A Golden Moment
Uh oh, things are not looking up for Paul Golden. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals rejected his bid to stop CZM from reviewing his permit. Roger Morgan got the scoop Wednesday afternoon and Andy Simpson confirmed it on Free Speech Thursday morning. Don’t take my word for it. Here’s an excerpt:
You can get the full program here. The discussion about Golden starts around one hour ten minutes into it. Andy comes on at about 13 minutes after the hour.
Just a few weeks ago Paul Golden held a press conference announcing Wyndham Resorts as his “brand” partner for the proposed resort on St. Croix’s south shore, in the environmentally sensitive Great Pond wetlands. He spoke as if the project was a done deal - $150 million in equity - CZM permit fully in compliance - $32.5 million of the publics money back in his hands for the convention center - breaking ground next month - Blah Blah Blah. Reporters asked about the pending lawsuits and he shushed it away, “I’m not going to talk about those”. Like they were trifling inconveniences. How about the “default” CZM permit? “No, its not default. We have the permit and we’re fully in compliance.”
Except, he didn’t mention one of the pending legal issues was his own appeal of the Third Circuit Court’s order to send his permit back to CZM for “finding of fact”, to determine if it is actually “compliant”. If he’s so sure its compliant, why would he worry about CZM reviewing it?
Well it doesn’t matter now. He’s lost this battle and is back to square one. You can read more about it in the Daily News article 3rd Circuit denies Golden Resorts appeal; permit must go back to CZM for review.
April 1st, 2008 at 10:29 am
What a shame. Let’s hope his whole project dies soon.
April 1st, 2008 at 1:10 pm
I can hear the bells tolling now. What a sweet sound.
April 1st, 2008 at 5:12 pm
told ya so, no need to get worked up over nothing,jeez,save your energy for saving turtles or shutting down crack houses or something worthwhile at least. Golden never had a chance
April 1st, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Hmmm, for years now, we’ve spent many hours each week during nesting season doing sea turtle research, Ladlie. What made you think we didn’t?
Oh, and did you know that we have 11 rescued dogs and 4 rescued cats?
Maybe you can do the crack house work, we’re kinda busy….
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:47 am
haha, well i’m up to 4 dog rescues and 2 cats and i’m not allowed to bring anymore animals into the household, and all i’m saying is we have known for a couple of years now that the golden thing never had a chance and so now if people would expend the same amount of energy being hysterical about all the other negative details of living here(drugs,education,the homeless and mentally ill wandering the streets)that they did on the golden thing, well stx just might turn itself around,hopefully all the cash that stanford is spreading around will do some good, he seems to be known for improving the communities he lives in.
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:38 am
Sorry, but I must disagree with you. You may have “known for years” that the golden thing never had a chance, but it wasn’t going to just “go away” by itself. There’s a whole cadre of current and former government officials bending over backwards to cut corners, skirt our territorial laws, shirk their duties and turn a blind eye to make sure this project did have a chance, despite its deficiencies. It’s only going to go away because of the diligent efforts a few honest, non-hysterical, individuals who are holding the various authorities accountable to the laws and rules of the Virgin Islands and the US.
I too would like to see more people, especially, but not exclusively, people elected or appointed to deal with these issues, put more energy into solving social ills plaguing these beautiful islands rather than working so hard to push through ill-conceived irresponsible development with the ridiculous expectation that a few more menial jobs will solve all our problems.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:35 am
Michael’s right, Ladlie. Had you gone to ANY of the Golden hearings and heard EVERYBODY BUT US speak in favor of this “Golden Boy”?
We went to as many as we could. And it was frightening. The same faces in the same silk suits. And many who have been there for YEARS trying to develop the Great Pond area. Former supporters of Beal Aerospace, who actually “broke ground” just east of the Great Pond, with a Former senator, (who is one of Golden’s shadows)laughing at the environmentalists and calling us “baby killers” (just two days after my miscarriage, at that).
And then they have this “Press release” and celebration in February, when he gets the Wyndham brand behind his name.
Many people were convinced at this point that it was a done deal. But not you.
So, what is your take on Annaly? Will it be developed? And how’s the C’sted bypass going? When will it be finished?
How ’bout the Pickled Greek, when will they finally open? And last, but not least, tell us, please, what will happen with William and Punch? Will they get all that they’re looking for?
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:50 pm
well Peter is your friend but i saw that he had a sign posted above his soon come sign, everyone knows Webster is corrupt and whenever a family member or friend needs business he comes up with something for restaurant owners to pay for. I honestly have no problem with the bypass, yes it’s ugly but yes a bypass is needed, this island is growing and people need to move quicker to get from point a to point b and if not having to go through downtown is the answer so be it, not all of us live on the east end, but some of us work east of C’sted and so we have to deal with traffic. I see the save annaly bay bumper stickers and i guess i don’t have an opinion one way or the other but i do find it interesting that the biggest objectors are the guys that run hiking/ecotour businesses through that area, so i guess if you’re going to shut it down to development be fair and close it off to anyone that stands to make a buck, and i truly hope that williams and punch gets all that they want if only to break the hold that the DIVI has on this island, i wonder how much they have paid under the table over the years to our local officials to keep other big hotel developments off the island. Back to the bypass thing they are on schedule but i do wish they would have terraced it to make it prettier.
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:53 pm
i guess my biggest eco concern is the gill net thing and why on earth the senate is trying to get dc to change it’s mind, who truly cares about 9 fisherman, their nets if used all at once would cover 45 football fields