Small town, small town politics. Favoritism sneaks into governmental decisions.
In Key West it is referred to as the bubba system. Friends taking care of friends.
The City Commission had before it a proposed increase in cab licenses. There have been 72 since 1992. Amazing! No need for an increase in all those years! Twenty four years!
Uber and Lyft came into the discussion. The City Commission’s position remains the same…..Wait till State officials rule on the matter. Called passing the buck. Additionally, the State may never rule on the issue.
One of the Commissioners came up with the excuse that Uber and Lyft would put too many cars on streets already congested. Bullshit! One of the purposes is to help relieve congestion. Encourage people to leave cars at home.
There is a saying the blind cannot see. In this instance, the Commission is not blind. Merely arbitrary. Protecting the 72 licenses as they have since 1992.
Which brings me directly into my Rotary installment for today. Installment 14.
In 1932, the Key West Chief of Police and Monroe County Sheriff were at odds. Harmony lacking between the two departments.
At the September 29, 1932 Rotary luncheon meeting, Police Chief Ivan Elwood and Sheriff Cleveland Niles were invited.
The problem being too much crime in Key West. The Police Department could not handle the volume. The Sheriff was reluctant to help.
Only one police officer on duty nights. To guard the entire City. Too much for one officer. Gangs were in vogue and breaking into homes and businesses on a frequent basis.
The Rotary pushed the Police Chief and Sheriff to work together. Join forces to combat the Key West crime wave.
Judge Jefferson B. Browne gave his opinion as to why Key West was experiencing so much lawlessness. Too many laws on the books. Covering minor things. Local emphasis had been placed on minor wrongdoings. So much so that there was no time for serious crime attention.
Key West is never without amusing occurrences. Probably what makes the community so popular.
The Key West Citizen reported this morning in its Today In Keys History section an interesting court proceeding. This day in 1993. A Court hearing for a retrial. Which was ultimately denied.
Rocky was a two year old 5 pound chihuahua who impregnated Camella, an 80 pound rottweiler.
The Court ordered Rocky’s owners to pay Camella’s owners $2,567.50 in damages.
An expensive sexual interlude.
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…..” Opening words to Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities.
On this day in 1859, the final installment of the novel was published. The last of three installments. Makes one believe the book was published in three parts.
Finally, yes. Initially, no.
Dickens published a weekly literary work. All The Year Round. He initially published A Tale of Two Cities in the weekly. Forty five chapters over a period of 31 weeks.
Interesting.
Tonight my podcast show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. Topics will naturally include Trump’s election and the protests following. Other topics include Gingrich’s wanting a new House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities (shades of Joe Mc Carthy), and Necons, 9/11 involved persons and Goldman Sachs people on Team Trump.
Also, Nestles granted double water extraction 120 miles from Flint, schools offering counseling to students disturbed by Trump election, robots will soon take 2/3s of all jobs in the developing world, and more.
Again, 9 this evening. A fast moving revealing half hour. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.
Enjoy your day!