Governor Announces $5 Million for Stricken Tourism Industry
Tom Escher, President of the Red & White fleet, scion of the Crowley maritime family and Fishermen’s Wharf fixture.
Published: November, 2001
Governor Gray Davis came to Fishermen’s Wharf this month to announce $5 million in redirected funding for promotion and advertising designed to attract locals. The hope is to fill the gap created by folks from further away who are choosing to not travel just now.
Eight out of ten visitors to San Francisco make it onto a ferryboat, so it was only fitting that the event took place at Fishermen’s Wharf. In response to a question asking if the important role ferries played in the rescue efforts after the World Trade Center terrorist attacks has served to increase the importance of ferries in his mind, the Governor replied, "I didn’t need a terrorist attack to remind me how important ferries are. I got $12 million to study a comprehensive regional ferry plan by creating the WTA".
Lon S. Hatamiya (right), Secretary of the California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency, the state agency overseeing the California Tourism Bureau, assigned the responsibility by Governor Davis of spurring tourism promotions.
Hot shot editor Bobby Winston displaying his true talents in front of Red’s Java Hut on San Francisco’s Embarcadero.
