LAKE HAVASU CITY, AZ - If the buying of the English Village by the city of Lake Havasu wasn’t enough to stir the fans of controversy, along comes Mayor Harvey Jackson’s proposal to ban mooring altogether in some sections of the channel. Business owners in the channel and elsewhere are outraged. One called on the mayor to “stop raining on everyone else’s parade.” (see Letters to Editor)
Mayor Jackson told onlookers at city hall yesterday that he sold his boat after 30 years on the lake. He especially couldn’t stand the heavy traffic and large boats jutting out in the channel and he says channel cruising “hasn’t been realistic in the summers” for some time now. He thinks it’s time to consider the community first.
Former mayor, Bob Whelan, who was ousted by Jackson during the recent recall election, says the mayor’s proposal is “shortsighted.” He says the city must consider what the effect would have on businesses and the sales tax. Whelan says obviously “tourism is our biggest industry” and “boaters are big spenders.” He believes just because boats have gotten bigger “doesn’t mean we stop them from going through the channel.”
Meanwhile, Jackson may have the votes. Councilman Allan Sturtevant agrees with the mayor, saying the south side of the channel is especially bad with boaters “leaving their boats running, drinking, and splashing around in the water.” He says he’s not currently for a total ban of mooring in the channel, but the issue is “still open for question.”
A so-called “moor-in” is set for Sunday in the channel at 1pm. Organizer Gregg Staples says, “it is our channel we’re not giving it up and we’re not going to let them take it away from us.”