Dear Source:
For 12 years, I have been an owner/manager/promoter for lunch at my restaurant, Hervé Restaurant. Since there are no sidewalks going to my location, if I am not present for 1 – 2 hours every day, I will have no lunch business and will have to close. I have 8 employees, who will then be unemployed and will be heartsick if I have to close my business.
I don't want to be on Main Street, I have to be!
If the Government gave commercial leases/licenses to landlords for commercial enterprises on side streets, the businesses need to promote them. I didn't design Charlotte Amalie. Cruise lines give identical maps to cruise ship passengers and advise them to only shop at recommended stores on Main St. and not to go onto side streets – That's why there are barkers! And always will be.
Lastly, Commission Robertson, in his letter of July 1st (which I received July 10th!) states, "soliciting or barking after July 31, 2008 will constitute a violation of law." But what is the law? No one at DCLA or any government office has given anyone the VI Code section that this will violate. Isn't there free speech? The DCLA police were already harassing people last week and saying they were not going to fine people, as stated in the Commissioner's letter, they were going to arrest people! Really? Would someone out there tell me what law I would be violating?
No one at the Chamber of Commerce or DLCA on St. Thomas or St. Croix could answer that question.
Gee, I wonder why. Perhaps because there is no such law? Does anyone know? Please help!
Paulette Keffas-Chassin
St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
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.
