Tag Archives: Mayor Mitchell

Mayor Mitchell brags about New Bedford’s port status, but endorses projects that hurt fishing industry

“This was a really sad day for us. After 24 years of docking our lobster/fishing boats at Marine Hydraulics, the City of New Bedford has decided to eliminate 15 small commercial fishing berths to build the North Terminal. Ironically, the mayor said the project will add much-needed commercial fishing berths. Please explain??! I understand the need for the city to expand and adapt to future technologies but don’t totally displace the industry that put us on the map for the last 22 years and longer, especially small family businesses. >click to read< by Jarret Drake 16:34

New Bedford Port Authority Probed by Feds Over Grant Application

A federal grant application submitted by the New Bedford Port Authority is the subject of an investigation by the U.S. Commerce Department’s Office of the Inspector General. The probe was initiated in October of 2020, according to Port Authority General Counsel Blair S. Bailey. Bailey did not say if the investigation is continuing, or what findings, if any were rendered by the OIG. Another source confirmed that the probe is ongoing. >click to read< 09:37

Montigny rains on SouthCoast leaders’ wind lobbying effort

Sen. Mark Montigny takes a different view of the latest round of offshore wind bidding than New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell and some 40 other SouthCoast leaders. “While we all want to see developers provide direct local investments, they must be able to do so without placing an undue burden on ratepayers,” “What matters most at this time is ensuring this nascent industry can get off the ground alongside commercial fishing, which is not guaranteed,” >click to read< 17:41

Wind turbines and fishing nets fight for offshore space

Vineyard Wind,,,  In 2010, BOEM launched an initiative dubbed “Smart from the Start,” which aimed to steer wind development away from prime fishing areas, shipping lanes and sensitive marine habitat prior to leasing.,,, New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell. “There are some squid fishermen, mostly from Rhode Island, and some lobstermen who fish in there, but the value of the area’s annual fish landings is modest, especially compared to the lease areas proposed off of New York.”,,, Also important: Few members of New Bedford’s scallop fleet fish in the waters off Massachusetts.,,,But if scallopers can live with offshore wind development off Massachusetts, others are vehemently opposed. Rhode Island fishermen trawl for squid in the area.  >click to read< 09:19

New Bedford Mayor Mitchell sends NOAA letter requesting Rafael permits stay in New Bedford

Mayor Jon Mitchell penned a letter to NOAA regarding Carlos Rafael’s permits, (click here to read the letter) a day after Maine’s congressional delegation signed a letter regarding the permits. In an argument consisting of four pages, Mitchell provided legal precedent for the Department of Justice and NOAA to punish Rafael, while also keeping the 13 fishing permits in question in New Bedford. He likens Rafael’s case to those cases involving wrongdoing by the head of a large business. He states, “It is common for the government to tailor punishment so as to avoid harm to others who were not involved.” Rafael’s business employ 285 fishermen. Mitchell suggested Rafael sell his entire business to other New Bedford companies, forfeiting the proceeds to the government. It would entirely exclude Rafael from fishing despite possessing more permits than the 13 in question.  click here to read the story 11:33

Top fisheries regulator blends into the crowd at Working Waterfront Festival

new bedford WWF EcIn the closing hours of a picture-perfect day for the New Bedford Waterfront Festival, about 15 pretty important people were meeting in a stuffy, windowless third-floor conference room up three flights of stairs at the State Pier building. NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries Eileen Sobeck. She was here at the invitation of Mayor Mitchell, and the arrangements were done pretty quietly. Former Mayor John Bullard was there because, as he is now regional administrator for NOAA Fisheries in the Northeast, Sobek is his boss. He deferred all questions to her. Read the rest here 07:16