The Port of New Bedford Business Alliance is appealing to the state legislature to disapprove a legal amendment that will be required for the sale of the NStar site to the city's Redevelopment Authority. The quick, one-dollar sale would be to NStar's financial benefit. For the city, it would be more financial loss based on a prolonging of the oceanarium ruse, while prospects for real economic development go unheeded, or shoved aside like its fishing fleet.

Unlike many other ports, New Bedford is a true working waterfront, yet city officials still focus on pushing tourism via a mislaid, non-funded aquarium. Even an MIT SeaGrant study concluded that gentrification, tourists and hotels are "antithetical" to the working port New Bedford.

Should the oceanarium, in suspended animation for over a decade, not be granted federal funding again in a few weeks, city officials want to acquire and stick the NStar site in a "land bank," under the pretense that possibly, another year, a different president would make a funding difference.

Congressman Barney Frank, in a Standard-Times article last year, said that the treasury's decision is based on ideology, not politics. Review of past recipients of the treasury's funding reveals such ideology is geared toward small businesses, low-income housing and charter schools, and not expensive aquariums for tourists.

The state also declined funding last year. NStar soon after ended its oceanarium lease, and is now attempting to unload it to the city. NStar obviously wants out. It no longer wants to keep paying city taxes, in addition to other advantages of such divestment. However, the law stipulates sale only to a "nonprofit, educational entity." The trick will be to convince New Bedford's state representatives to continue the charade. Other representatives, probably shaking their heads in amusement, might let them because it's New Bedford.

The Alliance seeks to realistically revitalize the city's economy through development of applied marine sciences and technology, and expansion of maritime trades. Furthermore, we believe federal fishing restrictions are not meant to eradicate the fishing industry, but to reverse its decline, for which New Bedford should prepare.

Better dockage accommodation for the fishing industry is paramount, including fleets being displaced by gentrification in more quaint ports such as Rockland, Provincetown, and Point Judith. That means more business for New Bedford, however, dock space via temporary barges shows little conviction in meeting the fleet's present and future needs. Establishment of an independent Port Authority, with experienced maritime personnel, would better serve the port than a relatively inexperienced Harbor Development Commission controlled by city politics.

The alliance has discovered a close synergy with the state's Office of Business and Technology's new initiative to develop a marine industrial corridor in SouthCoast. We suggest as a possible alternative use for the NStar site that the office has a $3.5 million federal proposal, developed in consultation with the New Bedford Fishermen's Family Assistance Center, to fund a 10,000 square foot facility for a marine product & training center. New Bedford would be a prime location, and the NStar facility would be a perfect site. The alliance's endeavors also would fit in perfectly.

The alliance plans to present its goals and objectives to some 30 representatives within the state's new initiative in early May.

The state's welcome to our ideas stands in contrast to alliance representatives being escorted out of the Portfields meeting recently held at the zoo. Having strongly protested, the alliance since has been informed by a NOAA representative that it will be included in the next meeting.

The alliance is seeking support of its endeavors for revitalizing the working waterfront. These endeavors are not only in line with the state's proposed marine corridor, but are also in line with the National Ocean Commission's recent report calling for a doubling of marine research and technology development. New Bedford can and should be at the vanguard of such a national effort.

Our vision holds the true promise of jobs for New Bedford's marine oriented character and economy, which could generate sustained tourism. Will New Bedford's elected state representatives vote to finally end the oceanarium's illusion is the question.

The rapidly growing Port of New Bedford Business Alliance has drawn the line. Should the U.S. Treasury again deny the oceanarium funds, we respectfully request that the region's representatives have the courage and political conviction to lead a veto of the amendment, and support a genuine vision for New Bedford's economic future.

Gene Soccolich is a spokesman for the Port of New Bedford Business Alliance

This story appeared on Page B2 of The Standard-Times on May 2, 2004.