No Oil in Key West (Fingers Still Crossed)

If you haven't heard the latest, let's make it clear:  There is no oil on the beaches of Key West.  Tar balls found earlier in the week were tested and shown not be from the BP leak.

While oil from BP's Gulf oil leak has not arrived on the Florida Keys, residents and volunteers are not acting complacent.  Reports that a small finger of oil has entered the Loop Current has locals already preparing a menu of efforts.

Shoreline cleanups are being held almost daily in the Florida Keys in an effort to rid the shorelines of any debris that normally washes up on the beaches and in the mangroves.

Weeks ago, when this disaster began, local Key West barbers began collecting hair clippings after hearing that hair was one of the best oil absorbers.  Other salons have followed suit, and today at 6:30 pm a "Hair Boom Response Meeting" will be held at Salute's on Higg's Beach.

What can we expect?

NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator Charles Henry answered press questions on the loop current. He noted that in the time it would take for oil to travel to the vicinity of the Florida Straits, any oil would be highly weathered and both the natural process of evaporation and the application of chemical dispersants would reduce the oil volume significantly."

Currently the beaches and seas of Key West are as beautiful as you know them - the stuff of travel magazines.  Seriously, its beautiful out there.  Fish are swimming in clear blue water at the reef, dolphins playing in the nearshore, birds wading for food, and humans enjoying the environment.  It's all the more reason to end drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and end oil's reign over our energy policy (but that is for another post).

While Key West isn't expected to see the type of oil innundation that the Louisiana is now seeing, locals are committed to protecting the fragile Florida Keys ecosystem.

If you are contemplating a visit to Key West, I would not change plans.  The bottom line is there is no oil in the Keys.

Oh, and BP - you suck...big time. (more about that in a future post)

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Think It's Cold? Here Are The Numbers.

Brrrr.  It's chilly.

Yet, suprisingly, when you look at the statistics, the past two months in Key West are only six degrees colder than normal.

Take a look at this chart of Key West's typical weather, with the 2010 stats added for comparison (statistics provided by NOAA/NWS).

2010 is definitely off to a cold start.

January 2010 saw an average high temperature of 69.4, and an average low temperature of 59.1 - a departure from normal of -6.1 degrees.

February 2010, so far has had an average high temperature of 70.2 and an average low of 60.4 - a departure from normal of -5.3 degrees.

Funny that a few degrees can be so dramatic in Key West.  Maybe it's due to Key West's steady daily climate: regardless of the time of year, Key West usually sees only a 10 degree difference between daily high and low temperatures.  Six extra degrees is a 60% change - explaining why the locals are dressed like Himalayan sherpas.

Regardless, Key West remains the warm spot in the U.S. - a break from true northern cold where six degree differences are barely noticed.

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Key West Condo Falls from $294,000 to $77,500 - Still Unsold!

The carnage continues in the Key West condo market.
Take the small condo in Key West that sold in September 2004 for $720 per square foot. Must be luxurious you say?
Located at 3312 Northside Drive, unit 301 is a studio - meaning no bedroom - and offers 408 square feet of living space. Here is a photo of the building:

Last sale was $294,000.
Today, this condo is offered for $77,500.
And with today's 5% mortgage rate, you could finance this entire purchase for $416 month.
 
But at $190 per square foot, is it worth it yet?

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"Luxury" Key West Condo Drops $716,000

At the peak of the real estate bubble in Key West, properties sold for over $1000 per square foot. It was astounding.

During that time, the Santa Maria Motel turned into the Santa Maria Resort - offering 35 "luxury" condominiums.

Unit 20 was one unit. It boasted 907 square feet, 2 bedrooms, and 2 bathrooms.  Pictured is the living room.  Looks luxurious - right? 

According to online records of the Monroe County Property Appraiser, on February 23, 2007 the property sold for $1,195,000.

Today that same unit is being offered, as a short sale, for $479,000, a drop of $716,000 from the previous sale.

For those who miss this one, they probably need not worry.  The Monroe County Property Appraiser's online records show 13 of the 35 residential units are owned by Santa Maria Inc c/o Meisel Capital Partners.

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Want to Travel to Cuba?

If you want to travel to Cuba, today is the day to make your voice heard.

The Latin American Working Group - one of the nation's longest standing coalitions dedicated to foreign policy - has organized a CubaGO! campaign for today, September 30.

Call your representitive and let them know that you support the Freedom to Travel to Cuba legislation currently in committee.

People supportive of allowing travel to Cuba for all US citizens are asked to call their representitive's office and deliver the following message:

Co-Sponsor and support the “Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act” HR 874.

As a constituent I believe that:

• All Americans should have the RIGHT to travel to Cuba
• A MAJORITY of Americans, a majority of Cuban Americans, and Cuban political dissidents want the travel ban to end
• Major religious and human rights groups say ending the travel ban will help the Cuban people
• After 50 years, it is time to CHANGE our policy toward Cuba – starting with ending the travel ban for all Americans

Key West is the closest point in the United States to Cuba - a mere 90 miles.

Key West's representitive in Congress is Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Unfortunately she continues to support the Cuba travel ban.

If you want to see an end to the travel ban, call her offices at the following:

Washington, DC Office
Telephone: 202-225-3931

Miami, Florida Office
Telephone: 305-668-2285

Next, call your senators. You can reach Florida's senators at:

Nelson, Bill - (D - FL)
(202) 224-5274

and

LeMieux, George S. - (R - FL)
(202) 224-3041

And help spread the word. Tell your friends, family, and associates about today's CubaGO! campaign.

Danny Glover can't do it alone:

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Time for Change: Key West Needs a New Mayor

Morgan McPherson has had 4 years as mayor of Key West.

Thank you for your service.

But now, it is time for change.

Key West needs a change in leadership.  Key West needs a mayor with no special interests, is open to discussion and compromise, and has intelligent ideas for the future of Key West.

The island needs a mayor who will listen to the people - not just the developers.  The Bahama Village lease at the Truman Waterfront was voted on by the citizens.  Years later, the mayor continues to assail the BCCLT.  It would be better to have a mayor that could help and encourage the BCCLT's and Bahama Village's efforts.

Key West needs a mayor with new ideas.  During his tenure, McPherson has put forth very few.  One was his "Big Idea" for affordable housing.  Another, his vision for a "world class" waterpark at the Truman Annex.  The Big Idea has had little discussion in years.  If it is still on the table, why isn't it mentioned on McPherson's campaign website?  Truman Annex waterpark idea seemed out of touch with reality.  Does an island surrounded by warm, beautiful water really need a "water park". Most residents think not.

And too often the Mayor either doesn't articulate his idea clearly or is deliberately trying to be vague.  Recent statements about Key West needing another industry remind this writer of his devotion to real estate and development.

Lately the Mayor has been mentioning making Key West a carbon neutral city.  Sounds like a bunch of election year jawboning.  Regardless, experts in the eco field have dismissed this notion - saying it would be impossible for Key West to be carbon neutral due to the high number of planes, boats, and cruise ships versus its very small amount of land.

Key West is a wonderful place.  Anyone who lives here or visits will tell you.

Thank you Morgan for your service.  But now it is time for change.

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Flying to Key West About to Get Cheaper

Flying in and out of Key West, while convenient, usually comes with a high price.

The Key West leg of a flight often doubles the price of air travel.

For example, the best price for flying from Key West to Miami in January 2010 will cost you at least $258 round trip + taxes & fees. And that's for a 35 minute American Airlines flight.

And yet during busy season, most flights to and from Key West are sold out well in advance.

Thankfully, things are about to change with AirTran's announcement that they will provide service to Key West starting on December 17, 2009.

AirTran will fly one of their modern 737s - part of AirTran's all-Boeing fleet of planes - to Key West via Orlando.

Here is a picture of the AirTran 737:

AirTran prides itself on providing discount air travel, inflight ammenities including WIFI and XM Satellite radio, and its young fleet of planes.

AirTran has begun taking reservations for Key West. Already their regular prices are lower than the competition. Future sales may provide even greater savings.

Here is a sample of AirTran flight prices versus the competition (competition fares were provided by Orbitz):

Key West to Orlando – December 17-20, 2009, roundtrip, taxes & fees additional
Airtran	American Air	Delta	Continental	US Air
$238	$304	$426	$631	$667

Key West to Orlando – January 17-20, 2010, roundtrip, taxes & fees additional
Airtran	American Air	Delta	Continental	US Air
$238	$338	$338	$720	$558

Key West to San Francisco, December 17-20, 2009, roundtrip, taxes & fees additional
Airtran	American Air	Delta	Continental	US Air
$558	$555	$818	$550	$943

Key West to San Francisco, January 17-20, 2010, roundtrip, taxes & fees additional
Airtran	American Air	Delta	Continental	US Air
$398	$486	$702	$420	$729

Key West to New York City (Laguardia) – December 17-20, 2009, roundtrip, taxes & fees additional
Airtran	American Air	Delta	Continental	US Air
$484	$324	$324	$410	$344

Key West to New York City (Laguardia) – January 17-20, 2010, roundtrip, taxes & fees additional
Airtran	American Air	Delta	Continental	US Air
$324	$324	$324	$399	$560

This looks good for travelers to the Key West Airport.  Future sales will likely bring even more savings.

And with AirTran's extensive route map, you'll have many destinations to fly to.  Here is their latest route map, with Key West now included:

Good luck AirTran.  Welcome to the party.

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WOO HOO! Huge Sale On My Favorite Flip Flops - 80% Off w/ FREE SHIPPING

When it comes to footwear, Key West is definitely a flip flop town.

I pretty much live in mine.

My favorite flip flops are made by Simple (sorry Reef sandals).

Simple flip flops are super durable, have a firmer sole than Reef's, and don't succumb to the dreaded flip flop funk (imagine if you kept your kitchen sponge for a year...that's what happens to the squishy reef soles). My first pair of Simple flip flops lasted nearly a year and my feet were super happy.

The only negative is price. You pay for the quality. Simple flip flops are usually around $50 a pair.

But right now, Simple is offering a HUGE sale. I just purchased two pairs of flip flops for 80% off retail price. And the shipping is FREE!

You can check out the sale at:

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Key West to Cuba Race Planned

A sailboat race from Key West to Cuba (& back) is planned for November of next year.

Small & fast catamarans (18-24 feet) will begin racing at the White Street Pier, covering 95 miles to Marina Hemingway, Cuba. Racers will spend a couple days in Cuba on a mission of cultural exchange focused on sailing. The return trip to Key West is another 95 mile race.

Race organizers have set up a Google groups site at: http://groups.google.com/group/the-cuba-run . You can read more about it there.

I swear, if you listen hard enough, you can hear the Cuban travel embargo leaning over, creaking past the tipping point, ready to fall at any momemt. A political Leaning Tower of Piza if you will. (Yes, I'm aware the Piza Tower has been stabilized).

One has to wonder if the travel ban has in effect been left to expire.

If nothing else, the government no longer wants to defend it.

Take a look at this story about Mytchell Mora - an American who traveled illegally to Cuba and announced that fact upon his return at U.S. Customs. He's hoping to challenge the travel ban in court. Instead, Customs sent him home - without punishment, and with his Cuban souveneirs.

Meanwhile, OFAC, the branch of government in charge of enforcement of Cuba travel rules, is losing funding in a move to quietly deflate the policy.

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A Better Way to Fight Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes. No other insect is as deservedly loathed. Worldwide, mosquitoes are responsible for more suffering, disease, and death than any other insect.

Here in Monroe County, the Mosquito Control Board has an annual budget of over $20 million dollars. Much of that money is spent on spraying chemicals from planes, helicopters, and trucks.

Mosquito Control states that:

"The insecticides used by the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District are among the insecticides least hazardous to humans"

But I can't help but wish for another solution. One not involving the spraying of so much pesticide.

A paper published two weeks ago by Rothamsted Research may have identified a better solution - one that makes the mosquitoes do the hard work.

In the experiment adult mosquitoes unwittingly delivered insecticide to their breeding pools - killing nearly all the larvae.

Here is how its done:

Mosquitoes, after they have bitten you, look for a damp place to rest waiting for their eggs to develop.

Researchers poured pyriproxyfen in cups stuffed with dark-colored fabric, creating the damp place mosquitoes prefer. Pyriproxyfen is a pesticide sold under the name Nylar and is not harmful to adult mosquitoes. These cups where placed throughout a particularly buggy Peruvian cemetery. Blood engourged-mosquitoes landed on the fabric and contaminated their legs with pyriproxyfen. When those mosquitoes went to lay their eggs they transfered the pesticide to their breeding pools. As a result, 98% of the mosquito larvae died.

Here is an illustration of the process:

According to the research paper:

"The use of the adult mosquito as the transfer vehicle ensures that the larvicides are very accurately targeted: the more popular the breeding site, the greater the transfer of insecticide and the more effective the control. "

As for the safety of pyriproxyfen, Rothamsted Research notes:

"Pyriproxyfen, the insecticide used, is a juvenile hormone analogue. It is already registered for public health use. It has drinking water approval from the WHO of 300 ppb which is 1000 times the dose needed to control [the mosquito species] Aedes aegypti."

Let's try this method in the the Florida Keys. Make the mosquitoes kill the mosquitoes.

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