Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Support bill to get funding for waterfront

"A bill now in Congress would provide federal funding to coastal and Great Lakes states to help preserve and protect working waterfronts. Boat Owners Association of The United States is urging boaters and anglers to contact their members of Congress to co-sponsor and support H.R. 2548, the "Keep America's Waterfronts Working Act of 2009."

Introduced in May by Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and co-sponsored by Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA), the legislation would allow local governments to use federal grant funds to purchase a threatened marina outright. It would also allow a non-profit group to obtain a grant to buy development rights in order to keep a working boatyard in business, rather than see it sold for residential development.

In introducing her bill, Rep. Pingree said, "Water-dependent, coastal-related businesses are economically and culturally important places to many coastal communities and working waterfronts are quickly disappearing under the tremendous pressures from incompatible uses."

For full (short) story in New York Post go to:

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/support_bill_to_get_funding_on_the_Zy7gkJzMQg6G59P9QLIPQN

For Patrick Conley's opposing point of view  go to his essay in the Pro Jo on September 30, 2009 titled" "CIty Fumble, Wilting Waterfront" at http://www.projo.com/opinion/contributors/content/CT_conley30_09-30-09_MMFSBDD_v13.3f8e276.html

No comments: