Miami Seaport Alliance Joined by Senator
The Miami Seaport Alliance, a group of concerned citizens, community leaders, and port stakeholders who have banded together to oppose a Major League Soccer stadium at PortMiami, says that Florida Senator Gwen Margolis (D-Miami) and 13 additional vice mayors and council members from municipalities across Miami-Dade County, have joined the alliance as members, bringing the total number of elected officials in opposition to a port stadium to 27. According to the Alliance, its purpose is to ensure that PortMiami remains dedicated to the operations that have made it the pride of the Miami-Dade community, as the Cruise Capital of the World and the Cargo Gateway of the Americas. A Major League Soccer stadium has been proposed for the southwest corner of PortMiami.
Miami Shipping Alliance Opposes Beckham's Soccer Arena Plan
An alliance of shipping interests and a billionaire car dealer launched a newspaper ad on Monday protesting retired English soccer star David Beckham's plans for a soccer arena at the port of Miami, saying it threatens the city's plans to capitalize on the expansion of the Panama Canal. "We cannot jeopardize well-paying jobs, like crane operators, longshore workers, and mechanics, for low-paying stadium jobs, such as concession sales," the Miami Seaport Alliance said in a full-page ad that ran in the Miami Herald and its sister Spanish-language paper, El Nuevo Herald. The group, led by John Fox, who has retired as Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's head of governmental affairs…
ACBL Announces Appointments
Paul Brotzge has been named Vice President, Finance, Treasurer and Controller. He was previously Vice President, Finance and Controller. Brotzge has been with the Company for twenty-three years. Ben Huber has been named Vice President, Business Development. His previous position was Vice President, International. He joined ACL in August 2002. David Jahnke has been named Vice President, Dry Cargo Sales. He was previously Vice President, Grain Sales. Jahnke has been with ACL since 1992. Del Wilkins has been named Vice President, Vessel Operations. He was previously Vice President and General Manager, Gulf Coast Operations. Wilkins joined ACBL in November 1993. Paul Book has been named Director of Barge Maintenance. He was previously Director, Audit & Compliance.
ACBL Announces New Appointments
American Commercial Barge Line has announced a number of new appointments. ACBL, headquartered in Jeffersonville, In. is an integrated marine transportation and service company. ACL filed for Chapter 11 protection on January 31, 2003. Paul Book has been named Director of Barge Maintenance. He was previously Director, Audit & Compliance. Mark Dougherty has been named Director, Vendor Vetting. He was previously a Quality Analyst. David Miller takes the helm of Director, Marketing Services. He was previously Director, Marketing Support. Mario Munoz has been named Director, Fleets. He was previously Director of Fleet Operations. John Fox has been named Liquid Unit Tow Planner. He was previously West Canal System Planner. Gary Ruff has been named Gulf Tow Planner.
Stadium Financing Has Cruise Companies Calling Foul
A plan to build a $400 million bayfront ball park for the Florida Marlins is pitting the team's millionaire owner against Miami's powerful cruise industry and its billionaire patriarch. Boca Raton, Fla.-based hedge fund manager John Henry paid $150 million cash for the 1997 World Series champion Marlins after former owner Wayne Huizenga stripped the team of its talent and alienated fans. Key to Henry's plan to rebuild the losing team's roster and dwindling fan base is a retractable-roof stadium, which he wants to pay for with a $4 per-day tax levied on cruise passengers traveling through the Port of Miami. Henry's proposal, now moving through the Florida Senate, puts him head-to-head with the lightly taxed cruise industry and Carnival Corp.
