In a heartwarming update to an earlier Tourism News item, The City Council of Long Beach, CA has rejected a proposal that would have sent the Queen Mary to Tokyo, Japan.

Instead, it will stay here in Long Beach, where the former British luxury liner belongs. The idea had been considered because it would have helped raise the $32 million necessary to repair the 61-year old vessel.

The counsel voted 6-3 vote against a request by Queen Mary operator Joseph Prevratil to tow the ship to Tokyo Bay, where it would have operated as a gambling casino.

As part of the deal, Long Beach would have received an additional $5 million for every year the liner stayed in Japan. Supporters said the money was too good to pass up. But critics said that the Queen Mary was an irreplaceable Long Beach landmark, and that some things are worth more than filthy Pacific Rim campaign finance-style lucre.

"The best thing we can do is send a clear and strong message that the Queen Mary isn't going anywhere," Councilman Jerry Shultz said.

While stalwarts like Shultz stand firm, a suddenly (and coincidentally?) weakening of the US dollar versus the Japanese yen will make it harder to resist the siren call of even more money.

[05/18/1997]