4 days ago
Why is the USS The Sullivans' dry docking being delayed?
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — While the USS The Sullivans have survived war, time and tens of thousands of miles, another winter Buffalo's waterfront may be its most dangerous battle yet.
The community, Buffalo city leaders and Paul Marzello, the president of the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park, spoke about what is hopefully in store for future restoration efforts after the announcement of another dry docking delay.
'We've got $21 million to move forward and we're getting the question all the time. 'Why aren't we moving forward?' Marzello said. 'The simple answer is, we don't control the process. The city owns the ships. The city owns the buildings. The city owns the grounds. It's a city park.'
After the ships partially sank in April, 14, 2022, New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes announced $500,000 and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer secured $7.5 million in funding for repairs. Gov. Kathy Hochul also announced $10 million to repair the ships in August 2024.
Marzello said due to holdups on the city level of insurance and 'administrative challenges,' plans to drydock and restore the historic ships have been pushed back to October 2026 at the earliest. He also said the city and the council chose a marine engineering firm in February to handle the project.
'That's where we are now. Nothing has been done for the last four months,' he said. ' It's very frustrating for our board, for us as an organization.'
'The city is moving diligently to put over $20 million in funding towards this project,' said Nate Marton, Buffalo's Department of Public Workers commissioner, in a statement WIVB News 4.
Marton said there are no deadlines in place that the city has missed at this time.
Buffalo Common Council Member Mitch Nowakowski said he works closely with the naval park and understands this is a big task.
'That's where I'm going to step in as a district member to say, 'Hey, where are we and how do we move this timeline to make sure that these assets are protected?' Nowakowski said. 'Why I have such confidence in the naval park is the dedication they have on their board and their executive director, so if they're showing us engineering reports that there needs to be an expeditious timeline to make sure that these are saved, I'm yielding to their expertise.'
Visitors of the naval park said on Wednesday that they believe the ships need to be cared for to ensure they don't just become a part of Buffalo's past history.
'My grandpa was in the Navy and it was his captain's ship and I remember hearing stories from him, so [it's] really cool just to be able to visit the history and explore the area,' said Hamburg resident Hannah Meader.
Others said the ships should remain in Buffalo.
'The history behind the Sullivans — every mother's heartbreak is in that ship. We really need to keep this — the ships, the planes, everything,' said Akron resident Margie Keller. 'It's so important for history for everybody to remember and for the little kids that don't know about it, it's just phenomenal. It breaks my heart to think we might lose them.'
City leaders and naval park officials said they have similar goals in mind when it comes to the restoration project.
To see all of News 4's past coverage on the USS The Sullivans, click here.
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