Recently, I was there twice in May, and
had spent 8 weeks there the year before.
In that area, and the areas surrounding it,
there is no economic blight. It is a tourist
town where those rich enough to live
year 'round live, and those who do not,
come to visit. The restaurants and the
shops are always full of people. If
you want to play devil's advocate, Gulf
Shores would not be the place to pick.
Besides, BP is being ultra-strict on
people proving their losses. This precludes
anyone operating on cash to claim compensation,
unless they kept lots of records. The reality
is, if the beaches are oiled, and the marine
life toxic to eat, the economy of the Gulf
will be severely impacted. I know I would
not choose to go back to the Gulf any time
soon, if ever, if the Gulf remains toxic.
Imagine the loss of property values too.
There was a lot of new construction going
on down along Gulf Shores which runs from
Alabama clear over to Pensacola in Florida.
This is not to say there are not low income
people who live close...Bay Minette comes
to mind, but it is not right on the Gulf.
Many of the lower income people fished and
depended on the Gulf and the intercoastal
waterways for their income and food. This
will severely impact their lifestyles and
I imagine, their health ultimately.
I agree with those who are asking for help
to deal with the impact this event is having.
Without tourists, or subsidies, people will
have to leave and the tax base will also
be lost, if not already lost. When I was
there, everyone was talking about it, and
worried. It would seem their worries have
come to fruition, and BP seems poised to
betray them if possible.
Here is one of the photos I took the last
time I was on the beach at Gulf Shores,
the last day of May~~
If you go there now, I guarantee that you
are not going to find the crowds like this.
This is what the mayors there and many other
places in Florida and around the Gulf are
concerned about...
-_-