As a truncated summer season looms, more than a dozen Vineyard business owners have issued an open letter calling for a public summit meeting with the all-Island selectmen and boards of health.
As a truncated summer season looms, more than a dozen Martha’s Vineyard business owners and trade association representatives have issued an open letter calling for a public summit meeting with the all-Island selectmen and all-Island boards of health to develop unified pandemic policies.
“We can no longer react solely as individual businesses or even towns, but instead must respond as one Island,” wrote the newly-formed All Island Business Task Force, which includes business association members in Edgartown, Oak Bluffs and Tisbury, the chamber of commerce and individual businesses.
The group is asking officials in all six towns to adopt state regulations with no additions, to develop a universal strategy for reopening beaches, parks and other public places, to agree on how mask use will be enforced and to use Islandwide signage informing the public of safety rules.
The letter is signed by Elaine Barse of the Green Room, JB Blau of the MV Year-Round Restaurant Group, Diane Carr of the Hob Knob Inn, Todd Christy of Chilmark Coffee Company, Collins Heavener of the West Tisbury Farmers’ Market, Lora Ksieniewicz of Yoga on the Vine, Aela Mass, of the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce, Sarah Omer of Red Cat Kitchen, Erin Ready of the Edgartown Board of Trade, Julia Tarka of Rosewater MV and Rosebud Kids, Greer and Christian Thornton of Atria, Julianne Vanderhoop of Orange Peel Bakery, Melaney West of Stagecoach Taxi and Sarah York of CB Stark Jeweler.
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Community
June Manning AquinnahCommunity
Good move.
Lorraine EdgartownGood move.
My girlfriends and I usually
Jenny WrenthamMy girlfriends and I usually do several day trips and a weekend or two every season. Our biggest concern is getting to the Vineyard. What is the SSA doing to keep us safe on bus rides from the parking lot to the boat? Are their buses jammed? Will they be cleaned between drop offs? Is the ticket office a mess? What about boarding? How is social distancing working on the ferry? Are the ferries sanitized? What about the taxis when we arrive? They're usually a mess -- will the owners clean them between pickups? Is the VTA going to pack people in on their buses? The whole Woods Hole to VH journey is so clouded with no answers. How does this stress get alleviated?
Easy, stay home.
Bob OBEasy, stay home.
Sounds like you may want to
bs OBSounds like you may want to sit this one out. Life's dangerous.
Try researching the SSA / VTA
John Cape CodTry researching the SSA / VTA / MV web sites to get answers to your questions and read the Vineyard gazette for starters. If you can't find enough guidance to alleviate your stress you probably should consider putting off your visit until later in the season to see how things go.
Unfortunately with all your
BJ TisburyUnfortunately with all your worries and requirements it sounds like you and your girlfriends might want to find another place to gather this summer. The SSA will work diligently to keep everyone safe and moving on and off but I am afraid that you might not be happy under any circumstances... Life doesn't offer any guarantees at the best of times.
Jenny, this may be the year
Mike Oak BluffsJenny, this may be the year that you’ll want to skip coming to the island , nothing is open And all summer events are cancelled. the steamship is only running boats to vineyard haven and there will be limited parking at the various lots in Falmouth.
Jenny- It sounds like you
Charlotte WtisJenny- It sounds like you need more certainty than this summer will offer you. If you expect an entirely sanitized day, you’re likely to be disappointed. Maybe it’s better to plan another type of outing. A day trip wouldn’t be stressful, so plan one that’s not stressful when you think about it.
Jenny -- As an Islander I've
T Bone Oak BluffsJenny -- As an Islander I've been getting similar questions to yours from my off island friends. I'd like to see them come over but like others have posted this is a riskier summer to visit. Business owners I've talked to are trying to get answers, too. Good luck.
Jenny, Don't add to your
Nancy Oak BluffsJenny, Don't add to your stress and visit again when you feel safe.
The best thing for all of us
Wayne EdgartownThe best thing for all of us is that you stay heme and stay safe unless you want to deal with all those issues as none of them will be satisfactorily to everyone. We dont have time to fully prepare and our concerns are all the virus carriers coming to the island.
Many have already arrived.
You are welcome to MV. It’s a
Cindy EdgartownYou are welcome to MV. It’s a great place for summer no matter what these people tell you . You are freedom to make a decision. See you around !
Jenny, my advice is to not
ZephyrJenny, my advice is to not count on the SSA to keep you safe. You have to do it yourself. Drive your own car on the ferry and stay inside for the trip, then you won't need a taxi on the island either. I wouldn't go anywhere near a bus or taxi until we get a vaccine.
I think many residents would
Jessica Vineyard HavenI think many residents would also welcome this action and gladly sign if it would help the cause. Haphazard regulations by town are confusing to locals and visitors alike.
Some have joked that the only
Wouldn't It Be Nice EdgSome have joked that the only thing better about Nantucket that MVY is the name Nantucket, itself. Chuckles aside, Nantucket has one real advantage, which is it's one-Island focus. MVY has tolerated, and even celebrated, the waste and in-efficiency of six towns for decades. I would propose a split decision. Allow each town to keep its distinctive personality. But allow intelligent one-Island policies. One police department with one chief would seems like an easy place to start. Except for the five former chiefs of police, who should really complain about a more efficient police force? Schools are arguably more tricky, but it's hard to imagine that our wonderfully smart community could not improve on our schools if the focus were on the children and not the taxation districts. It's time for fresh thought on governmental revenue, overall. Why do we impose heavy taxes on our the seasonal home-owners, who draw relatively few services? Look at Nevada, which has low property taxes because they tax hotels heavily. Other revenue models (high ferry embarkation taxes - not 50 cents; don't forget airplane passengers, etc ...) need to be evaluated for our Island's future. As long as we have six towns, none of these factors will ever be evaluated fairly.
United front, consistent
Cynthia WTUnited front, consistent messaging sounds like a good plan!
We all know how slow the town
Lisa OBWe all know how slow the town's work so this is indeed would be a big leap to think they can throw together a precise plan within a month but have at it.
A good starting point would
Mary OBA good starting point would be to enforce the state rules that are already in place. It would keep people safe while any modifications for MV are considered. I completely agree it needs to be an all island collaboration, but we can’t wait too long...
Finally! :) Smart leadership
PracticePeace VIneyard HavenFinally! :) Smart leadership ideas from concerned and caring community members who don’t have “political” agendas to this very logical request. I will help collect signatures if it comes to community backing!
As far as unifying other parts of how we do things as a whole island, that will take time (^Wouldnt it be nice)... it would be nice. But this pandemic CAN’T wait for clear and consistent rules and guidelines AND enforcement of them.
The SSA is not the only
Paul EdgartownThe SSA is not the only option, in fact, my guess is that some of the more private operators, the Island Queen, etc might be able to maintain a more reliable, thorough, cleaning schedule. Just my opinion, although I see the SSA people are doing a lot of cleaning and taking it seriously. Per the other comments above, it is a personal decision, you will need to wash hands, bring wipes, etc etc.
Also, per commend above "nothing is open", is not true, and will be changing, more stores etc opening as the state guidelines and plan move forward.
I can not wait to return to
Diane NJ (and 3x/ year MVY visitor)I can not wait to return to my beautiful island of Martha's Vineyard. I live for my 2 weeks in a rented Edgartown home at end of August, then returning in October .
I will wear mask, gloves and all of it just to be there once again .
Happy to come via SSA, and look for me happily riding the bike paths!
The message is clear- these
Dan Rogers FalmouthThe message is clear- these businesses are facing an existential threat and if things proceed the way they are going, only those with deep reserves will be around in 2021.
I have been trying to figure
HomeownerI have been trying to figure out the beaches too. For a small island there is a lot of government. Imagine the savings if we consolidated.
Old Sculpin Gallery supports
M Fager Dock Street. EdgartownOld Sculpin Gallery supports this initiative and would like to join the Island Task Force.
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