I think it does. Few enough places on this island where people can enjoy themselves out of doors, in a clear, easily accessible, open park with facilities. A McDonald's would require not just the space the building will occupy, but a large parking lot, which would mean paving over a considerable amount of the one acre he tried to lease out. The Governor was talking about closing down the Yacht Club to make more space available, which would mean shutting down the only organization that organizes and promotes water sports in the territory.
The whole thing is complicated when described. You'd be best to Google for pictures of the property in question. It is a very small park by most standards, and it is our best park in the entire island. If that gives you any idea of the cost to the community private development of the park will mean. Especially given that there are plenty of other properties McDonald's could go after, although they'd have to pay more than the pittance they were going to pay for the beach front property. And you have to also keep in mind that the deal was struck behind closed doors, and there was no open bidding for the property. What does it usually mean when a government official (the governor) secretly negotiates with a private entity to lease out public land for less than the market value?
Thanks. Your #4 and #5 are obviously thoughtful and probably factual. Some of us knee-jerk to anti-capitalist posts, that's all.
How does the prospect of statehood strike your fellow locals there? To us philistine mainlanders, it means at least two more Democrat Senators. Keep up the fight.