading over to STJ on the ferry the first spring after Marilyn and seeing those "stumps" sticking up in the water in Red Hook where the piers used to be. Everyone in our group just stood by the ferry rail in quiet - we knew the people were rallying and the area would come back but we also knew that it would probably not be for the better. I still miss Piccolo Marina and their little deli. And, Raffles restaurant, too, out at Compass Point. (Geesh, I'm really showing my age.) When we were over on STJ this May that construction mess(es) could be heard all over the island and the water in the bay is not as crystal anymore. Not sure I like what's happening over there - not that anyone asked me.

All in all, I think Joni was right.