Taxpayers’ Yacht?

Los Angeles has its own $1,000,000 yacht. It costs close to $300,000 a year to staff it. It needs about $700,000 in upgrades. The city’s bureaucrats in charge tried to avoid a reporter’s questions. It didn’t work.

Yes, it’s a boondoggle. There are probably millions of them in America. But this one is photogenic.

What is the justification for the yacht? It stimulates trade, the mayor said — after he denied that it is a yacht. It’s a boat. Right. A 73-foot boat.

Jean Shepherd, who wrote A Christmas Story, once defined a yacht this way: “It’s a boat that doesn’t do anything.” His father told him that when he was a kid. That’s pretty accurate.

The port bought the yacht in 1988. So, it’s a 24-year boondoggle. A reporter only now found out about it.

The yacht is used for public relations tours.

Now that there has been a news story on it, there will be more requests for free rides.

Taxpayers are being taken for a ride. It’s not free. Two captains: $147,000 salaries. Ceck hands: $106,000. Fuel and maintenance: $32,000.

It needs new engines: $469,000. Where will the money come from? There is the U.S. government’s $469,000 to promote jobs. Then another $200,000 from the Port of Los Angeles.