Here come the multi-million dollar yachts.
The Virgin islands National Park says it is overseeing the installation of 13 moorings for boats 61 to 100 feet long, in St. John waters, according to a report by the St. John Source. (Read the full story here.) The 200 moorings already available around the island are for boats up to 60 feet.
One of the new moorings will be at Hawksnest Bay. Four more will be at Lind Point, four at Francis Bay, two at Leinster Bay and two at Great Lameshur. Boat owners will be asked to pay $15 per night.
The moorings are “anchorless” and their design protects the coral and marine life, according to the Park Service. The installation is expected to be completes by the middle of December.
Plans for the moorings were announced several months ago by the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park and its leader Joe Kessler. The Friends raised $70,000 for the project, the Source reported.
Like many of the world’s loveliest places, St. John is being ruined by the obtrusive tastelessness of the wealthy. It really began with Peter Bay, that showplace of ostentation that destroyed land that was being modestly used and cared for by Victor, replacing his fine little business with closely clustered houses that belong on a hillside in northern New Jersey (even South Jersey would sneer at them.)
The Park Service, by allowing huge private boats to moor off Hawksnest, is catering to people who would, if they could, buy the park and fill it with more Peter Bay and Sirenusa-like monstrosities. St. John was once a place of retreat, quiet, tasteful, a true refuge from the stresses of stateside life. What has happened to it is exemplified by mega-million dollar second homes that are spotlighted in vulgar publications like the St. John Magazine.
I fear the day that live-aboards in Coral Bay will be chased from their moorings to make way for the ultra-wealthy parasites who seem intent on turning the island into just another spot for them to pollute with the goodies bought with their ill-gotten gains…the Mitt Romneys of the world and their fellow travelers.
Strange, how could all this happen under the watchful eye of the Democrat-controlled VI’s and Federal administration?
More eye sores for a one time serene and beautiful island, whoever said all good things come to an end was right…
Wow! How the heck did Mitt Romney get connected to this! As Dutch said this is happening under the watchful eye of the Democrat-controlled VI and Federal administrations. If you want to get political, take a look at places like Martha’s Vineyard which is getting destroyed by the development of mega-mansions being built for liberal Hollywood celebs.
Sure the moorings are coming under the Obama administration, just as Peter Bay came under Reagan, whose administration refused to buy the Peter Bay land for the Park Service. Obama ain’t the Second Coming anymore than Reagan was. Obama is the true compassionate conservative that Bush tried to present himself as being. There are few liberals and progressives in government and Obama is not among them. I am constantly bemused by the idiots who refer to him as a Socialist. Obama is no more a socialist than any of the Bushes. He is far to the right of FDR, who was also called a Socialist, but who, in reality, saved capitalism by instituting the New Deal which bought off the possibility of revolution.
Money rules, on St. John as well as on the Vineyard. The devastated Jersey Shore, with all the new building codes that will be imposed following Sandy will be too expensive for the working class folks who have had homes there for generations. The wealthy will ruin places like Long Beach Island and Seaside Heights, just as they are ruining St. John. Nothing short of a popular uprising will stop their tasteless rapaciousness.
And that, Dutch, is why it happened under a Democratic administration. Democrats, Republicans, they are all on a continuum of apologists for destructive corporate capitalism, an economic system that left unchecked will destroy small business and individual freedom.
only $15 per night??? that is ridiculous when the park could use the funds.
So sad that the Obama class warfare has spread to this blog too. Mitt Romney donated $3 million to charity last year…how much did all the rich haters on here give?
As evidence to my comments below regarding the conservativism of the Obama administration, here is an editorial from today’s New York Times in that administration refusal to prosecute HSBC. The editorial, while on target, comes from a publication that certainly is not an instrument of the radical left:
December 11, 2012
Too Big to Indict
It is a dark day for the rule of law. Federal and state authorities have chosen not to indict HSBC, the London-based bank, on charges of vast and prolonged money laundering, for fear that criminal prosecution would topple the bank and, in the process, endanger the financial system. They also have not charged any top HSBC banker in the case, though it boggles the mind that a bank could launder money as HSBC did without anyone in a position of authority making culpable decisions.
Clearly, the government has bought into the notion that too big to fail is too big to jail. When prosecutors choose not to prosecute to the full extent of the law in a case as egregious as this, the law itself is diminished. The deterrence that comes from the threat of criminal prosecution is weakened, if not lost.
In the HSBC case, prosecutors may want the public to focus on the $1.92 billion settlement, which includes forfeiture of $1.26 billion and other penalties, as well as requirements to improve its internal controls and submit to the oversight of an outside monitor for the next five years. But even large financial settlements are small compared with the size of international major banks. More important, once criminal sanctions are considered off limits, penalties and forfeitures become just another cost of doing business, a risk factor to consider on the road to profits.
There is no doubt that the wrongdoing at HSBC was serious and pervasive. Several foreign banks have been fined in recent years for flouting United States sanctions against transferring money through American subsidiaries on behalf of clients in countries like Iran, Sudan and Cuba. HSBC’s actions were even more egregious. According to several law enforcement officials with knowledge of the inquiry, prosecutors found that, for years, HSBC had also moved tainted money from Mexican drug cartels and Saudi banks with ties to terrorist groups.
Those findings echo those of a Congressional report, issued in July, which said that between 2001 and 2010, HSBC exposed the American “financial system to money laundering and terrorist financing risks.” Prosecutors and Congressional investigators were also alarmed by indications that senior HSBC officials might have been complicit in the illegal activity and that the bank did not tighten its lax controls against money laundering even after repeated urgings from federal officials.
Yet government officials will argue that it is counterproductive to levy punishment so severe that a bank could be destroyed in the process. That may be true as far as it goes. But if banks operating at the center of the global economy cannot be held fully accountable, the solution is to reduce their size by breaking them up and restricting their activities — not shield them and their leaders from prosecution for illegal activities.
Wendell: ya think anyone really cares?
As for the mooring buoys: more crass, rude people coming ashore. St John is no longer a quiet, undeveloped island refuge. It is all about money, as it always is everywhere. I now navigate to the smaller islands: Saba, Bequia, Tobago, Dominica…still quaint, off the beaten path,lovely people-what St John was and how I will always try to remember.
It amuses me when people complain of “their” little paradise being run over by those they don’t feel comfortable around (wealthy). Prejudice seems to be in some people’s hearts yet they seem to feel they are above everyone else in their ideals. Sure, Bora Bora isn’t what it was 25 years ago, but it’s still very beautiful and has modern conveniences which have brought more finances to the residents who used to solely rely on mostly fishing, vanilla and pearl trading. I’m not wealthy, but I appreciate the architecture of the homes at Peter Bay. They could’ve allowed modern glass buildings but at least they were strict to make sure they looked Tuscan style or old world. They used beautiful stone and are not an eyesore to me. Private land is just that. If you don’t like it going to a developer then if you have the money you can buy it and keep it as a preserve, but most cannot afford to do that. I never knock a private owner from selling their own land. If you want building ordinances to be altered then see your political leaders about that. See how far that will get you.
Wendell, why do you assume that all private wealth is “ill-gotten gains”?
Nah, I know they don’t give a rat’s tail, but the rant lowered my blood pressure.
Wendell..RELAX.Old St.John is long gone,”GET OVER IT”.Clean up Coral Bay next,thats a pig pen.I am sick and tired of the “Wendell’s” of the world bitching about how St.John used to be.We have been on island 31 years. Nothing is as it was way back then.I agree with Ann. Money talks bullshit walks always has always will.We need change.If you dont like it here LEAVE and take all the deadbeat loosers over on coral bay with you.CLEAN UP THIS ISLAND!!!!!!
You are clearly part of the problem.
You’re right about money talks…but why would you label people who are not as fortunate, as “deadbeat losers”, and before you comment, my finances are in order, but my views of others are not the same as yours.
Wait a minute. Let me get this straight. These moorings are for boats 61-100 feet in length, Friends of VI National Park raised $70,000 for this project and the daily mooring fee is $15.00???!!!! Are you crazy?? These people are multimillionaires and they’re asked to pay $15.00???? What financial genius came up with THAT rate? How about adding two zeroes to that and paying for this project one one season?
st.john changing every day. and not for the good.very sad.
The good old days? Oh please. I was here in the good old days, early 70’s. You can keep them. St John has never been better. From the food supply, the roads, electricity, health and medical, building materials to name but a few. Unchanged however is the most important part–the National Park. The beaches and surrounding park areas have only gotten better.
A couple of other points–National Parks don’t concern themselves with idiotic class warfare. Mooring fees are $15 for everyone. Instead of pissing and moaning you should be thankful that monies were raised for said moorings so the sea floor is not damaged. While we are at it let us not forget that it was rich people using funds gotten from the oil industry that purchased 65% of the island and then turned it into a National Park. Without their foresight there would probably be 25,000 people living on the island. I remember when St Bart’s only had 500.
In a world gone mad in some respects, St John is PARADISE. Hey Gumbo, easy on Coral Bay I live there! The only thing I would change is add a pump out station. I’m surprised the National Park has not demanded them in Cruz and Coral Bay. Trust me, live aboards are not all going out past the five mile limit.
Wendall, get some therapy for your hate/anger towards rich people. Most of your favorite politicians are just that!
$15 per ft is probably what it is. Please compare charges elsewhere and verify