In the absence of firm controls, tourism is capitalism run amok. This county once funded a comparative study in order to avoid becoming another Nantucket Island. How are we doing?
Soon, the reinvasion of our island will dominate another summer. Wholly unrestrained, except by the maximum carrying capacity of a faltering ferry fleet, the summer hordes and their cars will suck the easy-going spontaneity out of summer. Do we even have a composite “island culture”; a sturdy rudder by which to buck the tides of outside, upscale, faddy interests?
Some wags, grumping about downtown parking, packed bars and eateries, standing in lines and dodging distracted visitors say that our eruption of tourism is like a case of flesh-eating bacteria. Not so. Threatening bacilli can be treated with antibiotics!
Notwithstanding our inertia, inflationary delirium and the real threat of recession, we need to transition to economic resilience. Future challenges are mounting. The best path is to use the problem – like overheated real estate speculation – to fund the solution, like our County Home Fund. Are we determined enough to become the organ-grinder choosing the tunes as opposed to being monkeys dancing wildly for a few coins?