Opinion

Lt. Gov. Tim Murray: Seaport revival holds great promise

By Tim Murray
Published: April 3, 2008

The following is adapted from an address delivered Tuesday, April 1, at the annual meeting of The Salem Partnership.

Even though I'm from Worcester, where the closest body of water is Lake Quinsigamond, one of the best parts of my job is working on maritime and seaport issues as chair of the state's Seaport Advisory Council.

Whether you are from Salem, Worcester or Pittsfield, Massachusetts residents have an inherent connection with the sea. Our collective history is that of a seafaring people.

From Hawthorne to Melville, right up to Junger's "Perfect Storm," our literature swells with the passions and the power of the sea. Painters, photographers and filmmakers remain inspired by the legacy of the sea trade that enriched early Massachusetts.

Growing up in Worcester, we learned that what turned our city from a small village into an industrial powerhouse was the connection to the sea dug by the sweat of a thousand immigrant laborers who carved the Blackstone Canal linking Worcester to Providence in 1828.

We call ourselves the "Bay State," and for good reason. With 1,500 miles of coastline and more than 5 million people living within 10 miles of the coast, our connection to the sea is impossible to ignore.

The sheer beauty of our coast, coupled with the rich history of every cove, bay and landing, brings tourists to Massachusetts from all over the county, indeed all over the world. From Derby Street here in Salem to Battleship Cove in Fall River; from Newburyport to Provincetown, maritime tourism is a major industry for Massachusetts, which we must continue to support and grow.

But tourism should not be our only focus — our Bay State is not some Disney-like representation of a seaport. We have the real thing.

In Gloucester this afternoon, we were talking about how to help the local fishing industry. We're doing similar work in New Bedford, which has been the most profitable fishing port in the United States for years, but which still has tremendous potential for growth and innovation.

Salem has played a central role in the maritime history of the commonwealth. And given the global economy we must now compete in, with Asia on the rise and supply chains stretching across the oceans, I find it compelling that Salem's motto — "To the farthest port of the rich East" — remains relevant today.

Massachusetts must compete in a global economy, and we must leverage all of our resources to do so, including our seaports.

For example, I've been talking with many people lately about developing a short-sea shipping network from our ports, which would be another way to encourage smart economic growth in our coastal communities and alleviate some truck traffic on our highways.

I believe we have a responsibility to be good stewards of our great costal resources. But I also believe that we can build upon our connections with the sea in ways that can better our economy and improve our communities.

Over the last few years the Seaport Advisory Council has authorized millions for the growth and development of Salem Harbor, and I want you to know that the Patrick-Murray administration remains firmly committed to this exciting and important effort. The most recent updates to the harbor plan proposed by the city are now under review by our administration, and we're on track to have action on that plan this spring. The convergence of support around the Salem Harbor Plan is exactly what I look for when evaluating the state's role in a community or economic development project.

Government can't, and frankly shouldn't, try to do it all. Sometimes the best thing government can do is get out of the way. But in many cases, government can be the catalyst.

With limited strategic investment, and through active and engaged leadership, government can play an important role in fostering a climate that facilitates economic growth. That's what's happening here in Salem.

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Tim Murray is lieutenant governor of the commonwealth.