» Conch Life

The Conch Republic via a Guest Blogger

The Skipper — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:08:22 +0000

This week, we welcome Chris Tucker’s contribution to the kingofconch.com. Chris’s personal blog can be found here.

The Conch republic is a society unto itself. Located in the city of Key West, Florida, this micro nation was formed as a simple protest. The Conch Republic seceded from the rest of the United States as a protest to a roadblock/inspection point back in 1982. The United States Border Patrol had set up this inspection point up to search for narcotics and illegal immigrants. In my research nothing was found of any importance in the vehicles that were searched. What happened after the Border Patrol had created this roadblock was a major traffic jam. There is only one way into the Keys by land and only one way out. Not only that, but it’s also a one lane road. So now you can see how much of a hassle it would be for local residents and people on vacation. The loss of monetary gain for the local economy was evident as well in the local business owner’s disgust of this unjust checkpoint.

The city council’s complaints were not listened to by the Federal Government. Attempts also to get an injunction against the roadblock was shot down in court. The mayor at the time Dennis Wardlow and the council; wanting to protest this unfair treatment officially declared “independence”. The council felt that since the federal government had erected an inspection point equivalent of a border station as they were a foreign nation, they might as well be one. Keys citizens have long been referred to as Conchs, so they took the name the Conch Republic. Their official motto is “We have seceded where others have failed”. So you can see their humor and play on words here. But more importantly it sums up their personal beliefs. This secession occurred on April 23, 1982 in Key West.

Conchs believe they have the right to enjoy the Keys without any outside interference, which most residents say is a state of mind, not just a location. The whole aura about the Keys or the Conch Republic is to “get away”. It’s an escape. Conchs enjoy themselves whether it is relaxing by the beach, fishing, or hanging out at a bar. The very people who live at the Conch Republic and travel there are mostly those who desire a simpler way of living, more laid back. Hence when they seceded from the US government it was light hearted, but there was seriousness to it as well. The Conchs hold their land in high regard.

The roadblock had frustrated and inconvenienced many residents. It also had slowed down tourism a lot. Most Conch Republic residents really didn’t like the fact their own country was taking actions against supposed drug smugglers and illegal immigrants without considering all the implications.

The Conch Republic is full of and has always attracted free-thinkers that constantly question authority, hence the fact that they want to get away, live somewhere else. To live out their days in peace from an overzealous state. The Conchs are decedents of Indians, pirates, and salvagers. So native people, travelers, and some less desirables are early ancestors of modern Conchs. Ernest Hemingway comes to mind as an individual representative of the Conch way of life. He was an American writer, journalist, and winner of a Pulitzer Prize. All through his childhood his family would spend winters in Key West (Conch Republic). Later on in life he went there to once again “get away”. He went to relax, write, and fish. Hemingway is a great American author who was a free-thinker. He wrote fiction and was critical of war and the military’s influence on society. There is a reoccurring theme in people involved with the Conch Republic. The common element of not really us vs. them, but Conchs want the government to mind it’s business and don’t just do whatever they want as is evident with the roadblock incident.

So I think what can be drawn from the citizens of this great nation is they are not lazy, drunken fisherman who waste away the days; but it is more profound than that. Some would dare to say that Conch residents have figured it out. Living the simple life and not worrying too much about work and trivial things. These modern day Conchs are business owners, fisherman, sailors, scuba divers, fathers, mothers, friends, and children. At first they might go to escape but in the process find themselves becoming closer to their families and the tropical environment. The Conch residents embody a Zen-like focus on relaxing and having a good time. But they also are not push overs and they can think for themselves. They want better for themselves. We saw this when they protested and declared independence in April of 1982. So as residents of the Conch Republic relax by the beach and cast out their line, if they are disturbed they can formulate their beliefs into action and aren’t afraid to demand their God given rights. The right to personal freedom and the pursuit thereof.

Civil War Declared

The Skipper — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:09:11 +0000

After years of unfair taxation, Fee’s without representation and total disregard for the concerns of the people, leaders of the provisional government of the Northernmost Territory of the Conch Republic, today declared freedom and independence from the tyrants in Key West. At a Ceremony held at Snappers, a popular watering hole, attended by True Conch, dignitaries and representatives of many foreign governments, the Conch Flag was burned in empathy. The burning of the flag signals the end of all ties with the sitting puppet government in Key West.

The Independence proclamation declared, true Conch are disgusted with the Southernmost leaders who have forgotten the values our country was found on and have become Money Hungry puppets of the United States. Besides succession in an unpredicted move the newly formed Northernmost Territories of the Conch Republic declared all out War on the Conch Republic. It is rumored that a replica of the Seven Mile Bridge connecting the Northern and Southern territories will be blown up within the week.

The Independent Northernmost Territories of the Conch Republic has its Northern border at the Last Chance Saloon in Florida City and extends to mile marker 71. True Conchs and dignitaries from around the world where among the hundred attending the ceremonies in support of the new Republic.

As word spread across the new republic all in attendance moved to Sundowners for a special celebration and the first Raising of the Northernmost Territory of the Conch Republics Flag. Conch came from far & near to be part of this ceremony.

View photos from the Ceremonies

Board Approves Remake of Key West’s New Town

The Skipper — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 11:20:09 +0000

The Key West Planning Board on Thursday approved a development agreement with Spottswood Companies, Inc. that gives developer Robert Spottswood five years, with a possible five-year extension, to totally reshape the entrance to Key West.

The Planning Board approval will go to the City Commission for the final go-ahead, most likely at the commission’s Feb. 3 meeting.

Spottswood’s plan calls for redevelopment of the triangle area of the island where U.S. 1 enters Key West. The Days Inn, Waffle House, Holiday Inn, Comfort Inn, Radisson and Conch Tour Train station will all be taken down and replaced with a 450-room hotel, 50 workforce housing apartments, 33 timeshare units, 21 residential condos, a 20,500-square-foot conference center, 21,000 square feet of retail space and a 250-seat restaurant and bar on a 17-acre parcel at 3820 N. Roosevelt Blvd.

The development agreement rolls all necessary city approvals, conditional uses and variances into one phased project.

“It’s going to be what you see when you come into town. Something that makes you feel like you’ve arrived in Key West,” said city planning director Amy Kimball-Murley before Thursday’s meeting.

Special session

The Planning Board convenes for a special session on Jan. 22 to discuss changes to the city’s Building Permit Allocation System (BPAS), proposed by city staff.

The BPAS is governed by the city’s rate-of-growth ordinance, declared expired by Judge Wayne Miller in early 2008. The ordinance mandates development, density and zoning according to hurricane evacuation clearance times that were formulated after the 1990 census.

Currently, development in Key West has been designated as zoning-in-progress, which effectively halts all development except for workforce housing.

The proposed changes, made by the city’s planning department, are primarily administrative and add a mechanism to account for all existing and new permit allocations, and require a report to the City Commission annually.

The Planning Board in December voted to table the proposed changes, citing a desire to have direct involvement from the state Department of Community Affairs, the agency that has final say over land use in areas of critical state concern like the Keys.

Since then, city staff has received a courtesy report from the DCA giving preliminary support of the changes, triggering another review by the Planning Board.

City planning staff was instructed by the City Commission in November 2008 to make minimal changes to the ordinance until a thorough rewriting of the city’s comprehensive plan, which provides long-term guidelines and laws to regulate land use and was penned in 1993, can be undertaken throughout the year.

The Planning Board meets at 6 p.m. on Jan. 22 in Old City Hall, Greene Street.

Source: http://www.keysnet.com/news/story/61360.html

Biking in the Florida Keys

The Skipper — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:04:29 +0000

Since I was young, biking has always been a passion of mine. While I am more often able to spend the day on the bike trails of Markham or Oleta State Park, I also enjoy biking in the beautiful Florida Keys when I’m able to get there. In today’s post, I’ll give some guidelines and information on biking in the Florida keys.

Long distance riders: Aside from the obvious challenges of long-distance riding (sweat, tears, sunburn), the Florida Keys aren’t very bike-friendly. For the most part, the more-densely populated keys are equipped with sidewalks or at least a small shoulder for bike riders to take advantage of. In between keys and on the smaller keys, these bike lanes usually disappear. If you don’t mind cars buzzing by you on the Overseas Highway, then you’ll be fine. There is a project underway that aims to remedy this situation by adding trails and educational kiosks throughout the keys. Of course, this has been in the planning stage for a long time now.

Getting around town: Without argument, Key West is definitely the most bike-friendly of all the keys. There’s really no reason that every traveler to the Conch Republic (aka, Key West) should spend some time on a bicycle. There’s no better way to get acquainted with Key West then to get lost on a bicycle (Disclaimer, I think there are about 2 ‘areas’ of Key West that you may not want to stop in. But if you’re from the city, it’s probably nothing you haven;t seen before). While the island is pretty busy, there are plenty of sidewalks to help you keep out of traffic. A map of the island can be found in just about any store on the island or from kind folks willing to rent you a bike for your visit. Key Largo, Islamorada and many of the other major keys have plenty of bike trails as well.

Off-Road Riding: Don’t bother. I’ve spent plenty of time trying to find places for a little off-road action to no avail. Sorry trill seekers, you’re better off in Miami or Sunrise for the good stuff.

Bridges: With many islands come many bridges (about 50). These abandoned bridges of of the Florida Keys are great for fishing, walking and biking alike. Of course, the one bridge worth a visit is the famous 7-mile bridge near Ohio Key.

That’s it for today’s post. Contact rick@kingofconch.com with any questions. Any don’t forget to checkout the new Conch Republic Fishing T-Shirts on the website.