By Amy Howard
A common belief is that people who live on Ocracoke are rich.
We aren’t.
We are industrious and work hard to be able to afford to live here.
Some of us have families who go back for generations and struggle to find housing, working three jobs to make it come together.
A common argument against funding the ferries is that if some people in the state never use the ferries, then the ferries are not important.
I could argue that about a myriad of places/roads in North Carolina.
I could ask why my taxpayer dollars should fund dozens of bridges, overpasses, tunnels, stop lights, snow removal, parks, museums, and sanctuaries that I will never use?
The answer is because they are all valued as a part of our state serving people of all walks of life who contribute greatly to this state.
This is the same reason we pay taxes for public schools even if we don’t have a child enrolled: it’s for the overall benefit of our community and society.
We hear: Why do you people live in such a dangerous place? You know the road will get washed out.
Can everyone live in a “safe” place?
The mountains of N.C.? They got flooded by a hurricane last year.
Eastern N.C. mainland? They got flooded by a hurricane. Central N.C.? They got flooded by a hurricane.
How many millions of dollars went into aiding those areas after disasters?
Am I unhappy they got aid after these devastating storms? Absolutely not.
Do I think they should move somewhere “safer?” Absolutely not.
(The ferries) are literally a part of NC12 and should be treated with no less care or interest and with no judgment…the same way we don’t judge the hundreds of other miles of road in N.C. that serve ALL residents.
How much money does NCDOT spend maintaining and fixing roads, putting up signs and guardrails, cleaning medians, etc., in backroad rural areas that aren’t generating any noticeable revenue for the state, that aren’t attracting visitors from other states and countries to spend tourist dollars there?
Ocracoke and the greater Outer Banks host hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world yearly and generate millions of dollars in tax revenue and yet we are constantly having to defend our existence.
On Ocracoke, we have one guy (thank you, Shanon!) scraping sand off the north end of NC12.
Almost none of our roads in the village have been marked with lines for years now.
We have no stoplights and a few dozen street signs and traffic signs that generally last for years or decades without having to be changed out.
The ferries are a literal lifeline for people who live on Ocracoke.
They are literally a part of NC12 and should be treated with no less care or interest and with no judgment on why they need to be fixed–the same way we don’t judge the hundreds of other miles of road in N.C. that need to be built and maintained to serve ALL residents.
Groceries, medicine, pet supplies, vets, doctors/EMS, gas vendors, etc., all use our ferries and roads to serve the people of N.C. and our visitors for the ultimate benefit of the greater state.
The rich history that is here, the novelty of riding a ferry, the lighthouse, the stories of the sea, including those of the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Lifesaving Service, the unspoiled beach, the fishing and hunting–all this and more draw thousands of visitors to Ocracoke.
Is there an issue with the long-term status of our road? Absolutely.
Do we need to come up with a viable plan? Absolutely.
Can we effectively do that while being attacked for living here and while fighting for crumbs because we are deemed not worthy? Absolutely not.
The narrative needs to change.
We are not sitting around eating bonbons while holding our hands out for “stolen” dollars.
We are actively working to enrich the state of North Carolina while living here and generating millions of dollars that go directly into the state coffers.
Ocracoke is one of the many beautiful and remote towns in this state that is home to hard-working passionate residents who love sharing where we live.
We promote not just our town and area, but the rest of the state as well.
We are ambassadors for the state.
Why do we have to always be on the defensive when it comes to having consistent and reliable access to where we live?
I can’t think of any other town/area in the state of NC that has to fight so hard to maintain the road (and our ferry is part of the road system) that allows them to have access to basic necessities.
Amy Howard is a lifelong Ocracoke Island resident, business manager of Village Craftsmen gallery, and active community leader with deep family roots tracing back generations on the island.