There’s a very, very severe factor taking place in Key West that’s threatening each it is tradition, traditions and group.
Sturdy assertion?
Certainly it’s. Moreover, this isn’t an exaggeration, not within the slightest.
Two weeks in the past a well-known, prime notch Key West musician left the island and moved to North Carolina. We’re not speaking a few new arrival who has a guitar on their again and is taking part in on Smathers Seaside sitting within the sand. We’re speaking about somebody who’s an A1+ musician and a cornerstone locally. She’s performed repeatedly at Schooner Wharf, Two Buddies, Blue Heaven, The Inexperienced Parrot, Virgilio’s, the Casa Marina.. the listing goes on.
As she did not make any point out that I noticed on social media as to why she left, I will chorus from utilizing her identify. All I seen was her saying that she was leaving.
The rationale she left was not an unusual one in 2022. Belief me, she did not go away as a result of she was bored with Key West and needed to take a look at new horizons.
She left Key West as a result of her lease on her residence was up and the proprietor wouldn’t renew it.
Now, only a 12 months or two in the past, that would not be a problem. You pull out Craig’s Record, or The Key West Citizen, and discover a new place to dwell. No massive deal, actually.
Nevertheless, at this time that is not the case. Folks altering their houses from native rental items into AirB&Bs has infested the island like ants, or The Birds.
The musician I discussed just isn’t alone. One other musician who’s broadly recognized, revered, and beloved because the chief of his band, lets simply name he and his band, “Uncle John’s Band”, has talked about on social media, that it seems he will likely be leaving Key West, His lease just isn’t being renewed and he cannot discover a place to dwell. Once more, that is an A1+ musician and a fixture locally.
About eight years in the past, or so, I used to be operating the music for the Artisan Market. A good friend known as me and stated she had a good friend who had simply moved to city and will I match him into the gig. No drawback.
He performed and play he did! This gentleman was prime shelf high quality and only a very good man as well! He shortly grew to become a extremely revered performer round city. Once more, like the opposite two he was an A1+ musician. As we communicate, he is not having any luck discovering a brand new place after being instructed his lease will not be renewed.
Now, lets take a look at M. M has been in Key West for not less than forty years. I imagine she’s been taking part in music that entire time. She posted a reply to a publish concerning the housing state of affairs saying she’s been in search of a spot to dwell since November, That is insane! She’s been a pillar of the group for over 4 a long time. The truth that she hasn’t been capable of finding a spot for 5 months is a humiliation for the Metropolis of Key West.
Then now we have D. She posted yesterday that her final gig is tonight, as she is leaving the island. That is as a lot as I do know, so I am unable to say if it is as a result of her lease just isn’t being renewed? The situation suits, however once more, I am unable to say. After I first moved right here fourteen years in the past, she and her musical associate ran an open mic over at The Hogfish, on Inventory Island. After that they did it on the Rum Barrel. All of the whereas the 2 of them have been taking part in in all places round city. They have been musical stalwarts of the Key West group.
Are there extra? Little question. These are ones that I occurred to return throughout. These are folks I do know. It is humorous, typically I will be speaking to a patron at a gig they usually’ll say “nicely you after all know So and So! Effectively I noticed them play final night time at …” and I will say, “I am sorry, I do not know So and So” They appear stunned. I then clarify that whereas I am taking part in at Rick’s, they is likely to be taking part in at one other venue. Level being right here, that there is lots of musicians round city that I do not know. Likelihood is, there are lots of extra musicians dealing with the housing dilemma because the aforementioned are.
I point out musicians. Someway I critically doubt that this example is restricted to musicians.
Talking frankly, I have not adopted the housing state of affairs till lately. I do recall years in the past Key West had a “No AirB&B” coverage. Clearly, that has fallen by the wayside. How did that occur? I do not know, however you simply learn the outcomes of it. Beneath is a chart which exhibits the quantity of accessible month-to-month vacationer leases.
What we’re seeing is an invasion on Key West’s tradition and traditions. It is an infestation chewing away on the group values that this city in anchored on. After we see prime performers having to make preparations to go away and transfer away, now we have a really, very major problem.
A authorities’s #1 job is to guard it is residents.
What the hell occurred right here?
This is a humiliation of the best order.
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