City optimistic about pier lease

Florida Keys News

Thursday, January 10, 2013

City optimistic about pier lease

'Beneficial public use' may give Key West the edge over private-sector bidders

BY GWEN FILOSA Citizen Staff
gfilosa@keysnews.com

The city of Key West may persuade the Navy not to solicit bids for docking privileges at its Outer Mole Pier after all, City Attorney Shawn Smith said.

In an update to city commissioners this week, Smith said that the Navy may decide not to force the city to compete for the pier, which Key West relies upon to usher in almost a quarter of the 800,000 cruise ship passengers wh...

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What's really pumped into our city

Submitted on Tue, 01/15/2013 - 7:18am by Steve

The Chamber quotes "...cruise ships pump $80 million into our city each year." Maybe so, but what about the millions of gallons of untreated waste pumped into our Atlantic waters? What's that worth?

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Cruise ships save you $2 a month!

Submitted on Thu, 01/10/2013 - 11:21am by Rabbi Flanagan

The city's net profit calculation doesn't include infrastructure, like installing sewage pump-out at Mallory Square, which has never been used.

Even though we actually lose money, the city claims that it nets about $2 a month per resident. At that rate, who needs them?

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"Beneficial Public Use," my butt!

Submitted on Thu, 01/10/2013 - 7:25am by Mac

The greater public would be ecstatic to be rid of the cruise ships which use the Mole to disgorge thousands of fat, cheap passengers onto our narrow streets.

The only "benefit" to anyone is to Duval Street t-shirt shop and bar owners. And some of the biggest benefit goes to one of the biggest bar owners-- Rossi. Rossi, of course, is a major honcho in the Navy League (which benefits his bar year-round) and he'll use that influence over the Navy to reverse their decision to let out the Mole usage for bids.

Come on Navy, be a good neighbor and tell the City to shove it.

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What a shame

Submitted on Thu, 01/10/2013 - 7:19am by 666

Losing this pier would have been the best things that could happen here. It would have forced us to limit our addiction to dumping thousands of people in a small downtown and forced us to focus on long stay, sustainable tourism.

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What am I missing?

Submitted on Thu, 01/10/2013 - 7:02am by none

The Navy.....gets "60%" ....of the income....from the cruise ships up front. (That...leaves us 40% ). We ....have to provide the trolley/tram service.....over Navy property......for any and all cruise ships that dock at the Navy pier. That.....costs us over $500,000.00....in ADDITION. We also...have to maintain a full time.... Private security force....at the Key West "Check Point"....PLUS.....pay numerous Key West Police.....at their "goiing rates" .....as well. Citizen....how about publishing.....what we NET.....IF ANYTHING.....from this arrangement...because......it sure sounds like a loser....to me.