San Francisco Shuns Retired USS Iowa

I am in complete shock over this? WTH are they thinking...Glad the Presidio was pulled and the US Military should totally leave the area.

By BRIAN SKOLOFF
Associated Press Writer

SAN FRANCISCO

The USS Iowa joined in battles from World War II to Korea to the Persian Gulf. It carried President Franklin Roosevelt home from the Teheran conference of allied leaders, and four decades later, suffered one of the nation's most deadly military accidents.

Veterans groups and history buffs had hoped that tourists in San Francisco could walk the same teak decks where sailors dodged Japanese machine-gun fire and fired 16-inch guns that helped win battles across the South Pacific.

Instead, it appears that the retired battleship is headed about 80 miles inland, to Stockton, a gritty agricultural port town on the San Joaquin River and home of California's annual asparagus festival.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., a former San Francisco mayor, helped secure $3 million to tow the Iowa from Rhode Island to the Bay Area in 2001 in hopes of making touristy Fisherman's Wharf its new home.

But city supervisors voted 8-3 last month to oppose taking in the ship, citing local opposition to the Iraq war and the military's stance on gays, among other things.

"If I was going to commit any kind of money in recognition of war, then it should be toward peace, given what our war is in Iraq right now," Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi said.



Oh it gets even better, check this out and I quote

Feinstein called it a "very petty decision."

"This isn't the San Francisco that I've known and loved and grew up in and was born in," Feinstein said.


Well no kidding to that one and she has HELPED it happen! Her and BOXER both.

Im not surprised. the Navy tried to base the ship at Hunters Point in the 80's in the city which would have had required billions in improvments to handle the battle group, but the protest groups got it killed and the Navy eventualy shut down the yard. Oakland or the former base at Alameda would be great options for the the Iowa. i for one would like a tour

[edit on 8/21/05 by FredT]

What about the great Senator and her brilliant words.

This isnt like the SF I grew up in? WTH? No kidding.

And to think they even tried to BAN recruiters from schools. That place is a joke and a true non representation of America. Its the fringe.........


If I were the DoD, I would cease ALL activity there, including Fleet Week and I would BAN ALL Military personel from even going there.....

just my opinion though.