Residents Also Count

Sometimes one bad apple (or two) really can spoil the whole bunch for everyone

Is Key West still a real town, where people actually live, sometime raise children, and make their homes? Or is Key West destined to be merely a theme park? A faux place where businesses (often owned by nonresidents) make money without regard for the environment or quality of life?

Despite sky-high rents, it is actually possible to make a lot of money off the thousands and thousands of people who visit Key West each year. And the economic incentive to do that without caring about the livability of the city is huge - and exploited.

All this came to mind recently during the first of three city commission public workshops designed to explore noise issues in the city. The very volatility of the issue was illustrated by the fact that, even though the first hearing was, by design, created for residents, it was basically dominated by those providing live music or working in that industry. (In other words, an “industry” side of things.)

I found myself sympathizing with a lot of what was said, and I certainly think it's important that everyone acknowledges that there is a palpable concern among the live music community about the future of their craft in Key West.

But is that fear justified? 

Based on the over the top statements made by some, one would think that Key West is on the verge of banning live music. The fact that there's absolutely no constituency for that move, or, as far as anyone can determine, no actual proposal along those lines, did not staunch the flow of apocalyptic warnings.

Some spoke passionately about  the need for compromise and mutual respect, but that sentiment certainly wasn't universal. There were also a lot of flippant dismissals of the people who live here, an undercurrent of "like it or leave it", and suggestions that people trying to defend their homes leave town.

The conversation also wasn’t merely abstract. The putative defenders of live music made a particularly egregious mistake by defending a serial violator of the noise ordinance. The bar, which can identify itself if it chooses (but which will here simply be called The Caroline Street venue) is not a worthy cause to champion.

That bar is not in a building. It is basically open space. In past years it was a small acoustic oriented music venue. Then, a few years ago, new owners decided it should be like a second version of the city amphitheater, complete with highly amplified music, especially in the bass range. Open air highly amplified concerts, seven days a week, abutting residential areas. What's not to like?

Naturally, there were complaints, but despite the fact that the music was bouncing off the wall at the Eco-Discovery Center near the actual city amphitheater (over 3/4 of a mile away) a bar spokesman denied doing anything untoward or wrong.

Some of the same arguments they made over a year ago are illustrative and still pertinent for any business involved in noise ordinance issues now.

First, the business denied violating the noise ordinance. This was clearly untrue since any music within the bounds of the ordinance (as applicable to that location) would not be clearly audible about a quarter mile away. And it most certainly would not be ringing out loud and clear near the entrance to Zachary Taylor State Park, well over half a mile from Caroline Street.

Moreover, if the business was confident that it was staying within the applicable law, it is a mystery why its principals felt so threatened by complaints. If one is operating within the law, what is one worried about?

Second, the venue and its supporters said that the residents who have made their home in the vicinity (keep in mind, not a few doors away or even a block away, but many blocks away) should not live here (Key West) if they do not want to have their windows rattled by amplified bass.

When they first advanced that argument we had been property owners for well over 20 years (in basically the same part of town) and full-time residents for four - both predating the loud venue's own existence here. (The previous tenants of their property did not create anything similar in the way of disturbance.)

We knew when we chose to live several blocks from the heart and Old Town that we weren’t moving to the country. We didn't expect that. Indeed, none of the iconic long-standing bars in Key West have ever regularly bothered us or our neighbors with noise at the house. 

Not the Green Parrot nor Willie T's, (both of which are closer than the offending venue). Not the Bull and Whistle, nor Sloppy Joes, nor the Key West Songwriters Festival , nor, actually, the Key West Amphitheater itself -  with its plethora of wonderful concerts. It's quite possible to be a good neighbor and showcase good musicians in Key West within the bounds of civility and respect. One just has to use a little consideration and forego blasting music well beyond one’s property lines as a way of attracting attention.

Should anyone who chooses to live in Key West be prepared for the entire island to be open to outdoor concerts? Or, for that matter, for whatever other loud revenue generating activity can be dreamed up by entrepreneurs? That is not a recipe for a stable, livable community.

 I don’t know anybody who wants to eliminate live music in Key West and there is room to find common ground.

City Commissioners Jimmy Weakley and Clayton Lopez struck the right tone at the end of the meeting by emphasizing that the logical path forward is for folks to work together and try to reach as much consensus as possible. Thankfully, that was also the view of some of the assembled musicians themselves. It won’t be easy, but it can give everyone a sense of stability and occupational security.

There are some areas that might be difficult simply because of the nature of the neighborhood. Live amplified music on Petronia Street to Thomas Street is a good example. Unlike the venue on Caroline Street, those venues have never bothered us (about 3/10 of a mile away). But I've heard a lot from friends in Bahama Village, including long time property owners, that find it intolerable. Hopefully mitigation can address some of those concerns.

It’s also worth noting that there is a huge difference in music inside a building, even one with large open windows, and simply setting up an amplified sound system in an open lot.

Most issues can be worked out if people don't dig in their heels and, instead, figure out a way to reach consensus. But the idea that anything and everything that brings in tourist dollars is sacrosanct, and not subject to the rules of ordinary civilized society in an actual real town, needs to be laid aside.

Local residents don’t want to hurt an art form and industry that is part of our very identity. But for those of us who live here, Key West is a real town. It's our home. It’s not a crime to speak out when new, previously unknown, situations arise. Let's respect each other.