Fairhope, Alabama
'SHUX SHUTTLE' CONTROVERSY
At Monday's council meeting, a majority of the city council is expected to consummate a deal worked out in private earlier this year between the mayor, council president Burrell and (possibly) two other council members to amend an existing pedestrian-safety ordinance prohibiting any vehicles on the pier -- to exclusively allow famous restaurateur Rick Gambino permission to operate one to ferry customers out to his new 'Shux' seafood restaurant located at the marina.
According to the mayor, being able to operate the shuttle was Gambino's only condition before agreeing to assume the city-owned building's lease from Bob Pope, who operated his 'Yardarm' there for many years; but it was never discussed in public meetings at the time or specifically addressed in writing in the lease-agreement itself.
Maintenance and supply delivery-vehicles only are permitted by the current lease.
When the issue finally came up at recent council meetings, some citizens objected citing safety concerns, including long-time walking/biking advocate Charlene Lee; members of the city's Pedestrian Committee voiced concerns at one of their meetings last summer - click.
RESIDENTS OBJECT
Twenty-year 'Fruit n' Nut' neighborhood resident Wanda Bell "begged" Burrell not to "take our pier away from us" by allowing the shuttle; and pointed out that the many seniors/handicapped citizens who have to use walkers/canes there for their only daily exercise would be the most affected if he approves it.
Addressing Gambino directly, she said she "wants his restaurant to be successful ... just not that cart ... on the pier." (video below)
Gambino countered saying the shuttle is very important and only a "small group" with a vendetta against him is objecting: He had said earlier not having a shuttle will "put him out of business" -- and waved a petition of support with "hundreds" of signatures. (The petition was never formally submitted to verify the city residency of signatories.)
Council members Ford and Brewer voted against considering amending the existing ordinance when it first came up three weeks ago: Ford told the Times he preferred an entirely new one instead (vs an amendment) and Brewer declined to comment. (She said she would have more to say about it later.)
(Note: Pope's 'Yardarm' was listed 'for sale' for $465,000 last year, but the actual amount Gambino paid has not been revealed.)
'SHUX SHUTTLE' CONTROVERSY
 |
| 'Shux Shuttle' |
At Monday's council meeting, a majority of the city council is expected to consummate a deal worked out in private earlier this year between the mayor, council president Burrell and (possibly) two other council members to amend an existing pedestrian-safety ordinance prohibiting any vehicles on the pier -- to exclusively allow famous restaurateur Rick Gambino permission to operate one to ferry customers out to his new 'Shux' seafood restaurant located at the marina.
According to the mayor, being able to operate the shuttle was Gambino's only condition before agreeing to assume the city-owned building's lease from Bob Pope, who operated his 'Yardarm' there for many years; but it was never discussed in public meetings at the time or specifically addressed in writing in the lease-agreement itself.
Maintenance and supply delivery-vehicles only are permitted by the current lease.
 |
| Gambino seated in blue shirt |
RESIDENTS OBJECT
Twenty-year 'Fruit n' Nut' neighborhood resident Wanda Bell "begged" Burrell not to "take our pier away from us" by allowing the shuttle; and pointed out that the many seniors/handicapped citizens who have to use walkers/canes there for their only daily exercise would be the most affected if he approves it.
Addressing Gambino directly, she said she "wants his restaurant to be successful ... just not that cart ... on the pier." (video below)
Gambino countered saying the shuttle is very important and only a "small group" with a vendetta against him is objecting: He had said earlier not having a shuttle will "put him out of business" -- and waved a petition of support with "hundreds" of signatures. (The petition was never formally submitted to verify the city residency of signatories.)
Council members Ford and Brewer voted against considering amending the existing ordinance when it first came up three weeks ago: Ford told the Times he preferred an entirely new one instead (vs an amendment) and Brewer declined to comment. (She said she would have more to say about it later.)
(Note: Pope's 'Yardarm' was listed 'for sale' for $465,000 last year, but the actual amount Gambino paid has not been revealed.)
Comments
I’ve encountered that shuttle enough that I now avoid the pier.
All of what was so good about Fairhope has been destroyed by the Southern born carpetbaggers.
There’s so much traffic and noise from so many sources.
Public nudity
Driving while intoxicated
Defecating in public
Running red lights
Infidelity
His restaurant will fail not because of a lack of the shuttle but because the food is mediocre and the service is horrible. Using this logic you would have to make the assumption that the majority of his customers are disabled or seniors.
Once again, backroom deals made in private are changing the landscape of Fairhope.
Charge him a hefty annual fee to utilize the shuttle - negotiable every year based on his revenue. I'll bet he changes his tune about how necessary it is.
Further, I do not believe it is a backroom deal. I assess (from personal experience) that the council has no right to even vote on the ordinance. The ADA laws are clear. Gambino has to provide ADA access to patrons. if not, he (and the city by the ordinance) are breaking the law.
Doesn’t matter how you feel about the law. It is the law.
So why don't we embrace the shuttle and the service it is providing for the disabled. If people are not disabled and take advantage of it, then too bad for them. But we, as Fairhopians, do not want to be known as the city that welcomes everyone... well... except for those disabled people.
There will be more drunkeness and trouble in a place that used to be family oriented.