Another Seafair update: No U.S. Navy Fleet this year, either

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from aboard USS Bunker Hill during 2012 Seafair Parade of Ships)
5:04 PM: In discussion of this morning’s Blue Angels cancellation announcement, one WSB’er asked if Seafair‘s Navy Fleet visits were still on – it’s had special West Seattle significance because of the Parade of Ships (here’s our 2012 coverage). We asked, and at the time, the Seafair spokesperson replied yes, as far as they knew. But now that’s changed, and they’ve just announced:

The U.S. Navy has confirmed that they are unable to provide ship visits for our fleet week due to federal budget cuts. Seafair Fleet Week will continue to emphasize military appreciation and include some component of visiting ships and Navy participation. Seafair will produce the Boeing Maritime Celebration again this summer to honor our men and woman in uniform as part of our fleet week activities. More information will be released in the coming weeks.

Keep in mind, this announcement just involves the U.S. Navy; Canadian military vessels have often participated.

6:58 PM: And to that point, Seafair says the Canadian Navy has reconfirmed its participation. Meantime, here’s what our regional U.S. Navy command says about all this.

Ray April 9, 2013 (6:36 pm)

You know, it is AMAZING how many excuses the Obama administration can apply to ONLY $69 billion dollars in “reductions in growth of spending” as these were not ACTUALLY cuts.

Shameful the level of politics at play here.

West Seattle Hipster April 9, 2013 (6:49 pm)

Balancing the budget isn’t easy. Is a visit by the Navy truly necessary?

Craig April 9, 2013 (7:00 pm)

For someone who recently retired from the military and witnessed waste beyond imagine, I believe the cancellations of these PR events held by the various branches is completely justified. What doesn’t make sense to me though, is the clear prioritization of these cuts in an attempt to keep some wasteful programs while driving home the consequences of the sequester. You asked for it, you got it.

W April 9, 2013 (7:37 pm)

Well, it sure is nice of Canada, at least, to show up to the party. They seem to manage to keep the lights on up there. Is nobody else a bit embarrassed that a city this size can’t afford a fireworks display for the 4th – or that we have to do fleet week with only the Canadians because our own navy can’t afford to show up? If we’re really this poor, I can think of a few other things we could do without…

dsa April 9, 2013 (8:17 pm)

Bummer, I wish I could do the prioritization.

Mike April 9, 2013 (8:31 pm)

You want less government? You want to cut government spending? This is it.

Ex-Westwood Resident April 9, 2013 (8:36 pm)

Most federal employees are facing a 10% forced reduction in hours (4 hours per 40 hour work week) which will lead to a 10% reduction in their pay. The VAST majority of federal employees make UNDER $50,000 per year.
Military units/squadrons (NOT demonstration units like the Blue Angles, Thunderbirds and Black Knights) are unable to meet their deployment/training commitments. Ships overhauls/refueling are being delayed or cancelled.
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The cuts were NOT cuts. The tax revenue for 2012 was OVER $2,7 TRILLION, the highest in US history. The cuts were a reduction of the budget INCREASES for 2013 that was spread over Gov’t agencies.
The Sequestration WAS written by the Obama Administration, passed in Congress and SIGNED in to law by Obama.
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Our elected Congress critters make OVER $174,000 per year.
The “sequestration cuts” are effecting ALL government agencies EXCEPT for members of Congress and the Executive Branch.
In Jan, the First Family was finishing their Christmas vacation in Hawaii. Later in the month the First Lady and her daughters went to Colorado on a ski vacation, Obama went to Florida to play golf with Tiger Woods. In March the First Family and some of Sasha and Malia’s friends went to the Bahamas, then to Idaho for skiing. Michelle is planning her 50th B-Day party where Beyoncé will be performing. Tonight there was an invitation only “Soul Celebration at the White House. In Feb Biden went to London and Paris at a cost of OVER $1 MILLION.
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Want to solve this in 30 minutes?
EASY, Congress, President, Vice President ALL have their pay cut to ZERO until they pass a BALANCED BUDGET that ALSO address the ~$17 TRILLION debt.
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EVERYONE of those “elected” officials have forgotten that they represent the PEOPLE and NOT special interest groups or political ideology.
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Now the US Navy can’t even send a ship to Seattle for our “Fleet” week, but Canada can. How EMBARASSING is THAT!!!
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I am SICK and TIRED of these “elites” taking from US and giving to BS causes. I wonder what could have been done with the $MILLIONS that was spent on the Obama’s FOUR vacations and Biden’s vacation to London and Paris!!!
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Some may think I’m only blaming the Democrats, but this is an issue that crosses party line. THEY ARE ALL TO BLAME!!!!

Grow up April 9, 2013 (9:02 pm)

Oh please. Simple-minded thinking like ex-westwood’s is what got us into this mess. We need to cut the military budget, and fluff like the Blue Angels is a good place to start. One of their silly shows probably costs more in fuel than the congressional salaries and all of the President’s “vacations” combined. (After all, The president never really goes on vacation)

As for the fireworks show, what about the Chamber of Commerce? Why can’t they step up?

Dave April 9, 2013 (9:19 pm)

While I completely support cutting our bloated military I am assuming that these cuts to popular programs are designed to make the electorate scream so that the budget can be increased next year “because it’s what the people want”. Instead of cutting actual waste like the f-35 joint strike fighter that will cost nearly 4 TRILLION by the time the program is finished, for a plane no one wants.

Tracy White April 9, 2013 (9:55 pm)

Hey Grow up – put up or shut up. Source me the salaries and the show costs. Pulling “facts” out of your exhaust isn’t helpful to any useful debate.

Kap April 9, 2013 (10:14 pm)

You all shut your pie holes. This just plain sucks!

My family very much enjoys all of Fleet Week.

Feel like I have just got some Fleet up the back side after hearing this.

G April 9, 2013 (10:26 pm)

We need cuts across sectors of government. The redundancies and waste is mind-boggling.

Bink April 9, 2013 (10:26 pm)

I’m just sad for my son and daughter. I’m older now so like some of you I can understand how we needed budget cuts but this to me was always for the children and now like most other things they won’t get to see it or experience it, that to me is sad. You say its a waste of money but when you were a kid I bet you weren’t thinking that, you were being inspired and who knows how many of those kids grew up hoping to be a pilot or be in the navy.. Thanks to the canadians we will have some ships to look at.. Hopefully my son wont move to canada.. Jk

Guy April 9, 2013 (10:45 pm)

Join the military and you’ll get all the Fleet Week you need! The are cutting the Blue Angels off, not your arm! Go camping or something!

Ajax April 9, 2013 (11:10 pm)

Maybe Chris Hansen could pay for Seafair and the fireworks.

bolo April 9, 2013 (11:15 pm)

Canada’s financial situation is much better than the USA’s. Stricter Canadian banking regulations did not allow Canadian banks to play with derivatives and other risky behaviors like the US banks did, which were major factors in the recent (US) financial crisis. Additionally, stricter Canadian housing mortgage regulations kept that part of the Canadian economy on a more even keel. The recent financial crisis was not felt much in Canada.

Maybe that is one reason The Canadian Navy will be able to participate instead of the US Navy?

LivesInWS April 10, 2013 (8:34 am)

Perhaps Wall Street could fork over a pittance for the Navy visits.

Better yet, if we had regs on them as did Canada and Iceland we wouldn’t be in quite this mess.

But it will be mercifully much more calm without the screaming Blue Angels.

brian April 10, 2013 (9:59 am)

“I’ve got a solution to all of the nation’s budget problems… better post a comment on a blog. That’ll fix it.”

Guy April 10, 2013 (11:32 am)

Haha Brian!!

brian April 10, 2013 (11:34 am)

ALSO: LOL @ Iceland as a shining beacon of fiscal responsibility

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008%E2%80%932011_Icelandic_financial_crisis

Joe April 10, 2013 (12:43 pm)

While I am no fan of the current administration I have no problem with these kinds of events being cut to help save money/reduce spending. I wish they would cut other things instead that are wasteful instead of this but it’s still justifed.

M April 10, 2013 (1:56 pm)

Maybe Obama could cut out one of his vacations.

Like I did

Peter on Fauntleroy April 10, 2013 (1:56 pm)

“What do you do with a drunken sailor?” would seem to be a moot question this year.

Eldrad April 10, 2013 (9:16 pm)

GREAT! Less war machine propaganda and wasted resources this year.

(The right wing can take solace in knowing that at least a lot of money is being taken from education, environment protection, science research and the like.)

Sorry, comment time is over.