Posted on by Californiacontrarian

“East” Vs. “West”

At first I was I a quandary as to which would be the more appropriate title for this piece. Should it be a Dickens-esque “A Tale of Two Cities” or should it be titled after an American country music group, “Asleep at the Wheel.” I finally decided on a more politically correct . . . “East vs.West.”

As background, presently the CDC is not allowing cruise ships to embark from or unload passengers in U.S. ports. At this point there is no hint that the CDC is going to change its stance and allow cruise ships to resume operations any time soon.

Today I read about the massive economic harm that the cruise ship shutdown has done to Los Angeles, and visa vi to the state of California.

As most of you are aware cruises have been suspended since March, 2020, and a resumption of U.S. passenger sailings has thus far not been scheduled.

From the Associated Press:

The Port of Los Angeles had 93 cruise cancellations in 2020, 

“According to the port, the cancellations have amounted to loss of nearly $100 million in economic activity on the waterfront. Each cruise ship call contributes about $1 million to local businesses and the economy.”

Now whereas I do not pretend to to be an economist, $100 million is no small change. The response to this continuing economic devastation to the Los Angeles area by the Governor of California has been basically what we in California have grown to expect . . .  ZIPPO, NADA, ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL!

Whereas on the opposite side of the country there is a governor who is not asleep at the wheel.

In Florida on 4/8/21 Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the state is “fighting back” against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, filing a lawsuit to allow cruise ships to start sailing again.

Florida has three of the world’s busiest cruise ship ports: Miami, Port Canaveral and Port Everglades. The industry employs thousands of workers and generates billions for the state’s economy as millions of people typically cruise from one of Florida’s ports each year. […]

“We don’t believe the federal government has the right to mothball a major industry for over a year based on very little evidence and very little data,” Gov. DeSantis said. “I think we have a good chance for success.”

Wow, can you believe it? This is a Tale of Two Cities (Los Angeles and Miami) that is being played out in real time. In one state on the East Coast, a governor that actually is paying attention to economics in his state. That same governor is actually doing something to attempt to get his citizens back to work.

In the other West Coast state . . . zzzzzz!

Although there are Disney theme parks in both California and Florida, on the West Coast we have a “hear no evil, speak no evil” Fantasyland, whereas in the another state on the East Coast, we have visionary Tomorrowland. Governor Newsom is quite rich. Perhaps he and his family should book a Disney Cruise, that may soon be leaving from the Port of Miami. 

127 Replies to ““East” Vs. “West””

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