Why did many of us find out about massive cruise ships coming to Yorktown, only when it was announced by Princess Cruise Lines? It has clearly been in the works for a long time. There are plans to use the Yorktown pier, plans to replace, and expand the dockmaster building, plans to build a new pier at the Waterman’s Museum, and plans are in place to bus tourists to Williamsburg for excursions.
County officials have been working on this for some time and clearly the Board of Supervisors was aware of this as they sent a letter requesting Commonwealth support for a multi-phase facility including a new pier to make Yorktown a cruise ship port-of-call; and yet, the public has been largely kept in the dark.
Did the county do due diligence on Princess Cruise Lines? Why would the county and Watermen's museum want to partner in business with a criminally negligent company? Were they aware of their convictions for pollution and cover up? Did county officials know that Friends of Earth, a non-profit that publishes a Cruise Ship Report Card gave Princess Cruises a D+ for Sewage Treatment, a D- for Water Quality, and an F for transparency? With an F for transparency, it is no surprise that Princess Cruise Lines has not been forthcoming with the public, but why county officials have moved forward on a project that could be character altering for Yorktown without citizen input, one can only speculate.
Preserve Yorktown!