Posted on 07/15/2005 11:50:30 PM PDT by Michael.SF.
A decade-long project spearheaded by veterans and naval enthusiasts to bring the battleship USS Iowa to San Francisco's waterfront failed to gain the support of the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
After a wrenching debate, supervisors voted 8-3 to reject a resolution urging congressional leaders to fight to bring the 48,000-pound vessel here, citing concerns such as possible costs incurred for maintaining and housing the World War II battleship; the disinclination of taxpayers to support a military monument; and the ongoing discrimination against gay Americans by the armed services.
Supporters, including the Historic Ships at Memorial Square, a nonprofit, and the nationwide USS Iowa Veterans Association, have pushed San Francisco, the Navy and Congress to clear the way for the Iowa's placement here, a city the ship has called home three times.
In 1996, San Francisco lost its bid to house the battleship USS Missouri, and since then, supporters had sights set on the USS Iowa. In 1999, legislation authored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., established that Congress supported berthing the Iowa in The City. But on Feb. 1, Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, introduced legislation that would strike the Iowa from the naval registry and move it, on donation status, to the Port of Stockton.
In response, supervisors on Tuesday were asked to support a resolution urging Congress to support housing the Iowa in San Francisco
(Excerpt) Read more at sfexaminer.com ...
"We just could not build a memorial to a machine of war."
SF continues it's downward plunge.
I did do a search and did not find this.
And it only weighs 48,000 pounds? Amazing. I didn't know we made pocket battleships.
SF doesn't deserve a battleship.
Amen!
That honorable ship deserves a much more respectable venue.
San Francisco? Forget it!
The North Carolina is berthed somewhere in NC and does not draw very many tourists. I went and enjoyed it though.
She should birth in San Diego then.
Uh...I meant berthed.
Tell the gays there will be plenty of seamen come visit. Maybe they would go for it.
They ought to dock her right next to Babwa Streisands villa in Malibu
Screw SF never liked the city and when it falls in the ocean I will be happy.
My second greatest desire for SF would be an eight inch snow store followed by -20 below zero weather.
L I really do hate that town.
You are quite correct in that!
48000lbs is a pathetic 24 ton.
My (former) girlfriend's daddy's SMALL boat (35') came in at almost 50 ton.
I sincerely doubt that the battleship in question (IOWA) was smaller than a former fisheries live-aboard.
This reporter needs to get out a bit.
I think it's stupid to even consider putting anything like this in that city. That place would be an insult to the ship.
Park her right alongside the MIDWAY...
They'd get my vote!
If they put her at Stockton, they'll have to dredge the river all the way from SF.
Reporters are always clueless about military stuff. My favorite story is that, in 1986, when the Tico-class Yorktown sank a Libyan patrol boat, CNN used a picture of the Carrier Yorktown - the one sunk during the Battle of Midway (or it might have been the Essex-class one, I'm not sure).
BUT... Keep the base open, we might want to spit on the military.
Make that "My second greatest desire for SF would be a 16-inch salvo followed by -20 below zero weather.
Although based out of there, I'm also soo glad my dad's ship (USCG Taney--a high endurance Coast Guard cutter of the 378' class--dad served on it in Operation Market Time in 'Nam) is not in SF--if they don't appreciate the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform, screw them.
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