🗞️ Martha’s Vineyard’s Top Controversies of 2024
A beginner's guide to ongoing issues frustrating locals
Little island, big gossip!
Recently, a friend visited and asked me about some lawn signs she found confusing as we drove around. What wind turbines? What housing bank? I found myself giving her plenty of background on island controversies. My informal summaries, combined with keeping tabs on newspapers year-round, evolved into this guide.
Without further ado, MVacay’s Beginners Guide to the biggest topics sparking conversation on MV in 2024:
💨 Vineyard Wind
Quick Background:
Vineyard Wind is an offshore wind farm project 15 miles off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard. Initially, it faced some community opposition, and in July, one of its turbine blades broke, sparking further concerns over safety and environmental impacts.Why Are People Mad?
Locals wonder, are the wind turbines actually hurting more than they are helping? The cleanup efforts were way too slow, and lots of debris washed up on island beaches. Critics accuse Vineyard Wind of lacking transparency and delaying responses about the turbine. Supporters, however, argue that offshore wind is crucial for reducing reliance on fossil fuels.Where Are Things Now?
The incident shut down the project temporarily and kicked off a federal investigation into the blade failure, which is still ongoing. For now, while some aspects of the project have resumed, the installation of new blades remains halted as the investigation continues.
⚽ Artificial Turf
Quick Background:
Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School has debated installing artificial turf on their fields for the last decade. While supporters cite turf's low maintenance and durability, opponents raise environmental concerns, particularly the risk of PFAS chemicals leaching into the island's water supply. Despite attempts to halt the project through local zoning laws, recent rulings have favored the school under the Dover Amendment, which limits local interference with educational projects.
Why Are People Mad?
The decision is dragging on! Who has the final say has been unclear all along. Legal battles are keeping the project stagnant.Where Are Things Now?
The court recently sided with the school, allowing it to proceed with the turf installation, despite ongoing opposition and environmental concerns. Simultaneously, the school is contemplating significant infrastructure updates, including a potential new building, which could integrate or alter plans for updating the athletic facilities. The School Board is waiting for more information on the building plans before making a final decision. TBD!
🏠 Housing Bank
Quick Background:
Martha's Vineyard’s housing crisis has been worsening for decades, with the average home price reaching $1.55 million in 2023. The MV Housing Bank was created in 2022 to create a fund to help low- and middle-income families stay on the island. The idea is to fund it with a 2% real estate transfer fee, but its implementation has faced delays at the state level.Why Are People Mad?
There is a huge need and minimal progress. It is incredibly hard to fill positions that are necessary to the island’s functioning without affordable places to live. All six island towns approved the Housing Bank in town meetings and ballot votes, but at the state-level it continues to get skipped over. And even though it was approved on the island, some real estate folks argue the 2% fee will scare off buyers and won’t fix the real problem.Where Are Things Now?
Some progress has been made—like affordable housing developments in Tisbury—but it’s slow. Governor Maura Healey’s Affordable Homes Act has incorporated elements like a local option transfer fee, which could potentially support the Vineyard’s efforts if passed. Despite broad support from locals there are still roadblocks.
🌲 State Forest Management
Quick Background:
In July, the DCR cleared encampments in the State Forest, affecting approximately 22 individuals. Authorities removed and destroyed the belongings of illegal campers without prior warning, alarming local advocacy groups and residents.Why Are People Mad?
The main complaint is about how it was handled—the DCR did not alert local shelters or social service organizations before removing the belongings. Critics believe that the DCR should have communicated better and given people time to collect their things. On the flip side, the DCR insists that clearing the campsites was necessary to protect the forest and keep it safe for the public.Where Are Things Now?
Local advocacy groups are pushing for better communication if something like this happens again. The larger issue of how to handle the unhoused population on the island is still up in the air.
🔉 Noise Complaint Controversies
Quick Background:
The past two summers, there’s been tension over residential parties, especially at a home associated with the founders of Uncle Nearest and at Radio Farm. These events have sparked complaints about noise and traffic. Hosts, like those at Radio Farm and the Uncle Nearest property, work hard to follow regulations—getting permits and keeping noise levels within the rules. Even Dock Dance in Edgartown faced new restrictions on amplified sound and earlier curfews. Some neighbors persist in trying to shut down the fun.Why Are People Mad?
A small group of NIMBY residents argue that these events disrupt the peace, but most islanders feel the town is over-enforcing noise rules. They say the parties are part of what makes summer on Martha’s Vineyard so special, and that the strict noise ordinance—especially the 10 PM cutoff—is catering to complainers.Where Are Things Now?
The complainers are (mostly) winning. A cease-and-desist issued to Radio Farm was eventually overturned, showing the strong community support for keeping these gatherings alive. Dock Dance was able to continue at an earlier time, though the band isn’t able to make that work. Uncle Nearest did not attempt gatherings of a similar scale this summer. Downtown Oak Bluffs pushed the closing time for bars even sooner. Essentially, towns are largely bending to favor vocal homeowners in these disputes.
🕷️ Tick Increase and Alpha-Gal Syndrome
Quick Background:
Martha’s Vineyard has seen a surge in Lone Star ticks, which has led to more cases of Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS)—a red meat allergy caused by tick bites.Why Are People Mad?
Unfortunately, avoiding ticks has become a major part of daily life on the Vineyard. With ticks thriving due to the island’s high deer population, AGS cases rising, residents worried about the impact on their outdoor lifestyle—hiking, gardening, and even walking their dogs have become risky. Residents are frustrated by the lack of control over the tick population. The island’s response, though improving, has faced criticism for not being fast or comprehensive enough.Where Are Things Now?
We're constantly checking for ticks, changing our outdoor attire, yet the hospital keeps seeing new patients. Prevention efforts have ramped up while deer population studies and hunting regulations are being reviewed.
⛴️ Steamship Authority Mismanagement of Ferry Service
Quick Background:
Martha's Vineyard has faced major issues with the Steamship Authority in 2024, including:Cancelled Ferries: Nearly 1,000 trips canceled, mostly due to staffing shortages and mechanical failures.
Staffing Shortages: SA is struggling to hire boat captains and engineers, leading to cancellations.
Mechanical Issues: An aging fleet causes frequent breakdowns.
App and Website Delays: The $3 million investment in a new system is paused with no clear plan of resuming, indefinitely making reservations a headache. The outdated systems limit the ability to communicate about cancellations, further frustrating customers.
Rate Increases: Fares are rising despite these ongoing problems.
Lack of Support for Islanders: Islanders feel they aren’t prioritized during ferry shortages, leaving them stranded.
Why Are People Mad?
It’s getting worse, not better. Islanders are angry that they’re paying more for unreliable service. Visitors have their ferries cancelled and can’t navigate the site to understand what to do next. Locals also feel they’re being sidelined in favor of tourists.Where Are Things Now?
A leadership change is due in 2026, which might help sort these issues. Staffing shortages continue to impact daily operations, and progress has completely stalled indefinitely on the app and website. Mechanical failures are increasing, and islanders remain frustrated.
❗Additional Ongoing Controversies
The views expressed in this article aim to summarize public sentiments and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this publication. They are derived from public reactions and community discussions. Mention of specific controversies, actions, or responses is for informational purposes only and does not imply endorsement or criticism.
Community Services and Infrastructure
Post Office Inefficiency: Post offices across the island continue face management issues and mail is delayed, lost or mixed up constantly. Attempts to improve lack coordination - Oak Bluffs recently dealt with unauthorized mailbox installations. Vineyard Haven added weekend hours to tackle delays, but problems with packages persisted.
Lack of Veterinarians on the Island: With only one veterinarian remaining, Martha’s Vineyard's animal clinics have been stretched thin, as housing costs prevent new hires.
Support and Inclusion for the Brazilian, Portuguese-Speaking Community: Progress was made this year including bilingual staff hires and translation services in schools, town halls, and local government offices. Inclusivity efforts must continue - including within government processes and cultural integration.
Freight Service for Cars Beyond Woods Hole: In August, 41 North Offshore was approved to run daily freight service from New Bedford to the Vineyard, offering an alternative to Woods Hole, although traffic and harbor congestion concerns limit the service to one trip per day.
Weed Growing: After a lawsuit from Island Time, the local cannabis company won approval to transport marijuana via ferry, overcoming opposition to on-island cultivation and ensuring access to products despite limited farming capacity.
Leadership and Governance
Mismanagement of Oak Bluffs Town Officials' Money: Oak Bluffs lost $332,000 in a cyber scam after fraudulent wire transfers were made, prompting town officials to ask to draw from the stabilization fund to replace money lost and implementing stricter cybersecurity protocols.
Tisbury Fire Chief Leave: Fire Chief Gregory Leland had been on paid leave since July 2023, and was terminated last week amidst undisclosed internal reviews, stirring debates among Tisbury residents over transparency and fiscal responsibility in town governance.
Sheriff's Department: There was a legal dispute involving the sheriff's office about the burden of maintaining records, which stirred some controversy regarding administrative practices within the sheriff's department
Thank you to the Vineyard Gazette and Martha’s Vineyard Times, whose diligent daily reporting keeps our community informed.
Housing and Land Use
Short Term Rentals in Edgartown: Edgartown passed new rental regulations, which cap the number of rental days per property. Intended to alleviate housing shortages, they have been controversial, with homeowners concerned about reduced income. It also meant to reduce corporate ownership by requiring partial owner occupancy. Other towns on island are now considering similar restrictions.
ADU State-Wide Approval: State-wide approval of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) gave Martha’s Vineyard towns new tools to combat the housing crisis, though islanders remain concerned about density in residential areas.
OSV Access on Chappy: Chappaquiddick's off-road vehicle (OSV) access faced tighter restrictions in 2024 due to environmental concerns, though residents successfully lobbied for a limited-access permit system.
It’s been quite a year! These issues may seem small to some, but they impact the way we live, work, and even unwind here on Martha’s Vineyard.
What’s your take? Which controversy is most pressing to the island community, and what do you want to see change in 2025?
We acknowledge that community perspectives can be diverse and multifaceted. We encourage readers to contribute their views and corrections to foster a more informed and respectful dialogue.