Florida Keys News - Key West Citizen
Monday, November 19, 2012
Big blue 'ducks' hit streets, waters
CityView to later launch its own, competing with HTA
BY GWEN FILOSA Citizen Staff
gfilosa@keysnews.com

This big blue duck hit the water like a champ, and not without passersby taking notice.

A few scooter riders and pedestrians padding about the Truman Waterfront on Saturday gawked at the giant, tourist-ready vehicle that went from Duval Street coach to harbor boat once it stopped on the boat ramp.

One rubbernecker almost wiped out on his scooter, se...

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Come on, you all know that

Submitted on Wed, 11/21/2012 - 8:47am by david2009
Come on, you all know that what's good for business is good for America.

What's good for Swift is not good for anyone but him and his

Submitted on Wed, 11/21/2012 - 8:55pm by *.* CLEARLY the original
buddy Chris.

They are not 'ducks'

Submitted on Tue, 11/20/2012 - 7:41pm
This huge 'box on wheels' is not a duck...it is a hydra-terra. Its a shame HTA uses the duck tour handle in thier advertising. Ducks are way smaller as in the original WWII design which are 6x6 gmc truck frames with a hull built around it and where the 'dukw' got its nickname 'ducks'. These HTA machines called 'hydra-terras' should be refered to as 'HIPPOS'...surely not ducks. Gives ducks a bad name.

No respect

Submitted on Tue, 11/20/2012 - 12:02pm by 666
Ed Swift has no respect at all for residents. Whether it is cramming a 400 seat restaurant into Bahama Village or not caring about the residents along the route of these monsters, he snubs locals again and again. I guess he has a freind in Truman Annex. why is that a quiet zone amd not the resdential end of Whitehead? Thanks Ed. Next time I see you around town I will be sure to thank you.

But he sure doesn't want a TV show filming next to his sad

Submitted on Wed, 11/21/2012 - 10:52am by Tina
Key Haven 'mansion', does he?

Size Really Matters?

Submitted on Tue, 11/20/2012 - 10:21am by BenAnders
Since everyone appears to be so concerned about the size of ducks, it would seem appropriate that we also outlaw school buses, semi trailers, city buses and firetrucks. All of them are physically larger in size than ducks so they would also be a hazard on our streets. Right? It would also be interesting to compare training and experience levels. I would wager that duck captains have more training and experience than the other drivers as well (with the exception of firetruck drivers. I do believe that they, at least, are professionals). Finally, how many of the other drivers have been drug tested? All HTA employees are tested prior to employment and randomly at later dates as well.

You seem very proud of that CDL. And a captains ticktet isn't

Submitted on Wed, 11/21/2012 - 11:01am by Tina
hard to obtain either. Many bums in the mangroves have captains' tickets. There are people here who hold Coast Guard licenses but have zero spacial abilities and have run over the reef many times and have also run over divers and passengers and killed them. So don't go around touting a license. If you're working for a company that requires that you have a CDL, you're drug tested. HTA is no different than any other company. As for the drug testing by HTA, I know many train drivers who are heavily weed addicted and they know what to do to make sure they get a 'clean' random test.

What kind of bonus is Ed-o promising you for writing this drivel?

(And yes, there are many reputable captains here in KW who are safe. But just because you have a captains license, it doesn't mean you know WTF you're doing.

All these other vehicles

Submitted on Tue, 11/20/2012 - 6:07pm by 666
All these other vehicles dont have the shape of this in the front. Go stand in front of one when they are at a stop light, be sure you are under the bow of the ship. Lets test real time how good the site lines are...

Semi, school buses,

Submitted on Tue, 11/20/2012 - 3:29pm by george
Semi, school buses, firetrucks, and city buses were designed for roads. Look at the Ducks and you can immediately see that visibility is low. These vehicles are not designed for congested streets, like the ones we have here is key west. Ben Anders how is your HTA job. These things do not belong on our streets, and again Swift and Police can you keep them out of the back roads in mid-town. We are not part of the detour. Stick to Flagler. It is bad enough that the conchs and tourists alike are cutting down our streets and running stop signs.

Well, it would appear that even if Ben Anders has the highest

Submitted on Tue, 11/20/2012 - 7:30pm by *.* CLEARLY the original
paying job in duckworld, he's working in a job where the company doesn't respect him and the public despises him.

$10 per hour is a joke for someone with a captains ticket and a CDL. He must not have any sort of self-respect to do that.

Thanks, george, for your post. All very good points.

Poor George

Submitted on Tue, 11/20/2012 - 6:06pm by 666
You don't like the trolleys in mid town?? Well guess what, Old Town residents have put up with this crap for years! We are tired of being you money machine while you hide away in New Town, or Key Haven. Get used to it George, the way our tourism is booming with more hotels, airlines and mega cruise ships, no part of Key West will escape the impact. Be sure to wave at the Trolley! The next duck tour will include the Riviera Canal!

Lose the hair shirt 666

Submitted on Wed, 11/21/2012 - 7:22pm by Ninja Jane
What's the point of wishing misery on someone just because of where he lives?

I think that you missed the point...

Submitted on Thu, 11/22/2012 - 1:50am by Rabbi Flanagan

666 wasn't wishing anything on anyone, other than what is already visited on Old Town Residents. The point was that people who live outside of Old Town want mine the historic district as if it were their own personal asset. The private homes (with the highest tax valuations in the city) are shown off to the tourists, for the personal profits of businessmen who pay nothing for their upkeep.

The more people that are paraded by, on vehicles that impose even greater impacts on a neighborhood, create an even greater problem.

It's a good thing that our New Town neighbors can finally appreciate our pain, if only to a minor degree.

What a crock of assumptions!

Submitted on Sun, 11/25/2012 - 8:53pm by Ninja Jane
I don't regard your neighborhood as my personal money machine or asset. I love Old Town and miss the days when it was pleasant to walk and bicycle through the neighborhoods on a beautiful day. I just don't understand how it will help anything by wishing misery on someone else. I'm not wishing for the Navy jets to scream over your house just because they're making it unpleasant in my neighborhood.

Agree on all points. The folks on Key Haven (ES, for example)

Submitted on Sat, 11/24/2012 - 5:32pm by Tina
Agree on all points. The folks on Key Haven (specifically those of the Swift and Belland character) are quite happy to have all of the Old Town residents stand in front on their porches, performing and waving with happy faces like Disney automatons. Unfortunately as 666 recommends, this could now be a plethuria of extended middle fingers. I certainly have participated every chance I get.

One HTA employee stated that these awful vehicles are no different than trucks. Well, the difference is that trucks come here carrying goods for all businesses so everyone can do business and profit. These businesses pay their taxes. Buses bring customers TO our island and they spend money here and again, the tax base profits. But Ducks profit absolutely no one but Swift, Belland and company. AND as an added bonus, Swift, Belland and company are always seriously delinquent on their licenses, taxes and fees, if they ever pay them at all.

You're right

Submitted on Sun, 11/25/2012 - 7:41pm by Ninja Jane
Everyone who doesn't live in Old Own is your enemy and I am now determined to sell my home on Big Coppitt and move to Old Town for the specific purpose of suffering alongside you. And because I sincerely love to visit Old Town and hate what Swift is doing to it, I will try to convince as many people as possible to also abandon all areas outside of Old Town and relocate into downtown so that we can all be victimized together. Of course it's likely to get REALLY crowded in Old Town after that but what else can we do to help you guys out - or would you just prefer that we feel miserable where we are?

Hey there is nothing to see

Submitted on Wed, 11/21/2012 - 2:52am by george
Hey there is nothing to see in new town. We cant even get a cop out here when a crime happens. I sympathize with the old towners. I was one, I lived at a bike tour stop. They liked the shade infront of the house. It sucked. But they are driving down roads that aren't their route. They should not be here. They need to stick to the defined detour routes. it is bad enough that no one seems to know how to drive any more, because of a five minute inconvenience do to construction. it is an island damn it, you wont be that late, and no one cares if you are late.

Can the police keep HTA from

Submitted on Tue, 11/20/2012 - 9:50am by george
Can the police keep HTA from operating on non detour routes. Just because there is traffic does not give you the right to change your route. Stick to Flagler and major thorough fairs, until christmas lights time residential neighborhoods in mid or new town should be left alone. FYI HTA is that duck comes out for lights, we will turn them off and though eggs.

Great idea!

Submitted on Tue, 11/20/2012 - 6:11pm by 666
I am going to see if I can rent one. If not, I know someone planning on doing scooter tours of New Town. 15 to 20 scooters roaring up and down your streets looking for Conchs in their native habitat. Enjoy our island tourism! Just wait for the bigger cruise ships and the next 20 jets a day that land!

Export

Submitted on Tue, 11/20/2012 - 8:45am by Richard Bigge
Let's hope the clutch and transmission fails on one of these sh*tboxes soon and drifts into the Gulf Stream. Maybe they'll drift close enough to the eastern tip of Cuba so Castro's gunboats can finish them off (after safely rescuing all aboard of course).

They sound awful. I hear them coming 5 blocks away, and

Submitted on Wed, 11/21/2012 - 11:02am by Tina
They sound awful. I hear them coming 5 blocks away, and then I hear them for 5 blocks after they pass.

The key west carnival continues.

Submitted on Mon, 11/19/2012 - 4:21pm by Zack
May I suggest that locals give every passing duck an extended middle finger as it passes. Word will get out fast and the tourons will avoid the things in short order costing HTA and Swifty more than they can stand. You have to wonder how they get people to endure hatred for $10/ hr.

I agree. But there are better ways. How about rigging a

Submitted on Mon, 11/19/2012 - 11:31pm by *.* CLEARLY the original
duck hung in effigy on each porch or yard along the route?

Yes. Yes.

Submitted on Tue, 11/20/2012 - 8:38am by Richard Bigge
Approval granted. Even HARC would grant approval for this gem of an idea.

A friend of mine is doing to do just that. They just ordered

Submitted on Wed, 11/21/2012 - 2:53pm by Tina
a 20" 'donald duck' with captains cap from Amazon. I'm going to start shopping for one myself.

Lets let the law suits

Submitted on Mon, 11/19/2012 - 9:28am by george
Lets let the law suits begin. Finally an end to HTA in sight. Can't wait unfortunately someone will have to get hurt for it to happen. Wait for the first bicyclist to get run over.

You'd think Swifty and Belland's bad loans and properties in

Submitted on Wed, 11/21/2012 - 11:04am by Tina
You'd think Swifty and Belland's bad loans and properties in foreclosure would be the 'end', but they still keep hanging on. I guess some local bankers are putting HTA in the 'too big to fail' category. Well you know what happens to them? HTA will take those Bubba bankers down with them.

Outrageous on so many levels

Submitted on Mon, 11/19/2012 - 9:15am by *.* CLEARLY the original
" the duck rolled through the Truman Annex neighborhood -- upon which the tour guide noted the narrators will be silent in deference to residents -- "

What about deference to the residents on United, Whitehead and other streets? The vehicle can't turn corners safely, sounds like some sort of factory farming tractor and the narrators are terrible. I can't understand why they're on the streets. They're dangerous.

Piper Smith, now-wife of Chris Belland, is absolutely clueless about what Key West needs. She is just spouting the company line, as she always has these many years. She was there and was part and parcel of the original Duck Tours mess that cost the taxpayers $8 million dollars. I believe the people of Key West want HTA to be held accountable for that mess.

I understand there are already public displays of disdain for HTA's ducks (to put it nicely) and these will increase in order to make it an unwelcome experience for the people dumb enough to plunk down $35 per ticket just to annoy the good residents of Key West.

Piper is a joke and far from credible.

Submitted on Wed, 11/21/2012 - 11:05am by Tina
Piper is a joke and far from credible.

And the Citizens of Key West LOSE

Submitted on Mon, 11/19/2012 - 9:04am by trapper
these things just add to the traffic congestion , They are also a slap in the face to everyone who pays taxes here. We pay $8 mil and Ed gets to operate as nothing happened. And don't talk about the jobs provided, I saw the ad for the "Captain" position ; $10 an hour to drive the beast, Swift should ashamed of himself.

It really is unbelievable that he operates now with impunity

Submitted on Mon, 11/19/2012 - 11:38pm by Tina
after pulling that crap. Swifty is so paranoid about ANYONE taking a tourist away from him. He used to really go psycho about the possibility that Grayline Tours would come here. He had employee meetings and would say he had the City in his pocket to be sure it didn't happen. He was also ranting about the Ducks back in, oh, 1996 or 1997. Now look? He's a *$@#($ duck.

Fivehead

Submitted on Tue, 11/20/2012 - 8:40am by Richard Bigge
With that fivehead he's sporting surely he's a cormorant.

What Happened to the Navy

Submitted on Mon, 11/19/2012 - 7:31am by NativeConch67
I thought the Navy base commander refused to give them permission to launch. Some money must have changed hands.

I noticed Swift put up a security fence

Submitted on Tue, 11/20/2012 - 9:28am by trapper
where he stores the ducks; is he feeling threatened by the general public? Afraid someone might take action ? I spoke with along time friend who drives a trolley and he said he had never heard more negative comments about HTA until the ducks showed up. Our City Commissioners should pay attention , the very first accident involving a duck will create a sh@# storm from the public.

Where are they storing these monsters? I see two in front

Submitted on Tue, 11/20/2012 - 7:32pm by *.* CLEARLY the original
of the train roundhouse.

Out back , of advanced auto

Submitted on Wed, 11/21/2012 - 9:42am by trapper
where the old EMS trailer used to be. He put up a chain link fence to house them along with some other HTA vehicles. Yes, he does pull them out at the crack of dawn to merge with morning rush hour traffic and be a problem. Also, all the "training" for the "Captains" is remembering the narration spiel, not boat handling. As for Mr Anders, it is most unfortunate that your current place in life makes you consider this $10 an hour job to be a boon. I appluad your effort to hold "honest" work , but this one is without honor and infringes upon the health, saftey . and welfare of Key West Citizens. The fact Swift cost the taxpayers 8 million tax dollars is a "swift kick in the groin" and everytime I see a Duck it infuriates me.

I suspect you're right on the training.

Submitted on Wed, 11/21/2012 - 8:53pm by Tina
I suspect you're right on the training. They supervise the CDL training, but that's it. As for the captains ticket, they have to go to sea school and log some serious hours and since there is not a similar vessel to log sea time on, I'm curious to know how the 'captain' got the hours. Running six paks? Learning the spiel is what HTA pushes. They don't care about the rest.

"Mr. Anders" doesn't seem to realize he's disposable in HTA-world. They'll fire him like they've fired other underlings and managers over the years, and all of them thought they were valued employees. We ALL have a choice where we work or what we do for a living and we all can choose whether to do honorable work and work for the good of community, or to do just the opposite.

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