Hello there - this is Shirley - Norm and I have both read this thread and article written about our hometown of Key West and felt we had to answer our "side" - at one time Key West was an Island of Paradise - the natives were very close to each other and even tho "strangers" were looked at as weird, they would be accepted as friends and then family - that was the way it was with the ol conchs
when the Navy was there in Key West and they contributed quite a bit to the economy and community - they were still "strangers" - but again only for a short while - my dad was one of those that would bring home many of the young men to enjoy a day away from their routines - my dad was a cab driver and would on many occasions take these young men back to their bases without any charges - in fact many of these families kept in touch with my parents until their death - Key West would have accepted the cruise lines and all others, but what it brought into the town is what has created such an uproar - Ed Swift and many like him do benefit from the economy being so up - there is vendors there from all over the world that are ripping customers right and left - the conchs do stay away from Duval Street due to the sights of the tee shirt shops and greed- Key West has so much history and so many interesting places to see, but as the saying goes "you can't see the forest for the trees" -
Key West is a 2 X 4 island - Duval Street is the longest street in the world for it runs from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean - in those 2 miles, every kind of shop that will entice you to spend your monies do try - We love our hometown but what it has been allowed to be changed to makes us want to hang our head down in shame - even tho the conchs did not like strangers in our hometown, we were never mean or dishonest with them - the taxes, untilies, etc are the highest in the state and it is hard for the older conchs to stay there and most are selling their childhood homes to move away - oh yes they do sell their home for quite a bit, but the truth is none ever wanted to feel forced from their hometown - I believe all should be looked at and take into consideration as to what it is doing to Key West and not the greed that exist - I love sharing my hometown with you and this is why I am so happy to tell you about it and where to stay away from - I am ashame that parents have to be concern for their children of what is allowed to be displayed in shop windows - I am a shame that the tourist are taken advantage of - maybe I just remember when everyone was treated as an old friend regardless of size the bank account was. President Truman was just a man that took walks around Key West without any fear - my dad would many times walk with him early in the morn - it was a safe town -
Anyhow I just wanted you to know that I do not blame anyone that comes to Key West as a tourist - i do blame those that allow those to take the advantage as they do.
We do care about you
Always
Shirley and Norm
