Delegate Donna Christian-Christensen says federal Housing and Urban Development Department cuts for fiscal year 2000 in an appropriations act passed by Congress could leave some Virgin Islanders without a roof over their heads.
The VA/HUD Appropriations Act, 2000 calls for cuts in operating funds for HUD, the Veterans Affairs Department and various independent agencies.
The legislation is opposed by a variety of national housing and community advocacy agencies, and senior White House advisors have recommended that President Clinton veto it, a release from Christensen's office stated.
If signed into law, Christensen, the measure "could likely result in 40,000 Americans, including many of my constituents in the Virgin Islands, being forced out of their current HUD-funded housing and onto the street."
And if the proposed cut of $250 million from the federal Community Development Block Grant program isn't restored, she said, "the effect that it will have on hundreds of my constituents who benefit from the several worthy local programs which CDBG funds would be tragic."

More than 100 raucous protesters marched on the Legislature in Frederiksted Thursday to voice their displeasure with the government.
The People’s March was organized to protest the Beal-V.I. government land exchange at Great Pond Bay; Gov. Charles Turnbull’s proposal to cut government departments by 15 percent and the lack of accountability in government overall, said Terrence "Positive" Nelson, president of Our Virgin Islands Labor Union.
Under a relentless sun, protesters began at the top of King Street and walked to the Senate chamber chanting slogans that questioned issues such as the Beal land swap. Once at the Senate building, where the Finance Committee was conducting budget hearings, the group moved into the chambers to be heard by the senators present.
"With the Beal issue, you’re causing the community to act against one another," said Nadia Camacho.
Another speaker asked why Turnbull could travel to Texas to meet with Andrew Beal but not with constituents on St. Croix who are opposed to the land swap. The swap would give Beal 14.5 acres of public land at Great Pond Bay for two parcels elsewhere on the island. The company needs the land, in addition to approximately 250 acres it has an option on at Great Pond, in order to build its rocket assembly plant and world headquarters.
The Legislature, however, must ratify the land exchange agreement. But the issue has yet to be heard. In the presence of the protesters, Sens. Anne Golden, Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, Gregory Bennerson, Norman Jn Baptiste and Donald "Ducks" Cole said they wouldn’t support the swap.
"If there was consensus, it would have been voted on," said Golden. "There is no support for the swap."
Noting the orderly manner in which the protesters marched, Jessica Tutein Molenaar said that if the land exchange was ratified future protests would be different.
"If Beal goes to Great Pond, the next march won’t be peaceful," she said.
Meanwhile, protester Lucy Jackson called the proposed cuts in government "pennywise but pound foolish."
Nelson said the strategy to cut salaries of classified workers in the executive branch was unacceptable, especially since many haven’t seen raises in a decade.
"You don’t cut from the bottom, you cut from the top," said Paul "General" Payne.
Protesters requested a meeting with Turnbull, Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James, and the entire Senate to discuss a variety of issues.

On Oct. 1, the United Way of St. Thomas-St. John will embark on its most ambitious campaign yet — to raise half a million dollars to support local human services agencies.
Averricia Williams, chief of staff to Sen. Roosevelt David, is chairing the 1999-2000 campaign. She served as campaign chair-elect last year.
The goal is $10,000 more than last year's. "We felt it would be an attainable amount that would meet the financial needs of our agencies," Williams said. She noted that United Way has already raised more than $500,000 in each of the last two campaigns, exceeding its goal both times.
The campaign will run through January 2000.
United Way beneficiary agencies for the coming year are the local American Red Cross, Boy Scouts, Catholic Charities, Civil Air Patrol, Downstreet People Youth in Action, Dial-A-Ride on St. Thomas and St. John, Ebenezer Gardens, Fair Haven Camp, Friends of Volunteers in the Public Schools, Girl Scouts, Legal Services, the Reformation Lutheran and St. Thomas Reformed Church Summer Programs, Shaky Acres and Victim Advocates.
Serving with Williams on the campaign committee are Dionne Carty, Shirley Q. Hendricks, Louis Hill, Corine Matthias and Widad Valme. Division heads are Kevin Bailey, Linda Benjamin, Magdalene Bryan, Elisa Hodge and Martin Relwani.

The commissioner of Property and Procurement on Thursday echoed the refrain of most department leaders who have testified at Senate budget hearings in the last two weeks: no more cuts.
P&P Commissioner Marc Biggs told Finance Committee members that in light of the government’s dire financial situation, the department’s budget has been reduced 11 percent compared to its earlier funding request.
"Our budget has been cut so deeply that we are now cutting into the marrow of the bone," he said. "We simply cannot survive a deeper cut."
Biggs said the department’s funding request of $6.8 million reflects a "truly" effective attrition program. In 1989 he said there were 332 employees in the department compared to the current 188. Biggs added that more cuts would be "counterproductive."
Of the department’s $6.8 million budget request, however, 83 percent will go toward payroll, leaving some of the agency’s divisions short of supplies. Compared to the fiscal year 1998 budget, funding for supplies in FY 2000 will be cut by nearly 85 percent.
Biggs said the actual amount recommended by the Office of Management and Budget is $22,800, which is "less than the amount we normally receive in a single quarter."
One problem area is the Central Motor Pool and its task of maintaining more than 1,200 government vehicles. Biggs said the division has been hurt by the government-wide financial situation, which has caused a dismal revenue and collections problem.
While the motor pool provided $960,000 worth of services to other government agencies in fiscal year 1999, only $250,000 was collected, leaving a delinquency rate of almost 74 percent, Biggs said.
"Clearly we cannot continue to operate under these conditions or a complete collapse of the system will occur," he said.
The problem, Biggs explained, is that government agencies are suffering from cash-flow problems, so payment from one department to another is not a priority. He said the Central Motor Pool is essentially another vendor, paid only when the government’s cash flow permits.
Biggs said the need for the motor pool and whether it can be properly maintained and funded are questions that must be considered. The request of $838,690 to keep the motor pool "afloat" for FY 2000 will allow for only basic and essential services, he said.
On a more positive note, Biggs said that in FY 1998 more than $848,000 was collected from the nearly $1.2 million the department generates from leases each year. For FY 1999 collections are projected to increase to $1.1 million.
Yet another challenge facing the department, and the government as a whole, is the problem of some 19 underground storage tanks, primarily used to hold fuel or oil. The federal government has mandated that the tanks must be removed by Dec. 31.
"If these tanks are not removed by (then), the United States Environmental Protection Agency will immediately impose civil penalties at the rate of $11,000 per tank, per day of each violation," Biggs said.
Under the department’s Home Protection Roofing Program, 95 homes at a cost of $5.2 million still must be completed. Biggs said the program is operating under a $1.3 million Federal Emergency Management Agency grant and will attempt to complete an additional 20 homes from the remaining 95 eligible applicants.

The commissioner of Property and Procurement on Thursday echoed the refrain of most government department leaders who have testified at the Senate’s budget hearings the last two weeks: No more cuts.
P&P Commissioner Marc Biggs told members of the Finance Committee that in light of the government’s dire financial situation, the department’s budget has been reduced 11 percent compared to its earlier funding request.
"Our budget has been cut so deeply that we are now cutting into the marrow of the bone," he said. "We simply cannot survive a deeper cut."
Biggs said the department’s funding request of $6.8 million reflects a "truly" effective attrition program. In 1989 he said there were 332 employees in the department compared to the current 188. Biggs said more cuts would be "counter-productive."
Of the Department’s $6.8 million budget request, however, 83 percent will go toward payroll, leaving some of the agency’s divisions short of supplies. Compared to the fiscal year 1998 budget, funding for supplies in FY 2000 will be cut by nearly 85 percent.
Biggs said the actual amount recommended by the Office of Management and Budget is $22,800, which is "less than the amount we normally receive in a single quarter."
One problem area is the central motor pool and its task of maintaining more than 1,200 government vehicles. Biggs said the division has been badly hurt by the government-wide financial situation, which has caused a dismal revenue and collections problem.
While the motor pool provided $960,000 worth of services to other government agencies in fiscal year 1999, only $250,000 was collected, a delinquency rate of almost 74 percent, Biggs said.
"Clearly we cannot continue to operate under these conditions or a complete collapse of the system will occur," he said.
The problem, Biggs explained, is that government agencies are suffering from cash-flow problems, so payment from one department to another is not a priority. He said the central motor pool is essentially another vendor, paid only when the government’s cash flow permits.
Biggs said the need for the motor pool and whether it can be properly maintained and funded are questions that must be considered. The request of $838,690 to keep the motor pool "afloat" for FY 2000 will allow for only basic and essential services, he said.
On a more positive note, Biggs said that in FY 1998 more than $848,000 was collected from the nearly $1.2 million the department generates from leases each year. For FY 1999 collections are projected to increase to $1.1 million.
Yet another challenge facing the department, and the government as a whole, is the problem of some 19 underground storage tanks, primarily used to hold fuel or oil. The federal government has mandated that the tanks must be removed by Dec. 31.
"If these tanks are not removed by (then), the United States Environmental Protection Agency will immediately impose civil penalties at the rate of $11,000 per tank, per day of each violation," Biggs said.
Under the department’s Home Protection Roofing Program, 95 homes at a cost of $5.2 million still must be completed. Biggs said the program is operating under a $1.3 million Federal Emergency Management Agency grant and will attempt to complete an additional 20 homes from the remaining 95 eligible applicants.

The Water And Power Authority has scheduled water interruptions Friday, Saturday and Monday, Sept. 10, 11 and 13, to install master meters at locations key to managing water distribution system losses.
On Friday, service was scheduled to be interrupted from 8 to 11 a.m. for potable water customers in Sunny Isles, the Juan F. Luis Hospital, Ricardo Richards Elementary School and Estates Ginger Thomas and Barren Spot to allow for installation of a master meter near the Sunny Isles Wendy's. Also Friday, water service will be interrupted to Estates Humbug, Pearl, Peter's Rest and Work and Rest to allow for a master meter to be installed near Junie's Bar and Restaurant.
On Saturday, WAPA will interrupt water service from 8 to 11 a.m. in a section of Estate William's Delight for installation of a meter there.
On Monday, water service will be cut off from 3 to 6 p.m. in Estates Welcome and St. Peter's and at Tide Village and Mount Welcome for installation of a meter near the Don Quixote bar and restaurant.

Here's the latest update from the National Hurricane Center on Tropical Storm Floyd, which is now moving through the northeastern Caribbean on a west-northwest course at about 15 mph.
At 5 p.m. Thursday, a tropical storm watch was issued by the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla and Dutch Sint Martin. At 6 p.m. a similar watch was announced by the government of France for French St. Martin and St. Barth's.
The storm, which is has gained strength and is expected to reach hurricane status on Friday, turned from a west-northwest movement early Thursday to a westerly track at midday, but returned to the projected west-northwesterly path in the afternoon.
As of 5 p.m., Floyd was centered a little over 400 miles almost due east of St. Thomas at 18.2 degrees north latitude and 56.9 degrees west longitude.
Local coordinates are 18.3 degrees north and 65.0 degrees west for St. Thomas, and 17.7 degrees north and 64.8 degrees west for St. Croix. A degree equals 60 nautical miles, or a little over 69 land miles.
The most recent projections call for the storm to pass some 145 miles north of the Virgin Islands over the weekend, bringing rain and rough seas locally and possible tailwinds of 40 to 45 mph.
With the issuance of the tropical storm watches, the National Hurricane Center is initiating its usual procedure of issuing more frequent updates on the status of the storm. Advisories have been six hours apart, at 5 a.m., 11 a.m., 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. Intermediate updates will now be issued midway between those intervals, with the first one scheduled for 8 p.m. Thursday.
The storm underwent significant strengthening during the day Thursday, as it had been projected to do. Its maximum sustained winds increased to about 70 mph as of 5 p.m. from 60 mph earlier in the day. It also continued to broaden, with tropical storm-force winds extending outward up to 175 miles from the center as of 5 p.m. — an increase from 115 miles 12 hours earlier.
Weather analysts said early Thursday that a low-level trough approaching the U.S. mainland East Coast could impact on Floyd's course but that it might not be sufficient to redirect the storm.
Gene Walker, executive director of the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency, said local residents should be "tightening the screws" in terms of finalizing routine hurricane season preparations for the passage of Floyd over the weekend.
This, he said, should include making sure the household emergency kit contains a three-day supply of drinking water, food and medications and a radio with extra batteries.
As for VITEMA itself, "We are ready," Walker told Radio One News. The telephone numbers to call the agency for further information are 774-2244 on St. Thomas, 773-2244 on St. Croix and 693-5050 on St. John (not 776-6444, the number given in telephone books).

Here's the latest update from the National Hurricane Center on Tropical Storm Floyd, which is now moving through the northeastern Caribbean on a west-northwest course at about 15 mph.
At 5 p.m. Thursday, a tropical storm watch was issued by the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla and Dutch Sint Martin. At 6 p.m. a similar watch was announced by the government of France for French St. Martin and St. Barth's.
The storm, which has gained strength and is expected to reach hurricane status on Friday, turned from a west-northwest movement early Thursday to a westerly track at midday, but returned to the projected west-northwesterly path in the afternoon.
As of 5 p.m., Floyd was centered a little over 400 miles almost due east of St. Thomas at 18.2 degrees north latitude and 56.9 degrees west longitude.
Local coordinates are 18.3 degrees north and 65.0 degrees west for St. Thomas, and 17.7 degrees north and 64.8 degrees west for St. Croix. A degree equals 60 nautical miles, or a little more than 69 land miles.
The most recent projections call for the storm to pass some 145 miles north of the Virgin Islands over the weekend, bringing rain and rough seas locally and possible tailwinds of 40 to 45 mph.
With the issuance of the tropical storm watches, the National Hurricane Center is initiating its usual procedure of issuing more frequent updates on the status of the storm. Advisories have been six hours apart, at 5 a.m., 11 a.m., 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. Intermediate updates will now be issued midway between those intervals, with the first one scheduled for 8 p.m. Thursday.
The storm underwent significant strengthening during the day Thursday, as it had been projected to do. Its maximum sustained winds increased to about 70 mph as of 5 p.m. from 60 mph earlier in the day. It also continued to broaden, with tropical storm-force winds extending outward up to 175 miles from the center as of 5 p.m. — an increase from 115 miles 12 hours earlier.
Weather analysts said early Thursday that a low-level trough approaching the U.S. mainland East Coast could impact on Floyd's course but that it might not be sufficient to redirect the storm.
Gene Walker, executive director of the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency, said local residents should be "tightening the screws" in terms of finalizing routine hurricane season preparations for the passage of Floyd over the weekend.
This, he said, should include making sure the household emergency kit contains a three-day supply of drinking water, food and medications and a radio with extra batteries.
As for VITEMA itself, "We are ready," Walker told Radio One News. The telephone numbers to call the agency for further information are 774-2244 on St. Thomas, 773-2244 on St. Croix and 693-5050 on St. John (not 776-6444, the number given in telephone books).

Any show that features The Mighty Sparrow and his band, The Troubadours, is all but sure to fill the house at the Reichhold Center for the Arts. Throw in fellow calypsonian Lord Nelson and four outright liars, and, well, who knows?
You better believe it's going to happen, Sunday night, when WTJX-TV presents its first-ever Champion Liar Competition.
Those vying to impress a panel of judges as the most unbelievable will not exactly be straight off the streets. In fact, three of the four are educators and the other is a lawyer.
The competitors are: Wayne Chinnery, an attorney and director of law enforcement planning for the Turnbull administration; Lesmore Howard, a Charlotte Amalie High School teacher; Sinclair "Count Slim" Potter, calypsonian and junior high school teacher; and Dr. Gilbert Sprauve, cultural preservationist and University of the Virgin Islands professor.
"Good local entertainment" is the cultural goal of the evening. Raising money is the more mudane but equally important objective. WTJX, the territory's Public Broadcasting System affiliate, like all of the other PBS stations around the country, must go to fully digital operations by the year 2008. In order to do that, it will have to acquire a lot of costly equipment.
The station has requested a substantial increase in its budget allocation from the government for the coming fiscal year. However, given economic realities, Channel 12 is also endeavoring to raise funds on its own, through a series of "Digifest" events, of which the liars contest is one.
According to WTJX general manager Lori Elskoe, the idea for the competition came from one of Lord Nelson's own popular calypsos, ""King Liar," which is about just such a contest and the islanders who turn out to take part.
Show time is 8 p.m. St. Croix's Eugene "Doc" Petersen will be the master of ceremonies, and the Reichhold technical crew will be pulling out all the stops for staging, lighting and sound effects.
Tickets are $30 for the covered seats and $20 and $12 under the stars. Outlets are Percy's Bus Stop, the Modern Music stores, International Records and Tapes and the Family Health Center, plus the Reichhold box office. Also, WTJX folks will be out hustling them in person Saturday in Center Court at Tutu Park Mall.
They'll probably have a hard time finding anybody who wants to go to the show.
And if you believe that, it's a good thing you're not one of the judges.

Sandra Thomas-Mason, the new president of the Young Democrats of St. Thomas-St. John, says she wants the organization to undertake a strong educational campaign aimed at recruiting more young people into the Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands.
At the organization's recent elections, the following persons were also elected to office: Renaldo Raymo, first vice president; Nicole Joseph, second vice president; Cassandra Cooper, secretary; Jessica Phipps, assistant secretary; Dahlia Richardson, treasurer; Faye James, assistant treasurer; and Cherokee Thomas, sergeant-at-arms.
Democratic Party state chair James O'Bryan Jr. challenged the Young Democrats to take a leadership role in the party and to continue active involvement in the political life of the Virgin Islands.