There was an article in the Keysnews today essentially saying that they mayor called the feds to raid the head shops on Duval
Federal agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other state and local law enforcement raided the businesses — sometimes called head shops — on Oct. 17 in a surprise move, hitting all the stores at once. Agents were seen walking out of the stores with water bongs, wired rolling papers and other items deemed to be illegal drug paraphernalia under a broadly written federal law.
The raids came after Key West Mayor Morgan McPherson asked the Monroe County State’s Attorney Office to investigate the legality of such products, and they, in turn, went to the federal government as the items are not illegal under Florida law.
“The idea was to work on our image, and it’s something I believe we made progress on,” McPherson said. “Obviously the intent is to match what is in our windows … with the image of our community.”
I like that part about matching the “image of our community” what does that mean? Is he trying to say no one smokes pot in Key West? Maybe in a perfect world people would just stick to alcoholism, but the police blotter seems to show otherwise.
Personally I think that whole north end of Duval is repulsive really, its totally geared to sucking in the cruise ship people to buy essentially garbage. Crappy shops with obscene gag tee shirts in the windows, stupid knick knacks etc. Its funny they try to scrub down that area and make it as non-offensive as possible for the cruise ship people.
It still seems way over the top to call the feds for some water pipes, and the image of our community? I really wish I was here to see this city before the cruise ships and this past real estate boom. Always born too late. But perhaps I will be here to see a casino come in
