The average starting VP is 23 on that map for some reason
I would have argued that that's because the best factions still have enough room for leeching at the start, and they didn't want any faction to start with less than 16VP. But then I see Mermaids start with 14VP on F&I side 2. :p
... and on Loon Lakes we have factions starting at 10vp, so that argument doesn't hold.