Gulf Economy Rebounds
Quarterly revenue reports show spending along the Alabama Gulf Coast is up significantly over previous record years. Although the BP oil spill is not forgotten, tourists are back.That’s good news for the coastal businesses, but state officials note this doesn’t mean BP is off the hook. Brigid Elsken Galloway has this report.
At King Neptune’s in Gulf Shores, hungry patrons slide into booths to order blackened shrimp with heaping sides of hush puppies and dirty rice. A year ago, King Neptune’s, like other coastal businesses, struggled to keep its doors open. But today, the “King” Al Sawyer has one word to describe this season.
“As Tony the Tiger would say, “Great!” Yeah, it’s been one of the best years we’ve every had.”
Up and down the Alabama coast, the story is the same: Business is booming. The numbers have the area’s tourism president, Herb Malone, down right tickled pink (and that’s saying something for a South Alabama native who’s 6’4″!).
“Right now our tracking for 2011, shows that we’re on pace to have a record year. We’re ahead of 09 ahead of 07 and the people have come back and it’s just great.”
Malone says the comeback is due to speedy clean-up efforts, loyal Gulf coast fans and a lot of marketing. His group received grants from BP and the state of Alabama that tripled pre-oil spill advertising and marketing budgets.
“In May of last year we coulda sat down and quit marketing and folded our arms and waited for a check from BP. That’s not the nature of the people on the coast. We worked and scratched and clawed to get every piece of business we could get throughout the entire process. We’d much rather earn our money than have BP send us a check.”
Even with that resilient, coastal can-do attitude, some business owners didn’t get through the oil-spill crisis unscathed. Al Sawyer had to close his second restaurant, which he just opened in 2009.
“I was forced to close that business, only because I didn’t know when they were gonna reimburse us. They (BP and Ken Feinberg) were not talking to us and letting us know when our payments would be coming in. We were just basically at their mercy.”
BP still hasn’t paid many Alabama businesses for their losses. And Cooper Shattuck’s watching. He’s the governor’s legal advisor and Alabama’s go-to guy for all things BP. Shattuck is pleased to see the coast doing well this season, but notes the economic upswing doesn’t tell the full story.
“Even those that survived had a difficult time in doing it. Some who had built up reserves or contingencies were able to survive but how much better would they be now if they hadn’t had to suffer that for the last year?”
Shattack says it will be months before a full estimate of economic damages is complete. Meanwhile, back in Gulf Shores, Al Sawyer holds court outside King Neptune’s. He’s just grateful the coastal economy is bouncing back.
“You know, my prayer was that the summer would be a very good summer, and it’s been answered. Thank God.”
If the tourism trends hold, the Alabama Gulf Coast may be sending up a collective prayer for staying in the black-despite last year’s set backs.
~ Brigid Elsken Galloway, August 17, 2011
Searching for dinosaur secrets in crocodile bones
Until now, estimating how old a dinosaur was when it died has been a fairly simple process: Count up the growth rings in the fossilized bones. But new research into some of dinosaurs' living relatives, like crocodiles, suggests that this method may not always work.
How the new dietary guidelines could impact school meals
Cutting back on ready-to-eat meals won't be easy, and whole milk may make a comeback. One thing that's certain: It'll be a while before the new guidelines trickle down to schools.
Nike faces federal probe over allegations of discrimination against white workers
The federal agency for protecting workers' civil rights revealed Wednesday that it is investigating sportswear giant Nike for allegedly discriminating against white employees.
ICE can’t make warrantless arrests in Oregon unless there’s risk of escape, judge rules
U.S. immigration agents in Oregon must stop arresting people without warrants unless there's a likelihood of escape, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.
Trump’s EPA issues record low legal actions against polluters, watchdog group finds
The EPA enforced a record low number of environmental laws and regulations during the first year of President Trump's second term in office.
Researchers say no evidence of TikTok censorship, but they remain wary
Posts have been going viral on social media accusing TikTok's new owners of suppressing content, but eight academics examined the issue and found no evidence to support the claims.
