In response to OpEd pieces authored by Gene Soccolich, Alliance spokesman, a few individuals have made or implied a number of dubious allegations in the press. Of note, in ALL of Mr. Soccolich’s items in the press, important issues were targeted and addressed with new, educated ideas and without mention of any person by name. In two opposing pieces, the only target was Mr. Soccolich, whose name was cited “twenty-four times”. Primarily attacking the person often can backfire and serve to validate those ideas, in addition to questioning the opposition’s true agenda, should proof be required. The following clarification represents that proof.

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(May 12, 2004) In a letter to the New Bedford Standard Times Opinion Editor signed by Mr. Rodney Avila, owner of two fishing vessels and an employee of the Mayor’s Harbor Development Commission (an organization the Alliance has challenged), it was alleged that Mr. Soccolich misrepresented that the Port of New Bedford Business Alliance and the New Bedford Fishermen’s Family Assistance Center had entered into (a) partnership, and that Mr. Soccolich had never been in contact with anyone from the Fishermen’s Assistance Center. Mr. Avila concluded that Mr. Soccolich had misrepresented the facts, and further deduced that he was apprehensive that the Alliance was only out to get the fishing industry’s support.

For the Record, Gene Soccolich’s article only stated that the Alliance recently had found a synergy, which means a shared ideology, with the marine technology initiative established by the Massachusetts Office of Business and Development for the southcoast region. Secondly, that it was this “State Office”, with prior help from the Fishermen’s Assistance Center and other organizations, which had factually submitted a proposal to the federal government for the development of a marine product technology center. The Alliance neither claimed nor implied any contact or “partnership” with Mr. Avila’s Center. In addition, by e-mail and in person, Mr. Soccolich contacted Mr. Avila, and copied the Standard Times, to meet at the newspaper to clarify any possible misconception by Mr. Avila, however, Mr. Avila would not accept the open discussion.

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(June 10, 2004) In a lengthy OpEd piece, again to the New Bedford Standard Times, signed by Mrs. Betsy Pye, most of what Mr. Soccolich was quoted as having said, even when taken out of context from “four” of his pieces, was factual. The prior letter from Mr. Avila noted above, was taken for granted, expounded on at length, and never questioned. Secondly, great exception was taken with Mr. Soccolich having written that, “New Bedford’s ladder of success is leaning against the wrong wall, the government”, and that he and the Alliance had finally seen the light and were now seeking legislative (government) actions as regards the impacts on the fishing industry especially from implementation of amendment 13 regulations. Using that flawed premise, it was construed that ALL of what Mr. Soccolich had written was suspect, and somehow further deduced that he has the fishing industry “under his spell”.

For the Record, on marine and maritime issues, of which Gene Soccolich has written on behalf of the Alliance, his primary thrust has been that “economic development” should emanate from the corporate or private sectors, which the government can help to initiate and support. In contrast, “negative economic impacts” imposed by governmental regulations, primarily should be addressed back to the government to provide “protective measures” to alleviate those impacts on the fishermen affected, their families, and associated businesses. The piece was signed, “a fisherman’s wife”, however, the signer also had been a recently paid employee of the Oceanarium, which surprisingly was not mentioned. Of important note, Mr. Soccolich and the Port of New Bedford Business Alliance successfully had challenged the economics of that mislaid effort. Both the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the U.S. Department of the Treasury further declined to financially support, and the Oceanarium’s paid staff was dismissed.

“And now you know………..the rest of the story.”

Fred Osborn

President

Port of New Bedford Business Alliance