City Commission candidate Michael Ingram is getting some last minute flak from Old Town residents incensed over his positions on noise and parking he reportedly revealed at a political forum at the 801 Bourbon Bar last Sunday.
But Ingram told Key West The Newspaper Wednesday that his remarks were taken out of context.
Ingram was quoted in the Key West Citizen Monday morning, calling the City's noise ordinance "unrealistic, unenforceable and divisive."
"District 1 is zoned to allow certain things to exist, and people have to realize that the hospitality industry generates noise," Ingram said, according to Citizen reporter Mandy Bolen.
"People who choose to live in such an area have no right to complain," Ingram reportedly said.
But Ingram said Wednesday that his remarks were made in the context of Fantasy Fest.
"I believe the entire district— indeed, the entire City— must allow exceptions for festivals and the noise these events generate," he said.
But he confirmed his position that "people who choose to live in areas where there is noise have alternatives (such as moving, presumably) or no right to complain."
He said that perhaps these noisy areas might be "perfect for workers who are in the hospitality industry."
It was also reported by sources who attended the candidate forum Sunday that Ingram called for repeal of the Residential Parking ordinance. This law, implemented last year, reserves some parking spaces in Old Town residential neighborhoods for locals only.
"I did not call for the repeal of the law," he told KWTN, "but I did call for a reevaluation of the current system and to tweak it to address its obvious shortcomings.
"For example," he said, "there are no signs to explain to tourists what `RP' means— yet they are ticketed when they park in these spaces."
Oosterhoudt said he supports the RP program, although he agrees that some refining may be necessary.
"Although this program does not guarantee that Old Town residents can find parking places on the streets where they live, it certainly increases the odds," he said. "While we love our visitors, locals should have priority when it comes to parking in our residential neighborhoods."
Oosterhoudt said his position on noise differs dramatically from Ingram's.
"Noise is a serious problem in Old Town," he said. "But I certainly believe that residents do have a right to peace and quiet in their own homes— even in District 1.
"I believe, however, that we— residents and businesses together— can work out a compromise that can be beneficial to both sides."
The election on Nov. 2 will determine which candidate will claim the District 1 City Commission seat vacated by Jimmy Weekley when he ran for mayor.
In the Oct. 5 election, Ingram was the frontrunner, but only 22 votes ahead of Oosterhoudt.
Both candidates are hoping to draw from the 30 percent-of-the-vote pool that went to other candidates.
Art Kara collected almost 24 percent of the vote. He has thrown his support to Oosterhoudt.
Michael Ritchie got about 6 percent of the vote. He has thrown his support to Ingram.