Maybe a candidate to vote for

I liked her when she ran last time, but she ran as a Republican and is now Independent in a crowded field. She is also technically savvy so should be able to get some efficiency implemented in some areas.

We also need someone youthful in the senate. I hope she motivates others to get involved.

I was just thinking today how good it would be for this island to move toward some casino tourism. (And legal reefer would be nice, too!)

I feel that within the next few years, we're going to have a some serious competition with Cuba in terms of holiday destinations and we need to get our butt in gear if we're going to compete - I don't think we should rely on the cruise ships. Most of our resorts are already becoming eyesores with some seriously bad reviews - a few sparkly new casino resorts would bring a lot of employment and revenue to the island and pretty up the place a little.

Casinos are no longer a draw. Puerto Rico has been closing theirs.

I think people want more family activities. Soon St Thomas will have an Escape Room which are very popular in the States. I couldn't get a reservation when I was in DC in June. They are also good for family friendly night activity and good for when it rains.

The night kayak from Frenchman's Reef here on STT is very popular. Often sells out. These family friendly activities need better promotion, imo. People are willing to pay for memorable family experiences from what I've read on some tourism studies.

Most places in the Caribbean are perceived as honeymoon, couples, and retiree destinations. More families are traveling so tourism photos need to show more families and provide tips for solo travelers.

There is room for A large casino, although that is my 3rd choice of her initiatives. Marijuana industry/tourism would be huge. Taxes money sent away via western union/moneygram is also a good idea. The estimates are $15million a month leaving island via this transaction

Mapp's hand puppet: Janelle K. Sarauw, #12

Really? Has Mapp even suggested such things? No. Keep voting for the same people who are intent on bankrupting the VI.

Okay. In the distant past (after Marilyn?), there was a referendum on casinos. The territory voted them down,but St Croix (who voted in favor) asked for a separate vote. The second time around they voted in favor and were allowed to have them (as part of a hotel) to help their struggling economy. Well...you see how well that has worked. People anywhere in the states can drive 10 minutes to go to an "Indian" casino, they are not going to come to the USVI to go to a casino. After this was all decided, the government decided to allow VLTs on St Thomas. Again, not a draw for people from the states, but a great way for folks to spend their social security check. It has been a boondoggle all around.

How about we kill all the feral chickens, clean up the roads, and send everyone for customer service training? Then we can talk ways to expand tourism.

Where is the money for those endeavors coming from? Borrowing more? You can do both with a marijuana industry and either keeping money here or taxing it for those who want to send it down island

Locals love the casinos. But that does not bringvin any new money. Just the same old m I ney being recirculated

I like the idea of legalized mj. And medicinal mj. And hemp products.

Glad you registered to vote and will do so, for your choice.

The estimates are $15million a month leaving island via this transaction

Where is all that money coming from?

Where is the money for those endeavors coming from? Borrowing more? You can do both with a marijuana industry and either keeping money here or taxing it for those who want to send it down island

Are you proposing the USVI build grow rooms?

Where is the money for those endeavors coming from? Borrowing more? You can do both with a marijuana industry and either keeping money here or taxing it for those who want to send it down island

Are you proposing the USVI build grow rooms?

I'm sorry if my answer was confusing. I just reread it. It was two parts
1. An mj industry
2. Taxing money sent down island by illegal workers here and those who.are sending most of their monies to another country via western unioin

http://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/100714/what-happening-atlantic-citys-gambling-industry.asp

2. Taxation of Monetary Exports leaving the Territory: $45,000,000 per year in revenue.

Right off the bat, this person has no grasp of simple math or economics. What tax rate do they propose to charge for exports of money?

And this person is telling me that I cannot send money to my children that I worked to earn? That parents can't send money to kids in college? That children cannot send money to their parents in off island hospice? Really?

Taxes money sent away via western union/moneygram is also a good idea. The estimates are $15million a month leaving island via this transaction

15 million a month taxed at 10% equals $18 million a year in revenue.

Where does the yearly REVENUE cited at $45 Million come from? a 25% tax? Really?

Re: the Moneygram tax... I believe the argument here is that VIBIR has never gotten their hands on this under-the-table income before it's whisked away.

So, it's not that they really want to tax Moneygram transactions 25%, but that there needs to be a better mechanism to identify large amounts of unreported income.

I feel US Postal Service could do their part as well, as for a couple of bucks it's pretty easy to turn piles of unreported drug money, or taxi fares, or construction wages into "legitimate" paid bills, paid rent, and remittances off-island via a Money Order. Does USPS even keep track of who's pushing $5k a week over their counter? I see enough of the same people in the PO, over and over again, with a stack of cash to turn into Money Orders...

In 2014, Colorado retailers sold $386 million of medical marijuana and $313 million for purely recreational purposes. The two segments of the market generated $63 million in tax revenue, with an additional $13 million collected in licenses and fees.

Colorado population 5.356 million.

So tax and fee revenue equals 76 million, or $14.19 per person.

Prorate to VI population of barely 100,000 and tax & fee revenue would be $ 1.4 million.

Again, the candidates math skill is lacking, or the seriously misunderstand something it they thing that $33.5 million in government revenue could be created.

2016 update

http://www.thecannabist.co/2016/09/12/colorado-marijuana-sales-july-revenue-pot-tax/63054/

$140-150 million in tax revenue.

VI government revenue equivalent very roughly $3 million.

2. Taxation of Monetary Exports leaving the Territory: $45,000,000 per year in revenue.

Right off the bat, this person has no grasp of simple math or economics. What tax rate do they propose to charge for exports of money?

And this person is telling me that I cannot send money to my children that I worked to earn? That parents can't send money to kids in college? That children cannot send money to their parents in off island hospice? Really?

You can absolutely do that and send whatever you want to your family off island but you'll need to pay a tax so that where you made the money doesn't suffer. Pretty common sense.

MJ already is the successful cash crop in the USVI. It puts money in lots of pockets.

So who is going to negotiate with the gang bangers who run the MJ business to legalize it? Their aunties and uncles who work for the government?

This is age-old in the VI.

I remember when JVD players in the BVI traded the island's MJ business for electricity, streetlights and paved roads. That was tangible.

What will be made better by legalizing pot? Not for you or me or tourists - but for those entrenched in MJ as the family business in the USVI? What's the trade?

You can absolutely do that and send whatever you want to your family off island but you'll need to pay a tax so that where you made the money doesn't suffer. Pretty common sense.

I already paid tax when I earned it. Why do I have to pay to give it away?

2. Taxation of Monetary Exports leaving the Territory: $45,000,000 per year in revenue.

Right off the bat, this person has no grasp of simple math or economics. What tax rate do they propose to charge for exports of money?

And this person is telling me that I cannot send money to my children that I worked to earn? That parents can't send money to kids in college? That children cannot send money to their parents in off island hospice? Really?

You can absolutely do that and send whatever you want to your family off island but you'll need to pay a tax so that where you made the money doesn't suffer. Pretty common sense.

Since when is double taxation common sense? "Where" I made the money has already collected once, so they shouldn't suffer.

I don;t think casinos are the way to go. Why would someone fly down to the Caribbean so sit inside in a casino? Just look at Freeport, Bahamas. Ghost town, or was 5 years ago. don't know if it's improved. Eco tourism, food tourism, small BandB is the way to go.