Full disclosure: I was employed by the Galveston Park Board of Trustees until 2020. I am still lucky enough to be living and raising my family here.
Tourism is important to Galveston, and always will be in my opinion, but we have to start asking ourselves: Does Galveston suffer from overtourism?
The Oxford dictionary defines it as the phenomenon whereby certain places of interest are visited by excessive numbers of tourists, causing undesirable effects for the places visited.
Galveston sees 7 million visitors annually, and with the investments in the port and the island’s increasing popularity we can only expect growth to continue. A park board resident survey from 2020 acknowledged there are negative impacts caused by tourism, and while Galveston residents support tourism they want it to be planned and controlled like I do.
With all the recent articles on HOT funds I think this is a timely conversation to have. We’re blessed to live in a destination location, but we can do better for our community if we start looking through a different lens.
I think the city is well past the point where the proliferation of short-term rentals and second homes is making it unaffordable for ordinary residents—especially those who work low-wage jobs that support tourism.
A thoughtful and well timed letter to the editor. The Park Board meeting was very enlightening and disappointing. Instead of focusing on the council request to negotiate an inter-local to address issues, the most vocal Trustees including the chair wanted to discuss methods to pursue goals that enhances the Park Board control and spends public funds (AG opinion, litigation and the courts, 3rd party auditor instead of using the city internal auditor, and legislative changes) while continuing to fight the city’s attempts to take corrective actions and provide oversight on its city owned property and tax revenues.
It’s time for change and joint efforts and goals for a thriving city and tourism industry.
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Well said.
I think the city is well past the point where the proliferation of short-term rentals and second homes is making it unaffordable for ordinary residents—especially those who work low-wage jobs that support tourism.
Parks Board has designated paid positions?
Paid positions? Kelly de Schaun receives $240,000 per year to hire auditors and attorneys to fight the city of Galveston.
Yes, they have many employees.
https://galvestonparkboard.org/181/Human-Resources
A thoughtful and well timed letter to the editor. The Park Board meeting was very enlightening and disappointing. Instead of focusing on the council request to negotiate an inter-local to address issues, the most vocal Trustees including the chair wanted to discuss methods to pursue goals that enhances the Park Board control and spends public funds (AG opinion, litigation and the courts, 3rd party auditor instead of using the city internal auditor, and legislative changes) while continuing to fight the city’s attempts to take corrective actions and provide oversight on its city owned property and tax revenues.
It’s time for change and joint efforts and goals for a thriving city and tourism industry.
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