shrinking city shrinking port?

Submitted by Susan Miller on Fri, 05/25/2007 - 12:21.

Check this port related news!

Here's a wild idea... let someone else take that cargo. If we were to have Great Lakes only shipping, how much activity will that be - that is my question.

While acres for our port sit idle covered with piles of ore and gravel, I do wonder if the port needs all this land on the lakefront. If they move, and if the seaway closes to ocean lake connections, what is the expansion option for using the port as economic development -- as a maritime shipping entity?

Currently the port has a small percentage of ocean vessels visiting, but container shipping might be a much larger operation. I imagined it on a Sunday morning a while back: efficient buildings/port musings

Hmmm...

PS I hope Zebra Mussel will respond. I mean, with a name like Zebra Mussel, how could you not respond to this issue. You are zebra mussel... I'm dying to know how you chose that handle.

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When will Port Study be conducted?

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Fri, 05/25/2007 - 12:59.

There is much change ahead for the Port Authority and Port of Cleveland. If this proposal gets traction, it will change the future of the Great Lakes... they may actually survive and we may actually be able to restore them to proper health, adding $ billions to surrounding regional economies as their greatest assets... public health, beauty, sport, recreation, quality of life, food, tourism, high quality of life, and fresh water... become increasingly valuable (e.g. taxes and fees from people choosing to live, work and base businesses and investments in these now-Greater places). These realities must be factored against the jobs, pollution, ecological harm and social disruption caused by shipping and the businesses involved in related activities.

The Port Authority is supposed to conduct an independent study of actual port needs, which was delayed by the new Director as he gets his bearings. It is good it was delayed as it would not have addressed what matters, like shutting down ocean passage for ecologically harmful vessels, and the impact and opportunities that offers the region. Considering the changing ecological climate of the world and the need for a much higher degree of social responsibility from people in leadership, it is safe to say whoever does the Port Analysis must work with global environmental analysts like those driving change to global shipping patterns. Jon Cline, who is conducting analyses for Everglades Reclamation, is an example of one resource we have in this region who may help with such analysis.

As an immediate way to show the Port here cares about society, the environment and the economy of the region, they should begin a series of public hearings on the costs of shipping to society, and a fund analyses of the environmental impacts of shipping and related industry, and determine how to transform shipping and all related factors in the Great Lakes with an eye to social responsibility and environmentalism. They have the tax money, facilities and staff to support such proper analysis and community engagement at a global level, if their leadership cares about the future of the region and our children.

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