Rejoice locally and brace federally
Delaware Cape Region’s tourism infrastructure is functioning like a well-oiled (sun-tan oiled!) machine at this peak point in the summer. Our highways are handling a larger crowd than last year with no more than expected delays, the public transportation system is providing a reliable alternative for the workforce and the emergency crews, lifeguards and police are taking care of the inevitable increase in crashes, fights and surf injuries that come when local population swells by hundreds of thousands.
We’re so fortunate to have the economic benefit of the tourism industry, one of the bright and growing sectors in the nation’s economy, in our part of the world. It’s an industry that can’t be taken away by other parts of the world with cheaper labor rates. And, it’s an economic sector we can control, enhance and grow by keeping our beaches and waters clean, by constantly improving the recreational opportunities for those attracted to this outdoors-dominated destination and by maintaining the relaxed pace of hospitality and simple pleasures sought as a retreat from an increasingly hectic and fast-paced world.
Sen. George Bunting also pointed out this week that our local economy is blessed this summer by several hundred jobs at the state’s Indian River Inlet bridge project and the extensive improvements under way at NRG’s Indian River power plant. The cumulative importance of those jobs is difficult to overestimate. And, although the banks are still catching up on processing hundreds of foreclosures in Sussex County, more than 1,200 building permits for new homes have been issued in the past fiscal year, which also indicates an economy continueing to move ahead.
The Cape Region is having a solid summer, and the Sussex and Delaware governments and economies remain on solid footing. That’s the good news. The bad news is that while our federal government continues the push and pull of trying to get its financial house in order, our ship of state continues to sail without pause toward the uncharted waters of defaulting on our debt. Here along the coast, we know the dangers of sailing into uncharted waters. It’s time for life jackets and prayers and hoping our captains are smart enough to keep us off the rocks.
