usvi-on-line
Ferry Companies Threaten to Curtail Service
Not sure how much Dohm's is from Red Hook.
Dolphin Water Taxi charges $90 for 4 people. Rates are on their site. www.dolphinshuttle.com
Dolphin Water Taxi charges $90 for 4 people. Rates are on their site. www.dolphinshuttle.com
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naturegirl
- Posts: 480
- Joined: Thu Feb 22, 2007 8:44 am
I am firm believer of going to the top. Below is a copy of my e-mail this morning to to Delegate Donna M. Christensen.
I have blocked out the personal details, but you get the gist...
Dear Delegate Christensen,
Good day! I am a long time visitor to the U.S. Virgin Islands, specifically to St. John.
I am distressed that I continue to read reports of Varlack Ventures shutting down or limiting ferry service to St. John from St. Thomas. As you know, this service is a life-line for residents and the only cost-efficient way for tourists to visit this beloved island.
I will admit that I am selfish in my immediate concern, as I will be on island for my 7th visit (in ten years) during the first two weeks of December, 2007. I am distressed to hear that I may have difficulty with the last leg of my journey due to the threats issued in a press release by Varlack Ventures to limit service.
I believe it was Mr. Guy Benjamin who's legacy of providing ready access to St. John for it's residents and this vital service has helped St. John to thrive and for her school children to have access to higher education on St. Thomas.
Economically, I can choose to travel anywhere in the world for our vacations, but we continue to choose St. John year after year. Over the past decade we have spent countless thousands of dollars on villa rentals, car rentals (from Lonnie at St. John Car rental), ferry fees, meals on St. John and St. Thomas, as well as the purchase of luxury goods. Conservatively this figure is probably around $50,000 (I shudder to think that it's probably much more!).
We have introduced 13 friends to the islands over the years and some have become regular visitors themselves, introducing the island to an even greater number of visitors. In addition to our upcoming trip we are planning another trip for 2009 to celebrate the high school graduation of a cousin and a small family gathering. We feel as if St. John is a second home to us and we want to continue to visit.
I am the Director of Public Outreach at the XXXXXXX and I well understand the challenges with adequately funding public transportation infrastructure and the detriment that it can have you don't. I am in Richmond every January advocating and educating our legislators about the benefits of public transportation. I also know that this is likely an effort by Varlack to create a groundswell of support for their position using the only threat they have - cessation of service.
Be that as it may, I urge you to do whatever is necessary to maintain adequate ferry service between St. John and St. Thomas. Personally, I would be happy to pay more in ferry fees due to the cost of rising fuel. In my opinion, they could charge up to $15 each way for non-residents and people would still pay. I'm not advocating that, but I believe it's what the market would bear.
I do not pretend to know the intricacies of the business-side of running the ferry service, but I do know that I want you to do whatever is necessary to allay my fears and ensure that I will be able to get to St. John as efficiently as I have always been able to.
On another note, I am pleased to see that there have been improvements at Charles E. King airport and the Red Hook ferry, as these are long overdue.
Finally, please pass along my extra thanks to your staff. I was having difficulty locating your e-mail address on-line and they were kind to assist me. You have some wonderful ladies working in your office!
I look forward to many more years of St. Thomas and St. John adventures and I appreciate anything that you can do to ensure that this issue is resolved to the benefit of Varlack, St. John residents and tourists alike.
Sincerely,
Gromit (The name has been changed to protect the innocent)
Director of Public Outreach
XXXXXXXX
& US Virgin Islands Lover!
Resident of Northern Virginia
I have blocked out the personal details, but you get the gist...
Dear Delegate Christensen,
Good day! I am a long time visitor to the U.S. Virgin Islands, specifically to St. John.
I am distressed that I continue to read reports of Varlack Ventures shutting down or limiting ferry service to St. John from St. Thomas. As you know, this service is a life-line for residents and the only cost-efficient way for tourists to visit this beloved island.
I will admit that I am selfish in my immediate concern, as I will be on island for my 7th visit (in ten years) during the first two weeks of December, 2007. I am distressed to hear that I may have difficulty with the last leg of my journey due to the threats issued in a press release by Varlack Ventures to limit service.
I believe it was Mr. Guy Benjamin who's legacy of providing ready access to St. John for it's residents and this vital service has helped St. John to thrive and for her school children to have access to higher education on St. Thomas.
Economically, I can choose to travel anywhere in the world for our vacations, but we continue to choose St. John year after year. Over the past decade we have spent countless thousands of dollars on villa rentals, car rentals (from Lonnie at St. John Car rental), ferry fees, meals on St. John and St. Thomas, as well as the purchase of luxury goods. Conservatively this figure is probably around $50,000 (I shudder to think that it's probably much more!).
We have introduced 13 friends to the islands over the years and some have become regular visitors themselves, introducing the island to an even greater number of visitors. In addition to our upcoming trip we are planning another trip for 2009 to celebrate the high school graduation of a cousin and a small family gathering. We feel as if St. John is a second home to us and we want to continue to visit.
I am the Director of Public Outreach at the XXXXXXX and I well understand the challenges with adequately funding public transportation infrastructure and the detriment that it can have you don't. I am in Richmond every January advocating and educating our legislators about the benefits of public transportation. I also know that this is likely an effort by Varlack to create a groundswell of support for their position using the only threat they have - cessation of service.
Be that as it may, I urge you to do whatever is necessary to maintain adequate ferry service between St. John and St. Thomas. Personally, I would be happy to pay more in ferry fees due to the cost of rising fuel. In my opinion, they could charge up to $15 each way for non-residents and people would still pay. I'm not advocating that, but I believe it's what the market would bear.
I do not pretend to know the intricacies of the business-side of running the ferry service, but I do know that I want you to do whatever is necessary to allay my fears and ensure that I will be able to get to St. John as efficiently as I have always been able to.
On another note, I am pleased to see that there have been improvements at Charles E. King airport and the Red Hook ferry, as these are long overdue.
Finally, please pass along my extra thanks to your staff. I was having difficulty locating your e-mail address on-line and they were kind to assist me. You have some wonderful ladies working in your office!
I look forward to many more years of St. Thomas and St. John adventures and I appreciate anything that you can do to ensure that this issue is resolved to the benefit of Varlack, St. John residents and tourists alike.
Sincerely,
Gromit (The name has been changed to protect the innocent)
Director of Public Outreach
XXXXXXXX
& US Virgin Islands Lover!
Resident of Northern Virginia
*Another fine scatterbrained production
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naturegirl
- Posts: 480
- Joined: Thu Feb 22, 2007 8:44 am
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naturegirl
- Posts: 480
- Joined: Thu Feb 22, 2007 8:44 am
Go to House.gov and click on "Write your legisator". Select Virgin Islands from the drop down menu and enter zip 00802 (don't worry about the plus 4).
Also, don't enter your zip, because it will only bring up YOUR personal legislator info and that's not what you want.
Here's the auto reply I got with her telephone number as well. But I wouldn't recommend that. E-mail is better.
Thank you for your E-mail to Congresswoman Donna M. Christensen, Virgin Islands Delegate to the U. S. House of Representatives.
Your inquiry has generated an automatic response, that will be followed up by a member of her staff. Please allow at least three days for a staff member to contact you.
If your inquiry is of an urgent nature, and/or you need immediate assistance, please contact one of the following offices that is closest to you:
Capitol Hill Office: 1510 Longworth House Office Building; Washington, D. C. 20515-5501,
Telephone: (202) 225-1790 Fax: (202) 225-5517;
St. Croix Office: #25 Sunny Isle Shopping Center; P. O. Box 5980, Sunny Isle, St. Croix, V. I. 00823
Telephone: (340) 778-5900 Fax: (340) 778-5111
St. Thomas Office: #207, 2nd Floor, Nisky Business Center, St. Thomas, VI 00802
Telephone: (340) 774-4408 Fax: (340) 774-8033
Also, don't enter your zip, because it will only bring up YOUR personal legislator info and that's not what you want.
Here's the auto reply I got with her telephone number as well. But I wouldn't recommend that. E-mail is better.
Thank you for your E-mail to Congresswoman Donna M. Christensen, Virgin Islands Delegate to the U. S. House of Representatives.
Your inquiry has generated an automatic response, that will be followed up by a member of her staff. Please allow at least three days for a staff member to contact you.
If your inquiry is of an urgent nature, and/or you need immediate assistance, please contact one of the following offices that is closest to you:
Capitol Hill Office: 1510 Longworth House Office Building; Washington, D. C. 20515-5501,
Telephone: (202) 225-1790 Fax: (202) 225-5517;
St. Croix Office: #25 Sunny Isle Shopping Center; P. O. Box 5980, Sunny Isle, St. Croix, V. I. 00823
Telephone: (340) 778-5900 Fax: (340) 778-5111
St. Thomas Office: #207, 2nd Floor, Nisky Business Center, St. Thomas, VI 00802
Telephone: (340) 774-4408 Fax: (340) 774-8033
*Another fine scatterbrained production
Her fax is 340-776-6992.Gromit wrote:In my experience an e-mail is better than a phone call. Do you have an e-mail address?
Even if I had her email, which I don't, I have found they are not as effective as you are used to. In the VI, face to face is best, but barring that a fax with a real person's signature is the best alternative.