What should summer on Martha’s Vineyard look like?
What should summer on Martha’s Vineyard look like?
The topic is top-of-mind everywhere, in selectmen’s meetings, on construction sites, in (virtual) nonprofit boardrooms, in conversations with restaurateurs, real estate agents, landlords and shop owners. Everyone, it seems, has an idea. And every idea, it seems, gets immediately and derisively shot down.
Consider the well-meaning, if too-hasty effort by the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and Chamber of Commerce to appeal to summer homeowners with a letter that was withdrawn almost as soon as it was sent amid a nasty backlash.
It is clear that there are at least two entrenched camps on the Island: the stay-awayers who are concerned that people from harder-hit areas will import the deadly coronavirus and the back-to-workers who are willing to accept the risks of infection to get the Island economy back on track.
Nearly drowned out in the noise of social media and anonymous comments are the voices of the many — likely a large majority of people — who want the Vineyard to reopen in some manner for the summer, just very carefully.
The myth of the Vineyard as a place apart where our diverse community lives in happy harmony has been forever shattered by the invisible threat of this disease. Differences in world view were always there, but the fierceness and ugliness with which they have been expressed was unexpected. Yet we know people under extreme stress act extremely. Some are worried for their lives, others for their livelihoods. Both of these concerns are real and understandable.
The Island must agree on a path forward, and it cannot be done without first acknowledging and seeking a way to mitigate these twin terrors. What, specifically, can be done to minimize the risk of a worsening public health crisis? What, specifically, can be done to help people whose only income is tourism-based?
This will require the patient participation not only of local elected leaders, but businesspeople, health care experts and key Island institutions, including conservation organizations, arts groups and other nonprofit organizations.
The answer will be in a set of guidelines, many of which will by necessity represent compromise from some of the immoderate positions staked out in comments on the Vineyard Gazette website, among other places.
There are lots of thoughtful, creative people on the Island able to help craft a plan. Who will bring them together?
Comments
How dare you.
Ted Oak BluffsHow dare you.
It’s amazing how the people
John Gault Oak BluffsIt’s amazing how the people that will continue being receiving a paycheck are pushing to keep those who don’t get a pay check unless they are working. So we have two people pushing this irrational letter. Those businesses owners who just forked over a large amount of money to rejoin and those unwise enough to take out a high priced ad in the their phone book are going to be looking at wanting a refund. OH one more item who elected either one of these women to make public policy? It’s bad enough the elected politicians are not supporting the local businesses.
"Who elected either one of
Downislander"Who elected either one of these women to make public policy?" First, it sounds like you have a problem with intelligent, educated women suggesting that they might actually know something. And second, for your information, lumping everyone together who want to listen to the science as " people that will continue being receiving a paycheck" is presumptuous and simply wrong. There are many of us who are losing income because of this, myself included, yet we're smart enough to realize that if we simply "reopen the economy" before we have a firm handle on this virus, the next round of it will be even worse. Then what?
Beautifully stated. Thank you
MelissaBeautifully stated. Thank you.
Thank you for writing this.
David M Hannon Vineyard HavenThank you for writing this. It is important for all to understand that the Health and Welfare of the island walk hand in hand. No wealth without health. No health without wealth. Let's come together and craft a unified way forward.
I understand that there are
Chris Mara EdgartownI understand that there are people who are worried. I’m one of them. For those like me who don’t want to get sick, I will probably avoid restaurants for the next year. The theater I run won’t re-open this year. Outdoor events are another story. I’m willing to give that a try. Hotels?Economics will pressure many to return to work. Like a lot of year-round people I don’t go out much in the summer anyway.
So well stated. As a seasonal
Dick weiss Hidden coveSo well stated. As a seasonal resident I am not running away from covid. I am going to what has been my home for fifty years and intend to practice social distancing not only to protect myself but all the others on the island I love. We don’t bring disease we bring caring and hope
Amen!
Jane Edmonds Oak BluffsAmen!
Thank you, Mr. Weiss, so well
Pat Cooney Ridgefield Ct and EdgartownThank you, Mr. Weiss, so well put.
thank you ❤️
jennifer oak bluffsthank you ❤️
I agree. We have been
TSI agree. We have been Seasonal residents and tax payers for over 50 years. We are not running from something. The island is our home. We plan to just stay on our property. At this point, everyone in America should be wearing a mask and practicing social distancing. I think the island should just open essential businesses this Summer. They should slow things down and use this Summer to prepare for the New Normal.
The truth is that what should
Jim NycThe truth is that what should unify us all is that year round, seasonal, vacationer or visitor all share a deep love of this Island. The problem is that this pandemic revealed that there are people who feel they have a more exclusive right to claim this and judge everyone else. It is an incredibly ugly reveal — no one wants to destroy the beauty of what the Vineyard means to them — and no one has the right or power to say who can or can’t belong to this Island. People in power who were wrong should apologise with no “buts” or equivocating explanations. The damage is done many many people heard all the ugly voices and many many people are staying away - and now many many people on this beautiful Island will suffer. It was over-reactive, judgemental and hugely disrespectful. People should be removed from positions of power after showing such poor judgement. And local govt and business shpild ask themselves how do we begin to improve the way we respect others who have the same love of this land and place. And maybe we can begin to heal.
Well said, Jim.
Chris OBWell said, Jim.
Well stated. Thank You
Bruce WTis.Well stated. Thank You
As an island community, we
Clam Daniels MenemshaAs an island community, we have a natural buffer to the disease and the right to try to protect that buffer, this is a very unique place in that the population MULTIPLIES TENFOLD in the summer, we've been very lucky here with COvid so far, but the island population is elderly and we have VERY FEW HOSPITAL BEDS. Please stay away, huge numbers of summer visitors will DEFINITELY spread cover here and we have the right to try and protect ourselves. CLOSE THE FERRIES!
All we need is VISION and a
Jane Edmonds Oak BluffsAll we need is VISION and a PLAN for the summer of 2020 and beyond, developed by a coordinated inclusive and thoughtful group representing the vineyard’s diverse interests. So far, it is difficult to see evidence of either.
We love our home on the
Chris McCue Potts Tisbury and MedfieldWe love our home on the Vineyard, decades of joy and memories, and a deep caring for the entire island community. We plan on returning at some point this summer from our MA home, but will happily bring provisions, quarantine ourselves, wear masks, etc. We hope while on island we can safely support businesses and the community in some way. For our own mental health, we need some island time but we're committed to doing it thoughtfully.
Thank you for speaking up for
Lisa Bruce Arlington, VA & ChilmarkThank you for speaking up for what I hope really is the silent majority. As a seasonal resident, I've been surprised by some of the vitriolic comments against non-year-rounders I've seen on here and Facebook, but I've been heartened by others who have responded with a more balanced, pragmatic, and welcoming tone. I plan to come to my home, take precautions, and self-isolate if the state is still requesting it. I also hope to volunteer and spend my money locally. I think there are enough intelligent, innovative people on this island that we can come up with a plan that works for most. Expanding outdoor dining and relaxing liquor laws would be a good start - for example, what if places like Offshore Ale and Lookout Tavern could sell drinks to-go and people could take them to the water or Ocean Park? And in terms of closing/cancelling things, while it might make sense to cancel big events like Illumination Night, smaller events like the Flea Market and Farmer's Market that take place outside seem absolutely worth keeping, even if we need to implement things like timed tickets or reduced numbers of vendors to space things out.
It's time to accept that Covid will be on the island this summer. It's not practical (or fair) to ban certain populations, nor does it make sense to insist on having a "normal" summer season. But we can compromise and move forward - after all, amity means friendship ;)
After being a tourist, then
Edgartownite EdgartownAfter being a tourist, then seasonal,and then a washashore we learned it is best to enjoy the beauty of the Island and do your best to ignore the disdain from some of the residents. Don't let the Island curmudgeons ruin it for you.
Those curmudgeons are year
Stone McArthur Oak BluffsThose curmudgeons are year-round residents, small town folk whose lives are being threatened by a massive influx of wealthy out-of-towners looking for a vacay. PLEASE STAY HOME THIS SUMMER, MV is tying to protect itself
If all part time residents
Carolyn O'Daly EdgartownIf all part time residents are like my daughter-in-law I say come on down! She told me that if she comes to the Island this summer she will feel morally obligated to quarantine for two weeks. If the restaurants offer delivery it would be a big help too. I am worried for all the small business owners on the Island and feel that if there's any way they can open safely I'm all for it. Unfortunately there are too many people both on the Island and everywhere else in this country who don't like to be told what to do. It's sad they think about themselves rather than the welfare of the rest of us.
Yes, lesson long ago learned.
Chris OBYes, lesson long ago learned.
It is no secret that our
Concerned Vineyard HavenIt is no secret that our hospital is built to accommodate the summer swell, but it is not prudent to go into the summer with the expectation of exceeding it. Is it possible that even if we are considering the limited treatment options for people Covid-19 positive can receive on Island, the extra stress on our hospital staff without supports from Boston will leave us without the ability to treat the influx of seasonal visitors with regular emergency needs, let alone the moped drivers. Our old normal is more than the system can handle this year.
I'm already seeing mainly
R TisburyI'm already seeing mainly workers and young people everywhere without masks not social distancing in grocery stores biking walking in groups etc. Its obvious that many young people wont follow guidelines this summer. Who knows if they quarantined upon arrival to the island. This to me is a bigger threat than partial reopening of businesses and restaurants following proper guidelines. I believe people arriving see the low number of cases here and act as if there's little need for precautions. I'm really alarmed by this and believe it will result in more cases on Nantucket and the vineyard.
Feel free to stay at home and
Mark EdgartownFeel free to stay at home and shelter in place. We need to open the economy otherwise there will be nothing to come back to after two months of sheltering.
What happens to summer
Weekly Visitor New JerseyWhat happens to summer visitors who already rented homes for only a one or two week stay? What happens to us? When will our large dollar deposits be refunded? We are willing to stay away, but when will we be notified that our reservations are cancelled? My lease says, Vacation/ Recreational lease. I understand for summer 2020 MV is Not Safe for an influx of tourist, and that most events, ie, Ag fair, Film Festival, OB fireworks are all cancelled; so not a great vacation/recreational destination for 2020. Make a decision for renters.
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