What’s the Holdup?
Nearly a year ago, the 27th Legislature passed, and Governor John P. deJongh Jr. signed, Act 7013, which approved spending $450,000 to convert the former Wilson elementary school on St. Croix’s North Shore into a Police Substation.
At this writing, the building sits abandoned and deteriorating and those funds, nearly half a million dollars, sit unused.
The Act is clear on the need for the substation, stating that it would provide a permanent public safety presence to the remote LaValle area; that it would reduce the time needed to respond to an emergency in the area; and that a permanent presence would serve to deter crime.
Why then has no action been taken?
The need is screamingly obvious. Each day the news reports and talk shows highlight the growing fear in the community of unbridled crime. The criminal element is aware that their chances of success are greatly enhanced when help from law enforcement is so far away. More lives may be at stake when emergency personnel must travel long distances from other areas of St. Croix to reach the sick and injured. And in the event of fire, every second is critical in making the difference between rescue and destruction.
So what possible reason can exist for not moving forward? We don’t know.
What we do know is that if the decision has been made not to move forward with the project, the money should be reappropriated into some other action that will enhance the public safety on St. Croix. We have heard the claims of reduced funding resulting in a smaller police presence and the inability to pay overtime to keep officers on the street. Half a million dollars would certainly help address this issue.
And from a strictly monetary perspective, we all know that the longer you delay any construction or renovation project, the higher the cost will go. Additionally, another structure sits idle and abandoned, creating another haven for vagrants and criminal activity, when we are in dire need of facilities for some of our other social ills, including the homeless.
It just doesn’t make sense. The need is there. The money is there. The structure is there. If a decision has been made to abandon the project, as Sen. Adlah “Foncie” Donastorg alleges in the attached news release, then that decision should be communicated. It wouldn’t be the first decision this Administration has made that flies in the face of public need.
And the very next step is to immediately release and responsibly reuse the $450,000 being held hostage in this dormant Act. There are so many options that the lack of action leaves us with one question.
What’s the holdup?
That’s a very good question. I wonder if $450G that is suppose to used to turn the building into a substation is being appropriated to other projects.
Yes, St. Croix definately needs that. Police response time is rediculous on the big island in relations to those areas.
I find it funny. That is the same total money range as the security house construction done on someone’s personal property.
Good point.
And we were promised one of those police trailers on the northshore in the meantime. Another broken promise.
I heard Lee Carle on WSTA this morning talk about the old building at North Shore on St. Croix. Government House responded by called the news report in the media and Sen. Donastorg’s appearence at the site “political grand standing.” Ironic, isn’t it.
Political grandstanding is also playing nice when you are in trouble like giving the retirees part of their long awaited COL allowance (in stead of waiting for next year) and finally listening to the workers at IRB.
Well, this is the dilemma. I got the “bonding bill” the press person on St. Croix was quoted referencing and was appauled. In the bonding bill it only appropriates $250,000 dollars which is a far cry from the $450,000 appropriated last year. If they are saying the $450,000 is not available via that appropriation why would provide less money through the bonding issue you said is more realistic money. Then to add insult to injury, the administration said it’s going to cost about $2.6 million to build out. So if we read between the lines they are lying us. Here they go again trying to make fools of us here on St. Croix. I find this to be appauling. And ask yourself why is a St. Thomas Senator questioning this? Where is the St. Croix Senators on this issue? So lets say the Senator Donastorg was grandstanding, isn’t he still addressing another issue with facts that needed to be exposed? Funny the administration would direct their press person to try and assassinate the messenger again. I prefer our Senators to grandstand for something that is right than to outright lie like the administration. I would like to know, who the Governor think he is fooling these days. Again, I was not a Donastory fan but God knows they still have not proven the man wrong. Like the man or don’t like him, critisize him on the issues that has no merit.
I find it to be quite coincidental the total cost of the Governor’s security enhancements to his private property to be almost the same amount of the $450,000 appropriated for our St. Croix substation. Are we blind or what?
Collette, you need to send this info to news source, like TV2, WSTA, and Channel 8. The people need to know!
Have you ever noticed how some things (projects) are completed almost before we are aware of their conception while other things are talked about for years with excuse after excuse as to why they cannot be done?
WE ONLY MATTER A FEW MONTHS BEFORE ELECTION!!!!! After that, to the winners go the spoils…..our government money.
We need to stop and look at ourselves as we go from one crisis to another, never solving any of them, and allowing them to pile up!
The resulting stress will destroy us.
We have to find a way to make our concerns the top priorities that our officials deal with. They have a way of saying things to satisfy us that they are working on the problems. This keeps us quiet for a year or two so that they can move ahead with their own priorities.
Colette,
I must agree with you on the reference of the St. Croix senators just sitting back and doing nothing while a St. THOMAS senator is asking all the right questions. This is such a pity what is going on in this government.
Lest we forget, here is a list of some of our crises:
1. Violent crime out of control (possibly the highest in the
nation.
2. Economic stress (cost of living, WAPA, etc.)
3. Failing infrastructure (roads, gov. buildings)
4. Education ( scores, discipline, maintenance of buildings, drop
outs, teachers, parents, supplies)
5. RAMPANT CURRUPTION (Mafoliegate, senate president, and much
more)
6. Growing debt (floating of bonds, wasteful spending)
7. Overflowing and out of control prisons
8. Undermanned police force
9. Underfunded and understaffed hospitals
10. No progress toward less expensive energy
11. Collection of property taxes
12. Constitutional Convention??????
13. Employment (viable jobs with benefits)
14. Development with a land and water use plan
15. Transportation (reliable public transportation as well as air
travel, and ferry services)
16. Inability of the people to effect change
I’m sure this isn’t everything. What can we do?????
Colette, I just received a copy of Act 7081 with the bond, and it turns out that the $250,000 is going to the substation at Cotton Valley, while $275,000 is going to North Shore. Just a correction.
That true. But where are they getting the $2.6 mill from?
Our biggest worry in 2006 was that Foncie being from St. Thomas would work in the St. Croix candidate’s favor in the general election. Once we started canvassing, we found out that he’s been panted as a senator and doesn’t have gubernatorial support. More details for all inquiring minds as we approch 2010.
Well he has major gubernatorial support now as far as I can see.
I do not think Donastorg is gubernatorial material. He is fine as a senator, but what has he completed during his current term?
Who is gubernatorial material? I am being serious. Dejongh isn’t and wasn’t. Turnbull isn’t and wasn’t. Maybe Farrelly and Schneider were to some degree. I can’t say, but we seem to be going downhill fast.
Donastorg has a long and productive record as Senator and has proven that he is willing to fight for the people. I think being honest and having your heart in the right place is more important than anything else.
Anonymous,I have to agree with you.Who is gubernatorial material? I supported Dejongh,and i am very very disappointed.Donarstorg can’t be no worse.I for sure will be supporting him if he decides to run for governor.
Most people with whom I have spoken seem to favor either Donastorg or Mapp; on the other hand, hardly anyone speaks in favor or in support of the current governor.
And the reality here is who is carrying the least luggage. Think about it for a second; who has been tied to corruption at some point or the other. The current administration has surely exposed themselves. Which Governor is Virgin Islands history was stupid enough to sign a contract to enrich himself? Do I need to provide a response? I don’t think so. Now, of all the candidates who might run for Governor to include the Governor on his re-election bid, has really made any sacrifices for the greatest good; the people? Lets be fair and start to measure each one of them and what they have stood for. I have no regrets but I will have to place my bet on Donastorg. By the way, anyone knows how many terms he has completed in the Senate? Everyone is entitled to their opinion but lets put our politically influenced bias thoughts and do some research on everyone.
Hey T,
I think your right about the appropriation. I called the office of one of our St. Croix Senators and they confirmed it. They sounded still confuse about the appropriation. They too was uncertain about whether or not the $450,000 dollars would be available and the bonding issue provided another $275,000. Which means the Governor feels we are worth less than the cost of security measures he illegally made on his private residents using public funds.