I am upset this morning. Venting time.
Pigs does not refer to the four legged kind. Rather, those two legged. Man.
Two items in this morning’s Key West Citizen tick me off. Both have to do with the constant gouging of Key West Citizens.
One article concerns Stock Island’s Sunset Marina. Slip fees are being raised $5 a foot. The fees were raised last year also.
Most live on a boat because it is cheaper than buying or renting a home. Significantly. However with slip prices shooting up as they are, such will eventually no longer be true.
The other concerns towing fees.
The City Commission wants to raise towing fees from private properties by 35 percent. Increase other items also. Like allowing towers to charge up to $135 an hour where extraordinary effort is required. Everything will be extraordinary!
People are forced to leave Key West. More and more each year. They cannot afford the cost of living. The cost of living is much like the hills and steps which confront me in Greece and Italy. Everything up, nothing down.
Salaries contribute to the problem. Most are low paid hourly jobs. As time progresses, it is inevitable that a shortage of available employees will occur. Then, salaries will go up.
Getting back to the towing situation, the City Commission should be ashamed the way it handles Key West’s parking problem. It takes space away and raises parking fees for the limited space available. People are forced to park where ever they can. Such results in towing.
My yesterday began with a doctor visit. Another kind. Doctoring almost an every week thing. Then to Publix for a few things.
I had to hurry home after Publix. I was scheduled to be interviewed for 15 minutes on KONK News by Don Riggs. I had moved the time up to 12:45. Just made it.
Don and I had an interesting discussion re the Holocaust and the survivor Helen Sperling.
The evening was the best! The VFW on Northern Boulevard for dinner.
A big sign sits in front of the VFW building. Public Invited. I decided to try it. Glad I did.
Food good. Prices reasonable. Company excellent. A different breed of Key Westers. Veterans. They openly enjoy themselves. A happy group. They did their time in the military. Most fought. They have earned the right.
Met Schmegly. Spelled correctly. Looks like a thin santa Claus. A magnificent beard.
Schmegly has spent thirty years working Mallory Square at Sunset. Initially making creatures for children out of ballons. He considers such work an art. Today, he plays a banjo or guitar and sings.
Schmegly also walks Duval later in the evening playing the banjo. He refers to himself as a troubadour.
He makes his living from tips.
Schmegly’s real name is Richard Sloat. I never did find out how he got Schmegly out of Sloat.
He looks like an old timer you would find at Schooner Wharf.
Lighted Boat Parade tonight. An experience. Watch it from Schooner Wharf.
Tomorrow, the Parade of Paws. In the morning. Starts at Higgs Dog Park. Santa Claus will be there. The dogs will parade.
Key West loves dogs. Not only do we have Dog Park, we also have a Dog Beach. One of the best beaches in town. Right next to Louie’s Backyard.
A Saudi Arabian Prince referred to Trump as a “disgrace to America.” The Prince should talk. The pot calling the kettle black.
Saudi Arabia has much to answer for. The largest number of beheadings a year. No competition world wide. They abuse women. Do not permit them to drive. If an adulteress, stoning the penalty. Or, let a family member kill her and not prosecute the family member.
Enjoy your day!