The Opening of Key West to Havana Travel
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It's called the Trading with the Enemy Act. In 1917, when it was adopted, it forbid trade with any country the United States had formally declared war upon. Then, in 1963 following the Cuban Missile Crisis, President Kennedy declared an "international emergency" and invoked TWTEA, effectively establishing the embargo against Cuba. Although 1996's Helms-Burton proposal turned the embargo into law, TWTEA is still in effect.

The Act comes up for renewal annually and is basically rubber-stamped. But with the recent winds of change, many believed this year might be different. Since the President lifted travel and gift restrictions for Cuban-Americans in April, flights out of Miami have doubled, flights have begun out of Los Angeles, and Armando Ruiz has applied for a government license to operate a ferry three times a week between Miami and Havana. What kind of effect would there be on the economy if restrictions were lifted for everyone? "Huge" is the opinion of the American Society of Travel Agents, the Business Roundtable of the US Chamber of Commerce, web travel site Orbitz, and many more. To signal even a desire for change, perhaps the President would allow TWTEA to lapse. Choosing to not sign would have only been symbolic - it will literally take an act of Congress to repeal Helms-Burton.

Obama signed the renewal on September 11, but the news wasn't officially released to the press until Monday the 14th - the original expiration date.

Opinions coming out of the US - Cuba Relations symposium in June were that the travel ban would be lifted by September or October of this year. Now it seems the first opportunity to start that process has passed. But it's not the last - and those who support the reopening of Key West to Havana travel (and commerce) must be vigilant - both in speaking out and in sending representatives to Washington who are equally in favor of reestablishing relations.

Locally, KWHx looked to the real estate market and asked how it would be affected when we can all freely travel the 90 miles separating our two countries. Even un-real estate. Anyone living along the Gulf or the Eastern Seaboard will be able to take their own boat to Cuba - and they'll stop in Key West along the way. We spoke with Tanya Parks, GM at Key West Harbour Yacht Club. The real estate for sale there comes in the form of dockages - wet or dry. The amenities of ownership are great, and she believes their customer base will grow considerably when Key West becomes a port of departure for trips to Havana. "Ours is a niche market. We intend to satisfy it with both exceptional service and exceptional value," says Parks.

Back on dry land, all the Realtors we spoke with were excited to anticipate the positive impact on their market - "Huge," said Bascom Grooms IV. Both he and fellow broker Dawn Thornburgh grew up on the island and know the vagaries of the market. They recognize the additional appeal Key West will offer as a base of operations 90 miles from Cuba. Whether the new home buyers travel between Key West and Havana for business or for pleasure, they'll still own real estate in Key West - maybe a cottage in Old Town, maybe a modern home on a canal with a boat dock.

Both brokers also have Key West to Havana family stories. Dawn says her parents found the opportunity to take off to Havana for dinner and a show to be the most remarkable part of living here in the 1950s. Soon, Key Westers will have that option again.

And according to Bascom, no one can pass through Key West on their way to Havana without wanting to live here. At least that's what happened to his great-grandfather. At the beginning of a two-week vacation from the Savannah trolley system in 1908, the ship carrying the first Bascom Grooms stopped over in Key West on its way to Cuba. Interested in seeing the new dance pavilion operated by Key West's trolley company, he hopped an electric-powered streetcar to the south end of Simonton Street. Along the way, he ran into an old friend from Savannah now living and working in Key West. Within an hour, Mr. Grooms had a new job with the trolley company in Key West and simply stayed. He finally got to Havana on his honeymoon.

Soon, we will all finally get to Havana.