Photo: Jim MacKay/WBZ NewsRadio
SCITUATE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The decision to close a seasonal U.S. Coast Guard station in Scituate is facing near-universal opposition from South Shore communities, harbormasters, and those in Congress.
The Coast Guard announced on June 9 that it will close four stations in the country, one of them being Scituate Station. They cited faster response times and boating safety improvements have led to some stations like Scituate becoming redundant.
Officials, however, do not agree.
Speaking at a "Save Our Station" rally at Scituate Harbor Tuesday, Marshfield Harbormaster Michael DiMeo said that local estimates on response time changes should the station close "are directly contrary to many of the assumptions the Coast Guard made in doing this."
Congressman Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08) and Congressman Bill Keating (MA-09) were also present at the rally.
"We all know the extraordinary job that those people representing us in the Coast Guard do day-to-day," said Keating. "Response time is critical in that regard."
"It seems counterintuitive that we're giving them extra money, extra resources, and they're considering doing less," noted Lynch.
Congressmen Lynch and Keating will be meeting with Coast Guard First District Commander Rear Admiral Thomas G. Allan to discuss the closure.
WBZ's Jim MacKay (@JimMacKayOnAir) reports.
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