An op-ed published over the weekend by the ThePostandCourier.com shows that there may be some time yet before the Charleston cruise ship situation is brought to a convincing close. If you remember, the city of Charleston, South Carolina, is home to an ongoing debate about the role that cruise ships will play in the future of the historic town.
Many citizens groups filed suit over the summer to try to effectively force the cruise ships out. Citing the fact that Carnival Cruise Lines ship “Fantasy” has made their city’s downtown pier its home port, residents complained about pollution, traffic, and other nuisances relating to the docking of the ship.
But, local authorities hit back, hard. The mayor of Charleston took to local newspapers, writing op-eds of his own, extolling the virtues of the cruise business and explaining why Charleston should welcome the cruise ships. The Ports Authority also engaged in the fight. According to the op-ed in the Post and Courier this weekend, citizens feel the Ports Authority has taken things too far – with the op-ed saying the State’s Ports Authority characterized citizens as “elitist” and “anti-business,” framing the issue as “jobs, not snobs.”
The fight has really gotten heated, probably because of the nature of what’s being fought over. Having followed many of the developments through news articles, it seems that what is really at stake is the ability of Charleston residents to determine the future of their city – as they see fit.
On the other hand, the government seems to fight on the side of big business, with the promise of jobs and economic bounty as their cause. In a time with staggering joblessness and economic uncertainty, government forces seem to wish to win the debate by standing on the high ground of economic development.
What I see is something different. I see yet another instance of cruise lines throwing their weight around. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and other cruise lines are engaged in negotiations with the highest levels of government all around the world. These are immensely powerful corporations, which don’t always operate in the best interest of their passengers or host cities.
Let’s hope the outcome of the Charleston situation is resolved to the best interest of the residents.
Primary Source: http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/nov/26/26agnew/