Community Foundation of the Florida Keys' New CEO Jen Mccomb With
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FEBRUARY 6 - 12, 2020 Community Foundation of the Florida Keys’ New CEO Jen McComb with Volunteer David Kaminsky and Staffers John Dell & Holly Allen Florida Keys 3-9 • Monroe County News 10-12 • What's Happening 13 • Real Estate 26 Photo: Guy DeBoer • Cover: JT Thompson KONK LIFE COMMENTARY Souls For Sale? Plays at BY GUY DEBOER you reading this know it as well. sations that have driven President Trump Publisher KONK Life The case against the President is sim- to act as he has. But William Barr has re- Civil War ple, bring forth the witnesses that ap- fused to proceed. You need to ask yourself ll Americans have just witnessed ply to the charges of high crimes and why. The simple answer and the obvious Heritage Athe sale of the United States Senate. misdemeanor presented by the United answer is that there are no real wrong-do- The Senate voted not allow witnesses, in States House of Representatives. I know ings to warrant an investigation. doing so, everything included our souls we hear about what witnesses should be I’m not a legal expert or profess to be. Days is on the table. The Senate has turned a called. There’s Biden and his son Hunt- I have observed the case against the Pres- wo plays by Toby Armour. blind eye to the evidence that has been er as an example, but they’re not men- ident and I believe that more information T“ROSETTA” with Mia presented in doing so it not only sold its tioned in the case against the President from witnesses is required for Senators to Schmitt “THE CIVIL WAR… souls but ours as well. We can argue be- and they have no relevance that can be vote fairly. After the witnesses testify they OVER AT LAST?” with Ed tween ourselves about the complicity of applied to why the President acted as he can vote their conscience and I say let the Cunnningham, Will Gerweck, Republican Senators or any Senator that has and gave direction to his subordi- cards fall as they may. Lynette Lindia. voted for a quick acquittal of President nates in the Administration or his per- We as voters will vote in the coming SATURDAY AND SUN- Trump. We all know that a fair trial no sonal attorney Rudy Guiliani. elections. It’s the season to vote not only DAY, FEBRUARY 8th and 9th, 12 NOON, FORT matter what side of the argument you sit The United States Justice Department on the Presidency but on Senators that ZACHARY TAYLOR. AD- on requires witnesses and a fair presenta- and it’s Director William Barr has had ev- you believe sold their souls. MISSION FREE. For Infor- tion of the facts of the case. I know that ery opportunity to investigate all the accu- In the end, we as voters decide. n mation: 203 645 9790. n GET IT TODAY AT YEARS featuring FLOORING by Mohawk: Celebrate with us! WE’RE CELEBRATING STOREWIDE WITH SELECT ITEMS IN EVERY DEPARTMENT Carpet MARKED DOWN TO 35% OFF! New merchandise arriving daily! Wood & Laminate FURNITURE • INTERIOR DESIGN specializing in WINDOW TREATMENTS • FLOORING KITCHENS & BATHS • PATIO / OUTDOOR Ceramic & Porcelain Tile Call 305-481-1790 to schedule a complimentary in-home consultation, or stop by any of our three stores: KEY LARGO MARATHON KEY WEST 305-451-5700 305-743-4397 MM 50 Oceanside 305-295-6400 MM 99 Median www.RoyalFurnitureAndDesign.com Searstown by Publix 2 www.konklife.com • FEBRUARY 6-12, 2020 KEY NEWS Is Stadium trailer park being redeveloped? Commissioner Kaufman says ‘maybe’ BY TERRY SCHMIDA about the future of their homes as ris- KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER ing rents and home prices accelerated upwards, beginning in the early 1980s. uring a City Com- Now, with trailer parks and low in- Dmission workshop come housing in general in retreat all last month dominated by over the Keys, time may be running a discussion on new af- out for the park’s many occupants. fordable housing projects, the mere “There is a development plan be- mention of a major source of low in- ing undertaken,” confirmed District 2 come quarters drew knowing nods and Commissioner Sam Kaufman, known whistles from the commissioners. as an advocate for affordable housing in Stadium Apartments and Mobile Key West. “I walk through there at least Home Park has provided stable, if un- once a week, so I’m fairly familiar with glamorous, rentals to generations of Key the dilapidated condition of some of Westers since opening during the post- the units, and the fact that each trailer war baby boom. It expanded in 1958, represents a market unit that’s poten- and is currently home to some 200 units, tially for sale at some point. It’s an in- located in the area bounded by Duck Av- enue, Northside Drive, and Glynn R Ar- X Continued on page 4 cher Jr. Drive. Another park, Poinciana, borders Stadium to the east. For decades, residents speculated A Strong Back Float Can Save Your Life! Most drownings can be prevented if we relax on our back! We need to practice the back float every time we swim! www.keys2swim.com 3 www.konklife.com • FEBRUARY 6-12, 2020 f e b r u a r y 6 - 12, 2 0 2 0 FLORIDA KEYS Published Weekly Vol. 10 No. 6 Elizabeth Bishop PUBLISHER/EDITOR Guy deBoer Key West Birthday NEWS WRITERS Party, Feb. 8, 2020 Pru Sowers Terry Schmida aturday, Feb. 8, 2020, by the Elizabeth PHOTOGRAPHERS SBishop Key West Committee Elizabeth Ralph DePalma, Bill Klipp, Guy deBoer Bishop 109th Birthday Poetry Reading, 4:30-6:30 pm. DESIGN Poems by and about the U.S. Poet Laureate, Nand K. Pandey, [email protected] Pulitzer Prize winner, and 12-year Key West PIXEL WRANGLER visitor and resident Elizabeth Bishop, read by JT Thompson Key West poet laureates and other admirers. Key West Theater Back Stage Listening CONTRIBUTORS Room, 512 Eaton St. Jeff Johnson & Free admission, seating limited: doors Paula Forman Short Answers open 4:15 pm; refreshments available. Ian Brockway Info.: 504-228-2899; malcolmrw2013@ Tropic Sprockets hotmail.com; thekeywesttheater.com. n Tammy Fox-Royer Florida Keys SPCA Sylvia Bogart Is Stadium trailer.. Ken Harding around that time when, amidst earli- Astrologically Yours X Continued from page 3 er rumors of a sale, she mentioned the many older Joanna Brady residents who would be put out the most by any Reviewer credible value for developers looking at it, so if the changes. SUMMER INTERN coming proposal falls through, another one will take “Not long after that, they told me that they’d Emily Bracher its place. That’s going to mean a huge transition for changed their minds, and weren’t considering sell- the residents and the neighborhood itself.” ing for the time being,” she recalled. ADVERTISING So far, no formal plans have been unveiled or But several hurricanes later, the financial pres- Ashley Williamson – 410.999.4917 permits sought. For that reason Kaufman said that sures that existed back then have only grown, and 305.296.1630 he’s not at liberty to name the developer in ques- even Harding, by all accounts an attentive and con- Advertising Deadline Every Friday tion, but longtime residents have been aware for cerned landlord, may decide call it a day at Stadium. PRINT-READY advertising materials due by some time the precarious living situation they find “He’s a wonderful human being,” Kaufman Friday every week for next issue of KONK Life. themselves in. said. “He could have easily sold this property to Ad Dimensions Horizontal and Vertical: Ironically, “mobile” homes usually aren’t – and the highest bidder ages ago, but he didn’t. I think Full, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/8 page, bizcard their owners will still need land to put them on. he genuinely cares about the residents there, but Ad Submissions An exact number of residents is hard to nail what more can he do? He’s a businessman, and low JPG, TIFF, PDF — digital formats only down, but Kaufman estimates that close to 1,200 income housing isn’t something that’s profitable Send to [email protected] people call Stadium Park home, in the trailers and for developers. We had a representative of one of CIRCULATION small apartments there. Many are undocumented, the companies down here tell us just that at the Kavon Desilus ASSISTANT and understandably cautious about making waves. workshop. That’s why I believe the city has to step Ben Neff ASSISTANT “No comment,” was a familiar refrain during this forward to build low and very low income hous- reporter’s recent walk through the area, but at least ing. That’s the category the private sector won’t do KONK Life is published weekly by KONK one former resident sees the writing on the wall. themselves.” Communications Network in Key West, Fla. “It’s coming,” said Bertha Cubria Mira, who At press time, Ken Harding hadn’t returned a call Editorial materials may not be reproduced owned a trailer at Stadium from 1996 to 2005. requesting comment, but Commissioner Kaufman without written permission from the network. “When you look at what’s happening on Stock Is- said on Feb. 3 that the developers had asked for a KONK Communications Network land, and everywhere else in the Keys, you know meeting with him. (305) 296-1630 • Key West, Florida it’s just a matter of time.” Stay tuned. n www.konklife.com Mira recalled a conversation she had with owner [email protected] 4 www.konklife.com • FEBRUARY 6-12, 2020 FLORIDA KEYS Impromptu Classical Concerts presents Canellakis- Brown Duo at the Edward B.