Monroe County Commissioner Craig Cates joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s going on in the county.
The Military Affairs Committee, which recently celebrated its 60th anniversary, was established in 1966 during a period of uncertainty about the military’s future in Key West.
“The Navy was pulling out, and there were concerns about the impact on community, in which it was a huge impact, obviously,” Cates said.
He said the committee has continued working to maintain strong relationships between the military and the community while supporting military families who relocate to the Keys.
Cates, who served as Key West mayor from 2009 to 2018, said military families have long played an important role in the area’s population and economy.
“They’re involved in the community, and so their families are here. They’re raising them here,” he said. “It’s definitely very good, very important for the community.”
Cates said the Keys have changed considerably over the years, particularly as the area has grown into a popular tourist destination. However, that popularity has contributed to rising property values and made homeownership more difficult for local families.
“It’s a combination of many things, but that’s a big part of it,” Cates said, referring to the role of vacation homes and investment properties in the declining number of full-time residents.
He said younger families increasingly face challenges purchasing homes in the Keys.
“It’s not because we have problems; it’s because we’re such a desirable destination that everybody wants to move here,” Cates said. “Kind of a victim of our own success here.”
He said the county and municipalities are working together to address affordable housing, while also recognizing the need to protect the area’s natural resources and economic stability.
“What we have now is also fragile; it can change very easily,” Cates said, pointing to potential economic changes, competing tourist destinations and environmental concerns.
Monroe County is scheduled to hold a public workshop October 20 in Marathon to discuss the possible effects of Amendment 3, a proposed property tax reform measure.
The workshop will examine potential impacts on homesteaded and non-homesteaded properties, county finances, possible tax shifts and future budget considerations. Residents will be able to attend in person or participate through Zoom.
Cates said the potential impact on Monroe County could be less severe than in some other Florida communities because a relatively small percentage of properties in the Keys are homesteaded and property values are high.
“The average home is, I believe, $700,000 in the Keys,” Cates said.
He cautioned, however, that other counties with a much higher proportion of homesteaded properties could face more significant financial challenges.
“We’ve got to look at the big picture,” Cates said. “How will that be made up, and we prepare ourselves for those impacts?”
The county has emphasized that the workshop is intended to provide information and that Monroe County does not support or oppose ballot measures.
Monroe County plans to illuminate government buildings in green from November 4 through November 11 as part of Operation Green Light for Veterans.
Cates said the initiative recognizes the many veterans who live and retire in the Florida Keys and reflects the community’s longstanding support for the military.
He also pointed to the Vietnam Living Memorial at Bayview Park, noting that 320 people from the small Keys community served in Vietnam.
“We’ve been definitely a town that supports our military and supports our patriots for the United States,” Cates said.
Cates also encouraged residents and visitors to attend Goombay, which begins Friday night and continues Saturday in Key West.
The festival celebrates the area’s history and cultural connections with the Bahamas and the United States. Cates said the event holds particular meaning for his family because of its Bahamian roots.
“It’s special for me personally, because my family has roots in the Bahamas, and so it’s extra special for our family,” he said.
Cates described Goombay as a community-centered event where residents gather to enjoy music, reconnect with friends and celebrate local heritage.
“The whole community turns out,” he said. “It’s more of a locals event.”
The festival also kicks off a busy stretch of events in the Keys, including Fantasy Fest and the approaching holiday season.