Brownsville’s annual cruise might stop
BROWNSVILLE – The annual chamber river cruise held last week attracted 148 people and was deemed a success, but the chamber board is considering whether the annual cruise should continue. While the cruise has never been a money-maker for the Greater Brownsville Area Chamber of Commerce, cost increases from the Gateway Clipper Fleet left the chamber nearly $1,300 in debt, even after the chamber sold advertising in the event program, according to chamber Executive Director Scott Bowman.
“It’s exactly what we expected it to be. We kept the price at $35 a ticket and said the chamber would underwrite the rest of it,” said chamber President Frank Ricco. “We cannot keep underwriting it.”
Ricco said the Gateway Clipper Fleet hit the chamber with significant cost increases this year, including $450 for the band and payment for each of the bartenders, even though it was a cash bar, with the fleet making all the profit on it.
“The $190 fuel surcharge I don’t mind, but then they tacked on $890 for travel expenses,” Ricco said.
The Gateway Clipper travels from Pittsburgh to Brownsville to pick up the passengers for the annual cruise, with the passengers boarding at the Brownsville Wharf Riverside Park. Ricco had said at a previous meeting that the Clipper Fleet added the fees to cover staffing costs for the trips from Pittsburgh and back without passengers.
The chamber board members decided to send out a survey with this year’s dues notifications to see if chamber members want to continue the cruise and if so, when it should be held and whether the price should be increased or fund-raisers held to offset the expense.
The cruise was recently moved to coincide with the reunion week in Brownsville, but Ricco said few if any people attending the various high school class reunions are going on the cruise.
In other matters, Ricco said the chamber would be interested in partnering with the Brownsville Area Revitalization Corp. for next year’s community festival. The chamber in years past had sponsored a community festival in downtown Brownsville.
Brownsville Mayor Norma Ryan said the biggest hit at the festival this year was a portable climbing wall, but finances limited its availability to one hour.
“If we work together and back every project, we can make something happen,” Ricco said.
The next event on the chamber’s calendar is the annual Light-Up Night, the Friday after Thanksgiving.
Ricco said he is accepting white or clear plastic gallon milk jugs to be used for luminaries.