Dear Source:
May Cruz Bay have just one more day of effort?
I know that we begged the Port Authority to do just two days of effort, but may we beg for one more day of effort?
The first day of effort was aimed at creating a huge parking area at the Enighed Pond.
The second day of effort asks the Port Authority to manage the Creek better.
This third day of effort asks the Port Authority and the National Park to improve their cruise ship activities by simple management of how the cruise ship passengers arrive and board the taxis, all while improving their visitor experience.
Just imagine, instead of taking over the entire Creek Landing with taxis, police saw horses, police tape and fences, congesting our town and traffic, we could have the cruise ship passengers arrive, stroll over to the Virgin Islands National Park's beautiful Visitor Center to see the lovely displays and buy Park memorabilia. Then the Tour funnels out to the back street to their awaiting taxis all in a row. They board the taxi, the taxi drives towards Mongoose Junction, turns and the tour is off. The little used back street around the ball field is a perfect staging area for the taxis. The taxis are licensed by the Park, the cruise ship tour is a Park Tour, their impacts should not be on our busy streets, strangling our town.
Also, there should be a time scheduled for a "shopping tour" of Cruz Bay for cruise passengers. Our business community needs the business and is offended by the cruise operators instructing their passengers that "you won't need your wallets on St. John". Studies have shown that cruise ship passengers spend almost nothing on St. John.
Please, it's just one more day of effort!
Steve Black
St. John
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