Welcome to our weekly feature, Occam’s Razor,
from local artist S.C. Watson.
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If there’s truth to the tale this is a terrible way for the new investment group to start out in our community.
@Michael, In full disclosure, I researched this as much as I could and found nothing indicating that they would hire the employees who were let go back – I personally hope they do, or that they are at least are given the option to hire back on.
It is possible that my assessment is incorrect, and I personally hope that it is.
~S
Shane, I hope your assessment is incorrect as well… only time will tell. As we know so little about the transition at this point in time I, for one, appreciate your intent in regards to furthering this conversation. As there have been owners of the resort in the past that have set some bad precedent, (most notably, purchasing on-island housing for their new employees and in doing so forcing long-time local renters out), it can’t hurt to let the new corporate ownership know the hopes and expectations of the community.
Considering the current economic climate and SJC’s failed rental market, it would not bode well for the former Rosario employees to lose either their jobs or their housing at this time. Such life-altering moves by the new ownership would be in extremely poor taste as it would put a real burden on both local individuals and families alike, and would certainly not go over well with the community.
@Michael, to the best of my knowledge, they (the former employees) have been let go entirely during the renovation. I’ve no clear answers on their housing issues, as I personally do not know anyone who was in that position, but I imagine that it was / is tenuous at best as they transition into new employment. If they had employee housing during term of employment, by its very nature I doubt that agreement would continue after they’ve been let go. Regardless of how well meaning a company is or how forward facing they appear with a community, in my experience, they tend to put profits before employees.
I’m willing to bet the resort is going to change the model entirely. Leasing the laundry, leasing the cafe, Airbnb the rooms. They won’t need many employees for that.
@RR Davis – if they chose to go with that model it would cause a whole host of new problems for the community as well. We can already see the impact that vacation rentals are having in the islands, and it’s not hard to extrapolate that long term based on the disastrous impacts that they’ve had on other tourist communities, so my hope is that they go with a more sustainable model.
I just mean, go thru Airbnb to rent the rooms. Instead of having a staff in the mansion, it would all be online. The laundry folks whoever decides to run that side would take care towels and such…..it makes sense to me.
Too bad no one ever thought of Rosario as a site for a senior /assisted living complex. It has many attributes for same.
THAT is MUCH needed on island and would be good for multi level jobs and keeping money on island as well as people.
Awesome idea Milly… Orcas is in need of that for sure. I used to have a reoccurring dream (when it was up for sale once before), that I’d won the lottery and purchased it, and made a traditional wooden boat building facility, and sailing school out of it, one with world class instructors and both local students, and students from around the world.
But, if I ever do win the lottery I’ll buy it, and as you suggest, I will turn it into a senior/assisted living complex… that’s thinking “community.”
The Marina is deep enough for a passenger ferry – remembering that the Victoria Clipper used to come to Rosario!