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The federal sequester—much balleyhooed prior to its deadline but as-yet relatively benign—has just become all-too real.

Portland news outlets that apparently subscribe to a naval mailing list we missed are reporting Portland’s Fleet Week, that annual bastion of maritime pomp, will be partly crippled this summer. The reason: the sequester-strapped US Navy doesn’t have the funds to pay Portland or Seattle a visit.

According to the Portland Rose Festival website, the fleet was expected to cruise into town—afflicting commuters with lengthy bridge lifts and bestirring the corpse-strewn muck of the Willamette— on June 4 and depart June 10.

That might still be true of US Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy vessels, which festival organizers reportedly still expect. Come on, though. Canadian sailors?

From KGW:

“We appreciate the community’s understanding during these uncertain budgetary times,” Navy Region Northwes Commander Rear Adm. Mark Rich said. “We will continue to find ways to engage locally, in keeping with Department of Defense guidance. We are thankful for what Seattle, Portland, and our community partners do to support our service men and women every day and look forward to continuing to work with those partners now, and in the future.”

I'm a news reporter for the Mercury. I've spent a lot of the last decade in journalism — covering tragedy and chicanery in the hills of southwest Missouri, politics in Washington, D.C., and other matters...

8 replies on “There Goes Summer: Fleet Week Partially Canceled”

  3. Well Dirk…
    Clearly you known absolutely nothing about the Rose Festival or anything else maritime. Where are you from? Missouri?

    “Come on, though. Canadian sailors?”

    I know working for the Mercury, you make a living trying to epitomize snarkyness But you are just making an idiot of yourself.

    The Canadians have been coming down for years and are nothing short of brilliant.

    All Canadian Ships ala the British Royal Navy, have bars on board and are THE place to party during Rose Festival. U.S. Navy ships are dry….and dull. Too bad you wouldn’t get an invite, I’m sure seafarers with an incredibly long and proud history would spot a wanker like you a league over the horizon.

  5. Well this further kills my fantasy/devastating need for a man in dress whites. A Canadian sailor would certainly suffice, however. But this time sequestration has gone too far. Bar sluts unite!

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