Mike32282 Posted September 7, 2004 Posted September 7, 2004 Canadian American Transportation Systems announced today that it will stop operations Wednesday of the high-speed ferry between Rochester and Toronto, claiming accumulating debt has made it unable to continue service. The ferry’s halt is a major blow to economic development efforts in Rochester and could be a major black eye for the community for decades. “This is a very difficult decision, but until the other parties involved fulfill their promises and obligations, we have no choice,” said Cornel Martin, president of CATS, in a news release sent out to members of Rochester’s state delegation. It’s unclear if and when service will resume. CATS officials could not be reached for comment. The ferry, which started service in June, has been stung by a series of problems, even before it officially launched. The private ferry company has been weighed down by some unexpected costs early on, including customs fees and high fuel prices. Also, the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection hasn’t allowed commercial trucks on the ship yet, depriving CATS of a much-needed source of revenue. CATS states in the news release that it has accumulated more than $2.1 million in debt with no offsetting revenues during a seven-week delay of the vessel, after it hit a pier in New York City. Operations were scheduled to begin May 18. Mayor William A. Johnson Jr. said he’s been pleading with CATS this afternoon to delay the ferry’s closure, saying he and other political leaders were working feverously to rectify outstanding issues. http://www.rochesterdandc.com/apps/pbcs.dl...NEWS01/40907003
Bad Things Posted September 7, 2004 Posted September 7, 2004 Boy... I really didn't see this happening
Mike32282 Posted September 7, 2004 Author Posted September 7, 2004 Boy... I really didn't see this happening 21092[/snapback] I was thinking the same thing.
Alaska Darin Posted September 7, 2004 Posted September 7, 2004 Yeah, who could have predicted it would last this long?
scribo Posted September 7, 2004 Posted September 7, 2004 As predictable as this is, it is really terrible for the area, which cannot afford another setback like this. Rochester is in some serious trouble.
Mike32282 Posted September 7, 2004 Author Posted September 7, 2004 As predictable as this is, it is really terrible for the area, which cannot afford another setback like this. Rochester is in some serious trouble. 21105[/snapback] Yeah, they have started to finally follow Buffalo. I blame that jackass major...Bill Johnson. Things won't get better until we vote his ass out.
scribo Posted September 7, 2004 Posted September 7, 2004 Yeah, they have started to finally follow Buffalo. I blame that jackass major...Bill Johnson. Things won't get better until we vote his ass out. 21109[/snapback] I agree 100 percent, but I don't see it happening. Maybe Lonsberry will run against him!
Mike32282 Posted September 7, 2004 Author Posted September 7, 2004 I agree 100 percent, but I don't see it happening. Maybe Lonsberry will run against him! 21112[/snapback] I think the people are starting to see how bad that jackass really is and hopefully will vote him out. The problem that I have is that Major Johnson affects more than just downtown Rochester...he affects the whole damn city of Rochester, yet we never can vote for the mayor if we are out of the city. I'd love to vote him out. I can't stand him.
LabattBlue Posted September 7, 2004 Posted September 7, 2004 Too bad this didn't work out. Buffalo and Rochester share a lot of pain in terms of economic tough times. Here's hoping they both turn it around sometime in the near future.
Mike32282 Posted September 7, 2004 Author Posted September 7, 2004 Too bad this didn't work out. Buffalo and Rochester share a lot of pain in terms of economic tough times. Here's hoping they both turn it around sometime in the near future. 21165[/snapback] I don't think it's finished. I just think this is a terrible setback until the damn government lets them transport trucks for money.
MattyT Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 Just watched the press conference. This seems to be 99% political and red tape. I guess that's what you get for trying to build bridges between nations. Apparently the politicians would rather make money from the company enabling this all to happen rather than from the tourists.
Alaska Darin Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 Just watched the press conference. This seems to be 99% political and red tape. I guess that's what you get for trying to build bridges between nations. Apparently the politicians would rather make money from the company enabling this all to happen rather than from the tourists. 21222[/snapback] Yeah, shocking that politicos could take a bad idea and make it even worse.
Campy Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 I saw a write-up on it, it seemed awfully lavish/expensive. Is there not a ferry from Roch to TO now? I was kinda' planning on taking Mrs Campy to TO via the ferry as she's never been, and I'll admit, avoiding the Q doesn't sound like such a bad idea.
Rayzer32 Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 Man, I thought we would get through this year anyway. How pitiful is this. Johnson sucks!!! He is totally against the whole downtown casino deal also. If that casino was here, that ferry would have alot more people on it heading this way. Grady needs to be run out of town.
bobblehead Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 From what I gather, all this is is an ultimatum by CATS to get some political action moving to allow freight to be transported.
jowhite Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 "I blame that jackass major[sic]...Bill Johnson. Things won't get better until we vote his ass out." Statements like this are well and good to make, but what exactly is it that you feel Johnson has done to cause the ferry and apparently Rochester in general to fail? Just to get a grasp, what local politicians do you feel have done a good job and based on what evidence? Who would you like to see progress through the ranks and run for Mayor? I'd be interested to hear your responses. thanks.
Rayzer32 Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 "I blame that jackass major[sic]...Bill Johnson. Things won't get better until we vote his ass out." Statements like this are well and good to make, but what exactly is it that you feel Johnson has done to cause the ferry and apparently Rochester in general to fail? Just to get a grasp, what local politicians do you feel have done a good job and based on what evidence? Who would you like to see progress through the ranks and run for Mayor? I'd be interested to hear your responses. thanks. 21372[/snapback] He is not doing enough to help the RPD. Murders were way up last year, therfore no one wants to go downtown.
jowhite Posted September 8, 2004 Posted September 8, 2004 Enough to help them how? Increased funding? Cutting what from the budget? I think he certainly supports the Police Department. The murder rate did increase exponentially last year, meaning that it was also lower during Johnson's time in office, so what did he do that caused this increase? "No one wants to go downtown" --what are we refering to as downtown? I see thousands of people out everyweekend in downtown Rochester. The downtown area is not what it could be, but I don't think it is a fair claim that "no one wants to go downtown." What events or locations have you been afraid to attend? Where did you eat, shop, or work downtown in the past that you no longer venture because it's considered too dangerous by your standards?
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