Keys Energy Going Green?

It was interesting to read the PR piece in Saturday's Citizen (6-28-07) by Julio J. Barroso, Communications and Marketing Coordinator for Keys Energy Services. He makes some good points in terms of what the energy company is going to do to help address the environmental impact created when electricity is produced. Particularly interesting were his comments about the increased efficiency to be gained in electric transformer conversion and the use of LEDs. He notes that while the initial cost of such conversions are "higher than conventional replacements," the increased "life expectancy and efficiency of such units quickly pay back on initial investments." Translation: they are cheaper to operate and Key's energy can make more money.

Now what we'd like to see is some of that cost savings passed back to the consumer. What do you want to bet that as it "grows green" Keys Energy will be trying to -- heck, they will -- raise rates. But wouldn't it be nice when, as Barroso claims, "such units quickly pay back on initial investments" for Keys Energy customers to see some of that savings in the form of cold cash or a reduction in those rates that were increased?

Of course, we weren't born under a clam shell, and you know too that the likelihood of seeing any refund or rate reduction of that kind is slim to none. And that is what makes us wary of the kind of PR efforts reflected in the Barroso article. However, we can still hope that maybe one day there will emerge a company where the words used to talk to the public don't have to be described as PR. If we see it, you'll be the first to know.

More Construction Near Ttuman Annex

In case you haven't heard, the Key West Planning Board last Wednesday, June 25, 2007, approved the addition of a fourth floor to the parking garage at the Westin Resort and Marina. The floor will provide 114 more parking spaces and will not have a roof. If you live nearby, plan for more dust and noise.

One consolation. At least the project will likely be finished before new the Monroe County Courthouse, which at the glacial pace of construction there may not be completed before the decade is out.

Why? Because unlike the Courthouse debacle, Westin has an incentive. No one is going to pay $500 a night to stay at the Courthouse.

Atlantic Shores Is History

The picture on the front page of today's Citizen says it all. Atlantic Shores, a counter culture hotel that hosted Tea Dances, a clothing optional pier, movie nights, fundraisers, and special events and also offered "reasonable" in season hotel rates has been demolished. In its place, will rise a new hotel with $350 a night rooms and a new name, the Southernmost at the Beach Resort. That's "progress" -- change -- in Key West.

Somehow, it seems symbolic of what is happening to the rest of the Island, and it doesn't feel good. Oh well, I guess we're just getting old.

Thankfully the Green Parrot is still here, and we can still walk.

Yet Another Food Recall

This one involves the removal of more than 100 tainted products from Castleberry's Food Co. Some of the products wound up in Key West grocery stores and were removed.

This latest recall really makes you think about what we are eating, not to mention who's minding the food inspection store. It certainly doesn't appear to be the Food and Drug Administration these days.

See the list of tainted foods here. According to the Company's July 21 press release, the original recall that was "announced on July 18 included 10 products" but was expanded on July 21. There is more information on the main page of the Company's website about the "Great Value Chili products included in this recall" according to the Company's website. Check it out here.

Walgreens Settles Suit

Remember a while back when we blogged about an employees' discrimination lawsuit against Walgreens? Well, the suit has been settled, with an agreement filed in the U.S. District Court in East St. Louis, MO.

Walgreens settled the suit, a class action brought by the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, by agreeing to pay $20 million to as many as 10,000 African-American store managers and others. The settlement, if approved by the court brings to a close a federal civil-rights lawsuit charging they were denied promotions based on race.

Of, course, Walgreens denied any wrongdoing.

Stop Fish Swaps

"Florida's fishermen have built a reputation for harvesting quality seafood. We do not want unscrupulous merchants to tarnish that hard-earned image." That from Charles H. Bronson, Florida's Agriculture Commissioner. Mislabeling or misrepresenting fish is a national problem and a fraud on consumers. Under Florida law the practice is also unlawful.

Among the abuses is the substitution of other fish (often catfish) for grouper. Restaurants that substitute one kind of fish for another and don't inform consumers will now face increased fines of from $250 to $500 from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which is required to inspect Florida restaurants twice each year. This seems like just a drop in the bucket to us, but for good restaurants, their reputation is their business, and being charged with a violation, even without a fine, would likely be a deterrent enough. What concerns us is the restaurant owner who just doesn't care. For that kind of owner a $250 to $500 fine will be thought of as just the cost of doing business.

Now Florida has created a website to help consumers combat -- and report -- mislabeled seafood. The website also contains information about the seafood industry, seafood festivals, seafood recipes, seafood cooking tips arranged by species, and interesting links to other seafood related sites. We've added a link, called "Florida Seafood," so you can check it out. Let us know what you think.

Existing Home Sales Plunge

Sales of existing homes plunged 8.4% in March, the steepest decline in 18 years according to the NYT that was reporting data from the National Association of Realtors. Existing homes account for the vast majority of home sales.

As if anyone needed to tell those trying to sell in Truman Annex, the housing market is becoming increasingly unfriendly to those looking to sell their homes. Prices are dropping. The median price of an existing single family home decreased almost 1% last month. Sales in the South declined 6.2% in March. The backlog of unsold homes is growing. The trend is downward. The only Cities in the country where prices rose were in Dallas, Portland, Ore., and Seattle.

Cayo Dave has an interesting post on how all this is affecting Key West.

A Tennant Worth Keeping

"I just want to be able to work and live in this town." That's the view of the owner of the Waterfront Market regarding his lease negotiations with the City. Like everything in this city those negotiations seem to be dragging on and on. The parties are about $34,000 apart with some important differences. The City wants the yearly rent to increase 5% per year. This proposed increase is far more than annual inflation. There is no indication the Market will buy into this big an increase each year.

The City needs to realize that it is dealing with a grocery store not a bar. If the City wants a grocery store at that location, the City simply is not going to get the same amount of revenue as it would from a bar.

Many commercial leases have provisions that take a part of sales of a business. Those businesses, if they can, pass on this percentage to their customers. Here, that may not be feasible because competition in the grocery business is fierce. The only way for the Waterfront to survive is to be a specialty store like it is where its customers are willing to pay slightly higher prices for things they cannot easily get elsewhere. But even in the specialty store business, there is a limit to that kind of a mark up.

The City has an interest in preserving an institution (the true neighborhood grocery store) that is almost gone in most cities. This has value in the deal. It is a value the City needs to recognize because it benefits City residents and contributes far more to the quality of life of the neighborhood than any bar. This value, if the City will recognize it, could well account for dollar spread between the offers on the table.

We hope the two sides can come together on an acceptable compromise. We know the City thinks it needs the revenue, but the value of having the Waterfront Market at that location may outweigh other factors keeping the parties apart.

Speculators Getting Burned

"Obviously, they were speculating and this is what happens when you speculate. Sometimes it pays off and sometimes it doesn't."

When you play with fire, what happens? Some would-be speculators have found out the hard way and are seeking the salve of the Federal Court to cut the pain. Prediction: They are going to be disappointed.

Coming To A Starbucks Near You

Singer Paul McCartney has been signed as the first artist with the new Starbucks Corporation record label.