It appears that the "whoever has the most money wins" strategy so evident in Bar Harbor as of late has migrated to Northeast Harbor. Having passed - by clear majority - a citizens initiative limiting the disembarkation of no more than 1,000 passengers per day the citizens of Bar Harbor have been forced to expend in excess of half a million dollars defending the initiative against frivolous lawsuits initiated by Ocean Properties, an out of state chain of hotels, restaurants, and knickknack shops who also owns the only dock in town at which cruise ship passengers can land. By their own admission Ocean Properties reaps millions of dollars a year in profits from dock fees and shuttle services. So what's a few hundred grand in legal fees in an effort to bully the small town of Bar Harbor into opening the flood gates for cruise ship landings.
In addition the citizens group that crafted the initiative has also been forced to spend in excess of $300,000 in defending the initiative against Ocean Properties lawsuits and appeals.
In one of the most brazen legal statements I have ever encountered Ocean Properties attorney Hamilton was recently quoted in The Quietside Journal as saying:
"Hamilton said his clients would never adhere to any rule-making on the cruise ship ordinance no matter what the council did.
The council was in the process of reviewing two proposed codes - one to regulate ships in the harbor and the other to limit the number of passengers who may disembark to 1,000 a day. The ordinance adopted overwhelming by voters on Nov. 8, 2022 posed a $100 fine per passenger over the limit. Hamilton said, “We're just not going to tolerate it. We're going to be a brick wall on this disembarkation ordinance.”
One can only wonder what Federal Court Judge Walker who ruled in favor of the citizens initiative must have thought about this belligerent statement?
The economic stakes in Northeast Harbor are far less than those in the Bar Harbor case and I am not entirely clear as to why the court has even allowed a handful of 1%ers legal standing in the case. What precisely to they have to lose by the construction of modest, high quality, living quarters for the workers whose very existence makes possible the lavish summer lifestyles the wealthy enjoy? And yet hoping to outspend the local citizens this "Not In My Backyard You Don't" group clearly intends to keep launching frivolous appeals in an effort to bully their way to victory.
Kind of reminds me of Marie Antoinette's infamous quotable quote. After being told the French citizens couldn't afford bread for their families ole Marie remarked, "Well let them eat cake!" And by cake she was not referring to high end baked goods but rather the "cake" or charcoal rind that had to be routinely scraped from the roof and sides of the brick ovens in which bread was baked.
Let us hope that the rich and entitled of Northeast Harbor fare better than did ole Marie who apparently thought things were coming up roses right up until she knelt down in front of that fearsome blade! Can it be, one wonders, that a long smoldering class conflict is about to erupt into flames on MDI? Let us hope not! There's more than enough real cake for everyone if the bullies will just stop trying to grab every single slice for themselves!
These objections by people with deep pockets to obstruct construction of badly-needed housing are despicable. Even in their own self-interest: Do these people think they will ever want to enjoy a restaurant meal or need an EMT? Housing for working people has reached a crisis level. And now in Tremont an investor has bought up over a dozen long-term rental properties to profit by renting them weekly. These rich people don't even live in our towns to see them boarded up all winter while working folks move off the Island.
It appears that the "whoever has the most money wins" strategy so evident in Bar Harbor as of late has migrated to Northeast Harbor. Having passed - by clear majority - a citizens initiative limiting the disembarkation of no more than 1,000 passengers per day the citizens of Bar Harbor have been forced to expend in excess of half a million dollars defending the initiative against frivolous lawsuits initiated by Ocean Properties, an out of state chain of hotels, restaurants, and knickknack shops who also owns the only dock in town at which cruise ship passengers can land. By their own admission Ocean Properties reaps millions of dollars a year in profits from dock fees and shuttle services. So what's a few hundred grand in legal fees in an effort to bully the small town of Bar Harbor into opening the flood gates for cruise ship landings.
In addition the citizens group that crafted the initiative has also been forced to spend in excess of $300,000 in defending the initiative against Ocean Properties lawsuits and appeals.
In one of the most brazen legal statements I have ever encountered Ocean Properties attorney Hamilton was recently quoted in The Quietside Journal as saying:
"Hamilton said his clients would never adhere to any rule-making on the cruise ship ordinance no matter what the council did.
The council was in the process of reviewing two proposed codes - one to regulate ships in the harbor and the other to limit the number of passengers who may disembark to 1,000 a day. The ordinance adopted overwhelming by voters on Nov. 8, 2022 posed a $100 fine per passenger over the limit. Hamilton said, “We're just not going to tolerate it. We're going to be a brick wall on this disembarkation ordinance.”
One can only wonder what Federal Court Judge Walker who ruled in favor of the citizens initiative must have thought about this belligerent statement?
The economic stakes in Northeast Harbor are far less than those in the Bar Harbor case and I am not entirely clear as to why the court has even allowed a handful of 1%ers legal standing in the case. What precisely to they have to lose by the construction of modest, high quality, living quarters for the workers whose very existence makes possible the lavish summer lifestyles the wealthy enjoy? And yet hoping to outspend the local citizens this "Not In My Backyard You Don't" group clearly intends to keep launching frivolous appeals in an effort to bully their way to victory.
Kind of reminds me of Marie Antoinette's infamous quotable quote. After being told the French citizens couldn't afford bread for their families ole Marie remarked, "Well let them eat cake!" And by cake she was not referring to high end baked goods but rather the "cake" or charcoal rind that had to be routinely scraped from the roof and sides of the brick ovens in which bread was baked.
Let us hope that the rich and entitled of Northeast Harbor fare better than did ole Marie who apparently thought things were coming up roses right up until she knelt down in front of that fearsome blade! Can it be, one wonders, that a long smoldering class conflict is about to erupt into flames on MDI? Let us hope not! There's more than enough real cake for everyone if the bullies will just stop trying to grab every single slice for themselves!
Good grief, your favorite whipping post issue now shows up in a Town of Mount Desert squabble over affordable housing?!?
What’s next, President Biden contracting Covid-19 is an Ocean Properties conspiracy?
A one trick pony of grievance can be tiresome……
Larry who? Do you wear sunglasses and a fake beard when you go outside? A No Trick pony gets tiresome.
These objections by people with deep pockets to obstruct construction of badly-needed housing are despicable. Even in their own self-interest: Do these people think they will ever want to enjoy a restaurant meal or need an EMT? Housing for working people has reached a crisis level. And now in Tremont an investor has bought up over a dozen long-term rental properties to profit by renting them weekly. These rich people don't even live in our towns to see them boarded up all winter while working folks move off the Island.