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
Judge orders Trump administration to continue to seek funding for the CFPB
The order is the latest in a complex legal battle over the fate of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a watchdog agency.
In a year of steep challenges, there were still shining moments in global health
The Trump administration's deep cuts in U.S. foreign health aid had a devastating impact. Yet there were achievements of note in spite of it all.
An escalation in Yemen threatens to reignite civil war and widen tensions in the Gulf
Saudi Arabia bombed Yemen's port city of Mukalla, targeting a shipment of weapons from the United Arab Emirates for separatist forces. The UAE later said it would withdraw its forces from Yemen.
What being around death taught this hospital chaplain about life
J.S. Park helps patients and their families cope with death every day as a hospital chaplain. He explains what to expect as a person is dying, and how to reckon with uncomfortable feelings about death.
Israel says it will bar aid groups, including Doctors Without Borders, from Gaza
Israel accused Doctors Without Borders, one of the largest health organizations operating in Gaza, of failing to clarify the roles of some staff that Israel accused of cooperation with militants.
China flexes blockade capabilities near Taiwan on second day of military drills
China's People's Liberation Army is staging a second day of large-scale military drills around Taiwan. It's unleashing live-fire exercises as part of what it calls "Justice Mission 2025."
