Key West - A New Image

Due to the mild climate and decisions by the city fathers, Key West broke into the top 5 of the Best Cities for the Homeless List. The plan to give generous benefits and facilities to the homeless was predicted to prompt an influx of new people wanting something for nothing. Well, the homeless communications network seems to have quickly passed the word and the city is seeing a stampede of vagrants.

The encampments at the Bridle Path along Key West's South Roosevelt Boulevard have enlarged almost to the point of creating a small city.

Homeless people laying out � or sitting out � at Smathers and Higgs beaches are keeping locals and tourists from comfortably relaxing and catching some rays.

Along U.S.1, next to the Key West Golf Club, on the sidewalks of Duval Street and its adjacent tributaries, homeless have homesteaded, claiming their spots for rest.

Meanwhile, the city of Key West goes into a bureaucracy mode, fiddling away while the homeless take over the island.

So, in a mere five weeks since the city announced their giveaway program, Key West has seen an explosion in the vagrant population which threatens to take over the island. Incidentally, it's quite understandable. Look at what's being offered.

The tent city will have air-conditioned tents, which already are in place, but construction of showers and sewers are still in the future. Residents, short-term but without other choices, also will be fed.

Once completed, city officials should be able to roust the homeless from other parts of the city.

The project, next to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and county jail, will cost $130,000 as a joint city-county venture, with the city also paying $188,000 in annual maintenance and operation costs. Security alone will cost $118,000.

Air conditioning, showers, regular meals, and security provided by the Sheriff's Department. Throw in the sunshine and the beaches and you've got paradise. What's not to like?

It is fully expected that Key West's ranking on the Best Cities for the Homeless List will improve upon next publication. If the local government can be a little more progressive and start paying the homeless, it's certain that Key West will take the top position away from San Francisco.

In addition to attracting vagrants from across the nation, a story about Big Ruby's from last week indicates that Key West is trending toward being a predominantly homosexual-only city. And, in another story, L.J. Cicero, general manager of Alexander's guesthouse, stated that visitors are screened for heterosexuality and told they aren't welcome. Cicero says "her primary focus is to ensure quality for the [homosexual] guests and limit any threats to their security or comfort."

For some odd reason, the vagrancy and homosexual issues are being reported concurrent with news of the establishment of the Key West Resident/Visitor Planning Committee charged with promoting business and tourism. It's probably safe to assume that the committee's effectiveness may be hindered by Key West being saturated with vagrants and being generally unfriendly toward heterosexuals.

On the issue of discriminating against heterosexuals, The Country Pundit has an analysis. Go visit.