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Livable Old Town Key West, Florida
Latest News
This page contains
links to the latest news. We will no longer be clipping ALL articles from the
local media but provide a link below to those publications:
Key West Citizen
Keynoter
Solares Hill
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* Mega Cruise
Ships to hit Key West???
*
City Boards eyed for conflict of interest.
* It is
time to set policy for bigger cruise ships.
* City
Commission rejects halting critical concern designation.
* Critical
Concern designation hasn't stopped economy.
* McIntosh Cartoon on
"Critical Concern".
* Key West now mulls
critical concern removal.
*
Lifting Critical Concern seems premature.
*
Critical State concern designation is necessary.
*
Key West City Officials meet with Senator Bill Nelson.
*
New lawsuit viewed as sequel to Watermark.
*
Commission seeks more rent from Chamber of Commerce.
*
City may allow transient rentals at Truman Annex.
*
City Manager attempts to renew contract prior to seating of new city commission.
*
Solares Hill: "Irony in Swift Complaint"
*
School Board should ok Harris School deal.
*
Trains Exceed Limit.
* Letters to the
Editor - Swift vs MTV.
* Height
of hypocrisy - Ed Swift "Not in my backyard"!
* Key
West City sued again for restraint of trade by Eggs Transportation or Commission
lays another egg!
*
Local conflicts of interest are most 'fowl'.
*
Condo conversions are overtaking Keys.
* Poor
planning endangers peace of Bahama Village.
*
Blaming environmentalist for lack of affordable housing is ludicrous.
*
Are environmental lawsuits blocking affordable housing?
*
Time for city to stop appeals and look for settlements.
*
How many lawsuits must the city bear before crying Uncle?
*
Judge rules city granted monopoly to Historic Tours.
*
Referendum coming up on City purchases of land.
* City raises
allowable rent on affordable housing.
* It's time for Chamber to
pair its' fair share.
* Sweetheart
leases coming home to roost and affect city budget process - results = No
Picnic.
* City Manager cries
budget no pretty picture. See above article to find out how we got to this
point.
*
Housing crisis in Key West now reaches middle class.
*
Insane development is destroying the soul of our Island Community.
*
Commission passes 05-06 budget but fails to make the hard decisions.
* Commissioners labor over
05-06 city budget.
* Taxes
likely rising in Key West.
* City eyes tax
hike.
*
Commissioner Bethel says get voters' ok to buy land.
*
Trailer park proposal should not be discounted.
*
Keys corruption case fuels public cynicism.
* New
Terminal at Airport may top height limit.
* Former
County Mayor London pleads guilty to tax evasion.
Condo conversions are a road to "Gentrification".
*
Affordable Housing guidelines to come before commission.
*
City to buy Salt Ponds parcel.
* Salt
Ponds property acquisition back on commission agenda.
*
'Key West Citizen' - Lease ordinance would help level playing field.
*
Salt Pond deal with Swift returns to table at Commission Meeting.
* Commissioner
Rossi selling "Sands" to Atlantic Shores Owners.
* The
numbers are huge in alleged coin theft.
* Chicken fans cry
"fowl".
* A Key
West Lament by Rosalind Brackenbury. "Is Anybody Out There?".
* Singh and Hendrick condo
project exempted from Condo freeze by City Commission.
*
Suarez, the "quarter man" quits before hearing.
*
City reverses policy on its' leases.
*
Hotel conversion not just a keys' issue.
*
Discovery starts in Hendrick case.
*
Weekley looks to reassign Affordable Rogos for Market Rate Rogos.
* Legal
judgments against city are a reality check.
*
Legal Fees for city continue to pile up.
*
Hendrick pleads "not guilty".
* Rossi
selling Sands to Atlantic Shores.
*
Suarez quits before hearing on suspected parking quarter theft.
*
More corruption by city official may have cost city thousands.
*
Harris School one step from being done - still reluctantly by some.
*
Parking garage coming down - city hall next? Literally or figuratively?
* McIntosh
cartoon on "The sinking ship."
* Special
Interests are not in Politicians' best interest.
*
Ducks coming home to roost for city of Key West.
* Citizen Voice comments on
recent city problems.
*
McIntosh on overload of recent news stories.
* Hendrick
recounts arrest.
*
Hendrick says "I am innocent".
* Miami Herald on Jim
Hendrick indictment.
* Attorney Jim
Hendrick indicted.
*
Former County Attorney picked up by FBI.
*
We share the blame for $13 million judgement.
*
Duck verdict a victory for law abiding citizens.
*
City hopes to overturn Duck case.
*
Conflicts of interest run high on small island.
*
More judgments against city of $114,736 in Rollison transient rental case.
* HTA settles
out before trial? Why was Hugh Morgan their attorney representing the city?
* City
ordered to pay Duck Tours $13.5 million dollars.
*
Keys have long history of corruption.
* Harris
School sale approved as a result of citizen outrage.
*
Duck Tours attorney puts assistant city manger under the gun.
* Wage
issue is not so simple.
*
Decisive action needs to keep Doctors in the Keys.
*
Condo freeze extended another three months.
* Salt
Ponds trade falls flat.
* Commissioner Bethel says
it is time for "sweetheart leases" of city property to come to halt.
*
City planner says HTA monopoly on tours was to protect public.
*
Mayor says exclusive franchise to Conch Train (HTA) is justified.
*
Survey shows no underground tanks at Harris School.
*
Best deal for Harris School is to sell to state.
*
County should reject Hurricane evacuation sham.
*
County Commission hires lobbyist.
*
Commissioner wants to hire lobbyist to fight environmentalists.
*
City may swap salt ponds land for building rights.
*
Economist says Duck Tours could have been profitable.
* It is
not too late to salvage Harris School project.
* Quinn
and Cohan reply on Harris School issue.
* Legal
challenge to county ROGO due soon.
* Development
interests try new scheme to get building permits.
*
Key West survives Base Realignment.
*
Old Scandal surfaces at Duck Trial.
*
Key West Commissioner should recuse himself.
*
Duck Tours Captain says he was harassed daily by police.
*
School Board member Anne Kelly Cohen helped sandbag Harris School deal.
*
City Commission asked to extend Condo moratorium.
*
Military future role in Key West?
* A very tight year
for city budget.
*
Second homes improve Vail's economy and salary base.
*
Harris School deal may not be dead yet.
* Harris School - another
Watermark?
*
Cops - "Duck Tours broke no city laws".
* Duck Tours
case begins.
*
Gag order issued in "Duck Tours" trial.
*
City begins vacation rental (transient rental) process.
* Commission sends affordable
housing ordinance back for re-work
* Affordable housing panel
under consideration.
*
Key West City and Historic Tours still heading for "Quack Up".
*
City may raise Affordable? housing rates.
*
Harris School decision tragic - Developers vs Historic Preservation in Key West.
*
Short sided vision torpedoes Harris School sale.
*
Condo conversions - not only Key West's concern.
*
Key West legal costs mount as litigation piles up.
* Key West affordable rent
may increase.
*
Key West goes condo: Beneficial or Negative?
* Salt Ponds building is a
bluff by Swift.
*
Last Stand enters fray over Watermark.
* Transient rental
ordinance amendment should be adopted.
*
Historic preservation equals smart growth.
*
Salt Ponds stalls, TR ordinance stalls, Watermark initiative stall: City
Commission accomplishes nothing in 3 hours.
*
City to consider amended transient rental law for Truman Annex.
* Swift and City
to discuss Salt Ponds Property.
* City has last
opportunity to save property on bridle path from development
*
Swift cleared on election complaint by commission after probable cause for
violation found by commission legal staff.
*
City misrepresents preservation award.
*
Condo conversion craze impacts housing market.
* Conversion
conundrum: Key West may have few options.
*
List of recent condo conversion in Key West.
*
Local finds a way to buy condo.
*
Local renter displaced by condo conversion.
*
Key West housing market is going "condo" crazy
*
Ed Swift gets hearing before elections commission on alleged election campaign
violations.
* Planning Board approves
transient rental amendment that would eventually extinguish illegal rentals in
Annex.
*
Planning Board to review transient rentals at Truman Annex.
*
Art Gallery looks to expand to restaurant in residential neighborhood.
* The
saga of Atlantic Shores begins...stay tuned for future developments.
*
Transient rental issue rears its ugly head again!
* Residents
speak out on height restrictions.
*
Lifting Key West building height restrictions falls flat at Planning Board.
* Mayor's
proposal to amend height restrictions stirs debate.
* Commissioner
Bethel calls for preserving the City Charter and the current restrictions on
High Rise construction.
*
Transient rentals in Shipyard to get new review.
* Will Commissioners listen to the results of the Harris quality of life survey?
* Could Key West get hit by a Tsunami? It already has!
* Key West home
prices skyrocket and many locals are cashing in and leaving.
* Traffic woes rank high among
local concern: Conch Trains and Trolleys big contributor.
*
Charter change on building height for affordable housing?
*
Hi-Rise issue to be revisited after 32 years. The hook this time is affordable
housing.
*
Sellout at the Bight! - Solares Hill - 12/17/2004.
*
Ed Swift election hearing continued concerning Padgett campaign.
*180 day moratorium placed on condo conversions.
*
A "Conch" laments Key West's demise but refuses to accept any responsibility for
their contribution.
* Mayor changes mind on Flag
ordinance after meeting with Gay/Lesbian group.
*
Key West and the Keys struggle with transient rental issue.
* Commissioner Bethel
warns study condo conversion first without moratorium.
*
Keys condo development and changes - Miami Herald
*
City and HTA face "Duck Tour" litigation in January 2005.
* Condo conversion
issue too important to be rushed.
* Moratorium placed on Hotel
to condo conversions.
* Commission to tackle hotel
to condo conversion.
* Residents give input on
Truman waterfront plan.
* Does Commissioner
Scales have underlying motive for sponsoring ordinance for Condo ban?
* Citizen voice quote of
the day!
* Truman
Annex illegal transient renter jailed in crackdown.
*
Florida Keys Defense Alliance attempts to scam the city out of $29,700.
* Truman Annex Real
Estate firm sues city for $25 million over transient rental issues.
* Benefits of tax breaks for
landlords should be thoroughly reviewed.
* Florida Supreme Court
refuses to hear Rollison rental appeal.
* City pursuing $1 million
in uncollected fines.
* Truman
Annex homeowner cited for illegal transient rentals.
* Its back to the drawing board for proposed new flag ordinance.
* New
Building Permits should be mostly for affordable housing.
*
Livable Old Town looks into campaign contributions, particularly those of
Superintendent of Schools.
* Ed
Swift donates $5000 to Padget campaign through 10 of his corporations.
*
Livable Old Town Exclusive - Beware
of-wolves-in-sheep's-clothing.
* Last
Stand sues county for more affordable housing along with environmental
protections.
*
Parsing the rumors no easy task during political season. Editorial - Key West
Citizen - 8/20/2004.
* Court upholds Key West
Transient Rental Ordinance.
* Key West politics turn into "The theater of the absurd"
* Bight
not for sale...Oosterhoudt continues "dirty tricks" campaign against Turner.
*
Cruise ships visits and passengers are down but revenues are UP!
*
Commissioner Oosterhoudt attempts to politicize Bahama Village priorities.
*
Developer wants to buy Key West Bight for $40 million.
*
City staff recommends continued city operation of profitable Ferry Terminal.
*
Key West begins multimodal traffic study.
*
City manager continues to try to manage the news at the Key West Citizen
by bullying tactics.
*
City Commission set to adopt FY 2005 budget.
*
City commission to consider adult entertainment and function of board of
adjustment.
* Should
the function of the Board of Adjustments be moved from the city commission?
* Key
West eyes TDC dollars.
* Code
crackdown leads to arrests.
*
City struggles to meet port security requirements.
* Key West
looks for more funding from TDC.
* Key West's Duval
Street cleanup long overdue.
* Stephenson resigns post as
head of Building Department and Code Enforcement.
*
Code crackdown on Duval begins.
* Conch Trains REALLY DO
cause traffic jams.
*
City and HTA still losing on Duck Tours shootout!
*
Passengers down but revenues are up on Cruise Ships.
*
Commissioner Turner asks that new routes to Truman Waterfront be considered.
* Keys plan
for 18 miles stretch rated "Worst" by D. C. Group.
*
Language in Adult Entertainment Ordinance worries Commissioner.
*
Routes to Truman Waterfront could destroy the neighborhoods of Bahama Village.
*
Ed Swift must be stopped.
*
Elders promised assisted living facility outside of the planning process for
Truman Waterfront.
*
Olivia Street could become thoroughfare for new Truman Waterfront project.
Keynoter - 5/14/2004.
* Ethics questions still
surround Commissioner Scales
*City says no
to Plaintains park - calls for affordable housing.
*
Commission codifies limits on adult entertainment.
*
City puts limits on adult entertainment.
*
Commission passes first reading of Adult Entertainment Ordinance and focuses on
cleaning up Duval.
*
Scales tipping against city commissioner.
* Did
you know? The Commissioners didn't know what they voted for even though
Commissioners Scales traveled to Tallahassee to support that resolution.
(Story Below) Click
HERE
*
City's end around run with HTA dies in House Appropriations Committee.
Commissioner Scales again challenged in "Duck Tours" saga.
*
HTA's Duck Tours fare well in other cities.
*
Key West - taken for a Conch Tour Train ride?
*
Commissioner Scales says he was naive to testify before Florida House on
legislation affecting Duck Tours litigation.
* Citizens Voice comments on Trains and Trolleys
*
Did You Know? Livable Old Town's roots were a neighborhood secessionist
movement.
*
Christy Sweet needs to take a history lesson on Key West and stop trying to live
the legend started in the last 20 years.
*
Transient rental property owners raise their ugly heads again. Time to urge the
commissioners to stand firm.
* Plaintains
recommendation to be used as park, parking and possible affordable housing.
*
Brett Smith's mom says fraud a misunderstanding in Jose Menendez election -
Keynoter - 4/21/2004.
*
Citizens voice comments on Swift, Belland, Scales, HTA, tourism. Key West
Citizen - 3/20/2004.
*
Letter to Editor of Key West Citizen objecting to city granting
monopoly to HTA.
*
Planning Board passes adult entertainment ordinance.
*
Key West turns attention to adult entertainment. Key West Citizen
- 4/14/2004.
*
City to tighten rules on adult entertainment. Keynoter - 4/14/2004.
*
Who' driving the train in city franchise issue? Editorial - Key West
Citizen - 3/12/2004.
*
Heading for a "Quack Up"?
*
City runs for legislative cover in monopoly lawsuit with Duck Tours and HTA.
*
City goes after illegal renters with modest success. Hundreds more still
operate.
*
City of Key West has bigger problems than parking of bicycles.
*
Excerpts from Citizen's Voice. Key West Citizen.
* Circus Wagon franchise
gets fouled up: HTA, city may not duck
millions. Key West Citizen - 3/23/2004.
*
Restaurateur creates stir. Miami Herald - 3/21/2004.
* Key West
City may be found guilty of creating a monopoly with the Conch Trains and
Trolleys. Keynoter - 3/20/2004.
*
City plans to demolish Plaintains. Can we possibly hope for a city park?
Key West Citizen - 3/18/2004.
*
Marquesa projects courts resolution. Key West Citizen - 3/8/2004.
*
Distrust of park plans run high. Miami Herald - 3/7/2004.
* Steam
Plant steams ahead. Keynoter - 3/6/2004.
*
Ferry Terminal flourishes under city management. Key West Citizen
- 3/6/2004.
*
Excerpted comments from Citizen's Voice - Key West Citizen -
3/5/2004.
*
Ferry business picks up steam. Key West Citizen - 3/4/2004.
* Key West isn't an
x-rated town. Key West Citizen - 3/4/2004.
*
Condo component of funding proposal causes debate. Key West Citizen
- 3/2/2004.
*
Waterfront subject of long debate. Key West Citizen - 3/2/2004.
* Institute's private
meetings ended in unworkable plan. Key West Citizen - 3/1/2004.
*
What an outrage! Urban Land Institute spends three days in Key West and
recommends selling Truman Waterfront for Condos? Are they Nuts?
*
Mayor floats open container question. Key West Citizen -
2/25/2004.
* Excerpts
from Citizen's Voice. Key West Citizen - 2/25/2004.
*
Solares Hill nude photo shocks Key West!!!
* Conch Trains cause
traffic jams !!!!
*
City takes up host of issues. Keynoter - 2/18/2004.
*
Erotic firms catch the eye of city planners. Key West Citizen -
2/18/2004.
* We all
should welcome T-shirt crackdown. Editorial - Keynoter -
2/14/2004.
*
T-shirt shop owners refute penalties from city. Keynoter
-2/14/2004
*
T-shirt making suspended for 10 days. Key West Citizen -
2/12/2004.
* T-shirt
shops seek redress. Keynoter - 2/11/2004.
*
Chamber Chief reveals aversion to tackling tourism dilemmas. Editorial -
Key West Citizen - 2/8/2004.
*
Chamber humor falls flat with Mayor. Key West Citizen - 2/7/2004.
*
After years of ignoring neighborhoods, city finally decides they would like to
listen to residents. "City manager proposes town hall meetings". Key West
Citizen - 1/28/2004.
*
Allow new police chief to run his department. Editorial, Key West Citizen
- 1/25/2004.
*
Excerpts from Citizen's Voice. Key West Citizen - 1/15/2004.
*
Bike tour disrupts peaceful neighborhood. Key West Citizen -
1/24/2004.
*
City manager says no chief search planned. Key West Citizen -
1/23/2004.
*
Navy's dredging beneficial to Harbor but communication crucial. Key West
Citizen- 1/21/2004.
*
Fortune Steps into new role. Keynoter - 1/21/2004.
* Fortune
takes command today. Key West Citizen 1/19/2004.
*
Excerpts from citizen voice. Key West Citizen - 1/18/2004.
*
Chiefs have history of tangling with city managers. Key West Citizen
- 1/18/2004.
*
Excerpts from former Chief Buz Dillon's October annual review. Key West
Citizen 1/17/2004.
* Friction
was building between Dillon and Avael. Key West Citizen 1/17/2004.
* Buz Cut - - Police chief
cleans out desk. Key West Citizen - 1/16/2004.
* Number
of ferries doubling at Bight. Keynoter. 1/14/2204.
* Code
amendment targets escort vans. Key West Citizen - 1/13/2004.
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