Blog Category
🌈 This Is Just the Beginning: Rainbows Return to Duval
Posted on October 7, 2025 Leave a Comment
Streets for People | Friends of Car-Free Key West & Duval Street/Historic Downtown | Chris Hamilton | October 7, 2025 When the State of Florida removed Key West’s rainbow crosswalks in the dead of night on September 9, many feared it marked a retreat from visibility, history, and pride. But the response from our community has been anything but quiet. In the weeks […]
No Director, No Department, No Direction: Monroe County’s Transit Collapse
Posted on September 21, 2025 2 Comments
Transit Decapitated in the New Budget September 21, 2025. Monroe County’s new budget year begins October 1, and with it comes a stunning decision: the complete elimination of the county’s transit department and the departure of its director, Richard Clark. This isn’t just a bureaucratic reshuffle—it’s a declaration that transit is no longer a priority […]
Duval Loop Eliminated: A Tragedy — and a Turning Point
Posted on September 14, 2025 1 Comment
The Loop is gone. But the conversation has shifted — and that may be the first step toward a smarter future. Streets for People | Friends of Car-Free Key West & Duval Street/Historic Downtown | Chris Hamilton | September 14, 2025 Key West is about to make a decision that defies logic, economic sense, and basic urban planning. The elimination of […]
From Rainbow Crosswalks to Rainbow Museums
Posted on September 10, 2025 Leave a Comment
Preserving Key West’s Identity Through Civic Commemorations, Anchor Institutions, and Gay History September 10, 2025. The State of Florida’s push to erase our rainbow crosswalks—culminating in their removal on September 9 at the intersection of Duval and Petronia—has energized our community. We’ve shown up loudly and proudly at City Hall and special meetings. We’ve gathered […]
Katie Halloran’s Quiet Revolution
Posted on September 7, 2025 3 Comments
What We Lose When We Lose Good People Streets for People | Friends of Car-Free Key West & Duval Street/Historic Downtown | Chris Hamilton | September 7, 2025 Katie Halloran’s resignation as Key West’s Planning Director isn’t just a personnel change — it’s a turning point. Over five years, she helped reshape the city’s planning culture, delivering civic spaces, affordable housing, […]
Could Tourist Dollars Be The Answer to Our Transit Funding Problem?
Posted on August 31, 2025 Leave a Comment
While the approach hasn’t been tested, with political will, and an inclination to challenge old assumptions, nothing should be off the table. And we can make the visitor experience better too. Streets for People | Friends of Car-Free Key West & Duval Street/Historic Downtown | Chris Hamilton | August 31, 2025 🎯 Sunset Gridlock, Islands-Wide It’s sunset in Islamorada. Or Marathon. […]
Key West Rides Overwhelmed After Conch Connect Shutdown—City Pushes Alternative Buses Amid 36% Spike in Trip Requests
Posted on August 26, 2025 Leave a Comment
Transit officials say they can’t meet demand and are urging riders to shift to Workforce Express and Lower Keys Shuttle. Ironically, this is happening as leaders are considering massive cuts to the system. Conch Connect Vanishes – And Riders Scramble August 26, 2025. When Monroe County abruptly shut down the Conch Connect on-demand service for […]
Even If You’ll Never Ride the Bus, You’ll Feel It When It’s Gone
Posted on August 24, 2025 Leave a Comment
Why Transit Cuts Hurt Everyone in the Keys—And Why We Need to Speak Up Before the September Budget Hearings 🚗 It’s Not About Buses. It’s About Our Daily Lives. August 24, 2025. The photo above shows what’s at stake. You may never have ridden the Conch Connect. Now already gone. You might never hop on […]
Transit Is Collapsing in the Keys. Will Business Leaders Let It?
Posted on August 17, 2025 Leave a Comment
August 17, 2025. With Monroe County and the City of Key West walking back their commitments to public transportation, it’s time for the business community to step in. If our elected leaders won’t prioritize transit, then those who depend on a functioning economy and workers must step up. Business organizations have been too quiet on […]
Dumb and Dumber Transit Cuts: A Failure of Leadership in the Keys
Posted on August 3, 2025 Leave a Comment
August 3, 2025 The cuts keep coming—and Monroe County and the City of Key West are playing dumb as they actively dismantle the transit system that workers, businesses, and visitors rely on every single day. The result? Workers stranded. Downtown businesses losing foot traffic. Families facing ever higher rent and car payments without an alternative to […]