Bill Overview
Title: St. Croix National Heritage Area Act
Description: This bill establishes the St. Croix National Heritage Area in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. The bill designates the Virgin Islands State Historic Preservation Office as the local coordinating entity. The preservation office shall prepare and submit a management plan for the heritage area for the protection, enhancement, and interpretation of its resources.
Sponsors: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Target Audience
Population: Residents of St. Croix and associated stakeholders
Estimated Size: 50300
- The St. Croix National Heritage Area Act establishes a National Heritage Area in St. Croix.
- National Heritage Areas are designated to encourage historic preservation, natural resource conservation, and economic development.
- Residents of St. Croix will be directly affected as the establishment of a heritage area can impact land use, tourism, and local economy.
- The preservation office will be actively involved, affecting its employees and stakeholders.
- Tourists visiting St. Croix can be impacted through enhanced visitor experiences.
Reasoning
- The St. Croix National Heritage Area Act is likely to directly influence the residents of St. Croix more than the broader US population, because it specifically pertains to changes at a local level.
- The budget constraints indicate the policy is focused on sustainable and gradual development; thus, large-scale immediate impacts might not be visible. Impacts will be gradual and seen over years.
- The population of St. Croix is relatively small, at around 50,000 people, meaning that while a significant portion would likely be aware of the impacts, the broader US impact is minimal.
- Residents working in tourism, historic preservation, or the local government are most likely to experience direct impacts.
- Since tourism is a significant part of the local economy, improving heritage sites can result in eventual economic benefits and improved local services.
Simulated Interviews
Tour guide (St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy increases tourism and brings more business opportunities.
- There might be restrictions on some areas I am used to taking tourists to, which could be challenging.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Local historian (St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I look forward to increased support for preserving our history.
- There could be bureaucratic hurdles that might delay progress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Environmental scientist (St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm enthusiastic about enhanced conservation efforts.
- Hope the policy ensures the balance between tourism and environmental protection.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
Small business owner (St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Age: 53 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- An increase in tourism could mean better sales.
- There might be pressure to upgrade my shop's facilities which could be costly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Retired (St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this improves local amenities and preserves our heritage.
- I'm worried about potential increases in property taxes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Local government employee (St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Excited about the opportunity to enhance local infrastructure.
- There might be logistical challenges and budget constraints to manage.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
College student (St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this makes my future job prospects better.
- It would be nice to have more development for young people.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Construction worker (St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More construction projects could mean stable work.
- Concerned about how long the projects will last and competition from outside workers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Hotel manager (St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I anticipate this policy will attract more tourists to our area.
- There might be initial cost burdens to upgrade our facilities to meet increased demand.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cultural event coordinator (St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could mean more options for exciting festivals and cultural events.
- I hope this policy will also provide more funding for the events I coordinate.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $3500000 (Low: $2500000, High: $4500000)
Year 2: $3500000 (Low: $2500000, High: $4500000)
Year 3: $3500000 (Low: $2500000, High: $4500000)
Year 5: $3500000 (Low: $2500000, High: $4500000)
Year 10: $3500000 (Low: $2500000, High: $4500000)
Year 100: $3500000 (Low: $2500000, High: $4500000)
Key Considerations
- The effectiveness of the management plan will significantly influence the long-term benefits of the heritage area.
- Coordination with local communities and stakeholders is crucial for the success of heritage preservation efforts.
- Ensuring sustainable tourism practices to avoid overuse and damage to heritage sites is important.