NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (AP) – Businessmen and boat owners who oppose this city’s proposed oceanarium have sent a petition to Gov. Mitt Romney asking him to deny the controversial project more state funding.
The signers of petition – about 40 individuals, 40 businessmen and the owners of about 170 boats – declared “no confidence” in the $67 million New Bedford Oceanarium project and said the proposed site is better used to expand waterfront businesses.
The project has been criticized for taking in more than $1 million in federal grants and $3 million in state funding over 10 years with nothing to show for it.
Waterfront businessman Frederic Osborn, who organized the petition, said many of its signers will be part of Port of New Bedford Business Alliance, which he said will hold its first meeting next week.
The empty oceanarium parcel represents millions in lost revenues, all for a project that won’t work, he said.
“Nobody can demonstrate this project can make it’s own way,” Osborn said.
Bob Ciolek, chief operating officer of the oceanarium, said the oceanarium project was approved by the fishing community in a painstakingly crafted redevelopment plan. The number of signatures on the petition, sent to Romney early this month, don’t indicate a groundswell of opposition to the oceanarium, he said.
“You know and I know that people sign petitions for any number of reasons, not the least of which is to get people out of their shop,” Ciolek said. “Obtaining signatures is not a difficult process.”
“(Osborn) does not know what he’s talking about,” Ciolek added. “He is not representative of the fishing industry.”
Oceanarium supporters envision a lucrative tourist attraction that would create hundreds of jobs, foster research, promote the fishing industry and inject millions into the local economy.
The project was originally priced at $137 million, but scaled down this spring after it was denied $44 million in “new market” tax credits, which are designed to spur economically struggling areas.
Romney has not taken a position on the project. His office didn’t immediately return a call for comment.
AP-ES-09-19-03 2032EDT
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