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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesAnother White Elephant: The Roundabout

Another White Elephant: The Roundabout

Dear Source:
Thank You Nancy Hedlund for reminding us all-once again about the usual St. John issues that constantly remain unresolved.
As usual, the problems of our Island of St. John, get passed onto St. Thomas for decision-making by people who do not live here; do not understand the day to day issues-and thus cannot be in a position to come up with the correct and timely solutions. The truth is that much money and time is wasted with Government bureaucracy in making big plans for St. John that never come to fruition. Then everything stays the same…
Remember the Community Center promised for our Youth that we almost got and the funds spent on planning it?
How about the parking garage to alleviate the absolutely no parking situation in Cruz Bay? Let me also remind folks about all of the rentals companies and small businesses who somehow managed know the right people on St. Thomas to get prime space to gobble up more valuable individual parking space from tax paying citizens…along with that-their need to back up regularly in and out of traffic creating more congestion in bring these vehicles in and out! This was obviously decided by a different arm of our Government in St. Thomas (is it property and procurement?) who, once again, didn't seem to understand any of the issues that have been frustrating St. John citizens here now for decades!
Do I sound frustrated? You bettcha…along with most St. Johnians!
Take a poll of our citizens and I will bet that the majority feels exactly the same way. It is easy to throw up one's hands and give up-sometimes the constant aggravation of trying to change things for St. John to address our issues through Legislative Hearings and communication to the proper channels of Government result with the same outcome: nothing changes on St. John except the overbuilding and the rapidly decreasing state of our already outdated infrastructure from Roads to Schools.
What do we need to do to get representation on our Island? The increased St. John property tax issue is difficult enough to swallow but what is really infuriating is that St. John does not feel like it has any voice-or representation. This has to change! St. John needs some form of localized Government; we need to identify and solve our own problems; we need to keep some of our monies over here to address all of the services that have NOT seen addressed.
The Round about, decided by those in power in the former Turnbull administration-has become for St. John, once again, another white elephant along with the parking garage, the sub-station in Coral Bay…the list is long.
What do we need to do to be heard and properly represented over here on St. John?
Bonny Corbeil
St. John

Editor's note: We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e-mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net.

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