All parks closed, mooring fields off limits, etc.

St.John shutdowns

Makes sense. Government is shutdown because we haven't approved raising the debt ceiling so we can pay bills, so stop letting people pick up moorings which they pay $15 a night for.

Not to get picky, but it's not a debt ceiling issue *yet*. Today it is only a budget issue - there is no approved budget (US Govt. new year starts today) so the government can't do business.

We get to wait a whole two weeks before we have the fun with the debt ceiling. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/hammer.gif" alt="" />

Either way, in the end, we spend way more than we bring in, so cutting off a service that collects money seems stupid. So what if noone may collect for the next few days - why turn away the revenue?

I think the whole country should have shut down today. Let's hold Washington hostage - see how long it takes them to come up with an agreement?

Imagine if every single person just stayed home today? No stores open, no stock market, no nothing..

This thread could quickly become the old CE Forum and I know Carol will close it some kind of quick, so I will try to walk softly.

The whole shutdown makes absolutely no sense. One party tried to call the other party�s bluff and no one budged. So is it the fault of the one who called the bluff or the one that held firm. Bottom line WE THE PEOPLE are the ones that suffer.

I can honestly say that no one in office today (house/senate/executive branch) will ever receive my vote anytime in the future for any elected position.

Closing the park on island that is 67% is absolutely STUPID. BTW we as taxpayers paid for the use of the mooring balls in 2013 by paying our 2012 taxes. The federal government may be on the fiscal year system, but taxpayers are not. I think every person who has a boat in the VI should head to the mooring balls and every tourist on island should take a snorkel at Trunk at Sunset!

Congressman removes barriers in DC


They cannot even follow their own rules � What a bunch of arrogant�

To the Mooring Balls!

Now I am pushing it � I will stop Carol.

Tom and everyone--I am more frustrated with this situation than you can know, but this is a travel board. Please keep the talk about travel.

Fair enough Carol

I wonder what that does for the people trying to come home.

I one is staying on the Coral Bay side, all three ways by land to return to Cruz Bay to catch the ferry go through the park. Do they have barriers on Centerline Road?

Talking about a Travel Nightmare

You can drive on roads in the park, only gated areas would shut down I believe. Same holds true for the mainland US and parks as well.

As I sit at home because of the furlough, I am worried about our November BVI trip. My daughter needs a passport, so while I am not getting paid, I have to pay for expedited service.

58 days and counting?? At least the boat and airfare is already paid for.

I am curious: Who is going to chase people off the beaches and out of the water if the Park Service is closed? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/drown.gif" alt="" />

The article says the park rangers will be working. As Matt says, the mooring balls in STJ are self service and on the honor system, why not take the $15, makes absolutely no sense. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> As to swimming, I don't get it at all, the only beaches that have life guards are Cinnamon and Trunk.

Actually, I thought I read today that the passport service was in full operation regardless, but I could be wrong.

The rangers are going to be working, so they aren't really furloughed. Well, then they should allow people to use the moorings and the beaches, since they have to be there anyway. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

So Stupid









Civil disobedience at it's finest.



Irony a sign saying the facility was paid for with user fees, which you aren't allowed to pay today.





Borrowed these from facebook.

Jay

gross overreaction, I would love to see the letter to St.John saying, tell people to stop swimming, most of the island is a national park. I doubt anyone in Washington is aware of mooring balls being shut down in Maho Bay. Reminds me of a Forest Gump line, "stupid is as stupid does"

It is so stupid. For starters, why does it matter if people still go and use the beach. Close the facilities, fine. Don't have people collect parking fees or mooring fees.. fine. But wasn't a lot of this land donated? I hardly think this is what they had in mind - it was to preserve it so people could use it.

Furthermore, why can't the local government (whether it be in St. John or anywhere else) take over paying a bare minimum staff to keep things operational? Seems it would be beneficial in any area where the places closed are visited by tourists.

Thank you Carol, I made some calls and we will be able to secure her a passport!!! For the first time in forever the whole family will be on the same boat!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

No moorings on STJ's north shore. That doesn't leave many options for overnight between Christmas Cove and a BVI check in.

Cheers, RickG

... facebook friends on STJ show Maho Bay beach open today... or maybe civil disobedience? That's my idea of a sit-in.

Cheers, RickG

Is C&I Cruz operatining on a normal schedule?

Are boaters actually using any of the moorings?

Hmm...a Moor-in... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/thinks.gif" alt="" />

The obvious question becomes, if there is no staff available to collect the fee is there any staff there to enforce it? It is not like you can close the park gate. Seems to me they have essentially just waived the mooring fee. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

I heard from one of the park concessionaires that they DO have enforcement officers out trolling around to make sure people don't accidently enter the park and have fun. It is pretty obvious they(the feds)are trying to upset visitors.
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Shocked.gif" alt="" />

I hope that they have this sort of enforcement when dogs are on the beach, Puerto Ricans turn on their fish attractor lights and all the other rules are broken.

It takes a month for me to get my USVI mooring fee charged to my credit card. It's the honor system, no maintenance needed other to empty the mooring fee box. What does swimming on a public beach have to do with anything government?

Too bad but it is only logical Nutmeg. The park police are not happy that most of their co-workers are laid off. As the squeaky wheel gets the grease they are just trying to make us wheels squeak! The best way to do that is get strict with the rules.

Evan: They are saying that all the area inside the park buoys belongs to the park. If someone would get hurt, the park would be liable... As I said, it is a big show.

Glenn: I believe that the orders came from Washington. It is much more newsworthy to show some poor bride who was cheated out of her wedding on Hawksnest than to show, say, the federal education department with its doors closed.

Looks to me like we had some good ole civil disobedience today.
Occupy St John Beaches

Wow! At $50 a citation, they are cleaning up,eh??

what about all the boats moored? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> what a federal joke

The facebook post says that was not a recent picture. I wonder if any of them were because many had boats on moorings?

If the government is shutdown, I'm not sure I'd recognize their authority to fine me. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />