Sinking the Megaport

 
The proposed international port at Southport is headed for Davy Jones Locker. The money was cut from the budget, and Congressman Mike McIntyre came out in opposition.
 
A wise reader – and veteran Raleigh hand – believes there a lesson here: how to royally screw up a public-policy initiative.
 
His take:
 
“This was the GTP By The Sea, a classic example of bureaucrats finding an expensive solution for which no problem existed. They sold the state on the economic development benefits, which sounded good and everyone was on board. But once political and community leaders learned that the price was the disruption of an entire region (new roads and rail), threats to critical infrastructure (power plants and munitions facilities), and the impact on the coast (dredging, etc.) the support evaporated.”
 
Plus, the Ports Authority lost more than the project. It forfeited a huge amount of respect and trust.
 
The reader adds: “Our coastline isn’t even suitable for this kind of project. Hell, the pirates learned 400 years ago that North Carolina’s coast totally sucks for sailing ships.”
 
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Gary Pearce

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Sinking the Megaport

 
The proposed international port at Southport is headed for Davy Jones Locker. The money was cut from the budget, and Congressman Mike McIntyre came out in opposition.
 
A wise reader – and veteran Raleigh hand – believes there a lesson here: how to royally screw up a public-policy initiative.
 
His take:
 
“This was the GTP By The Sea, a classic example of bureaucrats finding an expensive solution for which no problem existed. They sold the state on the economic development benefits, which sounded good and everyone was on board. But once political and community leaders learned that the price was the disruption of an entire region (new roads and rail), threats to critical infrastructure (power plants and munitions facilities), and the impact on the coast (dredging, etc.) the support evaporated.”
 
Plus, the Ports Authority lost more than the project. It forfeited a huge amount of respect and trust.
 
The reader adds: “Our coastline isn’t even suitable for this kind of project. Hell, the pirates learned 400 years ago that North Carolina’s coast totally sucks for sailing ships.”
 
Posted in ,
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Gary Pearce

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