I agree To much silence and old boy network... we depend on the SSA

First, it’s a good idea to keep in mind that the Vineyard is still an island. I have traveled to and from the Island on every possible form of transportation from 17’ inflatable to Cape Air including Peter Pan and each of those methods of transportation can quickly remind one that getting to the Vineyard is still and hopefully always will be challenging. The access challenge is what has saved the Vineyard from more quickly deteriorating into ‘Coney Island’ atmosphere. Second, surprisingly the comments I read did not lambast the Bob Davis and they shouldn’t have. This sort of thing is his problem to solve but he sure didn’t create it! Third, the Vineyard has always had an issue with outside hires, individual or corporate, and has bordered on a rework of the concept of “Not invented here …” to “A ‘Vinyarder’ was not hired for the job ....” As the Island and its support organizations, the airport, SSA, more serious island police departments, have grown in complexity, at best the Islander skill set has not kept pace. In all probability it may well have always lagged due to compensation issues and ‘off island’ opportunities which provide even greater challenges and reward. More critical is the fact that town leadership seems spacious at best. Witness the ongoing Stop and Shop fiascos and attendant ‘solutions’ which show no leadership, imagination or intelligence. Fourth, the SSA, thanks to pressure from the ‘Vineyarders’, has been successful in keeping fares so low that the boats can’t be replaced timely [Martha’s Vineyard is a rust bucket] or maintained properly, the web site is still horrendous, reaching reservation agents is difficult when everything is going well and impossible when issues arise, and of course after 5:pm and before 8:am – really what successful service organization operates on that schedule in this day and age. As this last episode points out, capable, reliable backup is non-existent [the fast ferry was joke].

Right. It's like the great restaurant... Serves up wonderfully for years. One bad meal and it's all anyone's talking about. Yes, Ferries need to run normally but we can't scapegoat. The truth will come forth.