NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — The 104th annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade begins Wednesday night, but there may be fewer lights than in years past.
Last week, the city approve an increase in rental fees for residential docks that protrude over public tidelands, sparking a furor among residents.
It also prompted calls to boycott the boat parade and associated festival of lights by a group calling itself “Stop the Dock Tax.”
“It costs us thousands of dollars to voluntarily decorate our homes and boats to bring holiday smiles to nearly 1 million people,” organization Chairman Bob McCaffrey wrote to the city.
“This year, we are turning off our lights and withdrawing our boats in protest of the massive new dock tax we expect the City Council to levy.”
Others have recoiled at the proposed boycott, which they call “ridiculous.” They say the majority of people in harbor-front homes will still have their lights on.
The Christmas Boat Parade began in 1908, when a single gondola led eight canoes lit up by Japanese lanterns around the harbor.
It has now grown to include dozens of boats that circle past the decorated harbor-front homes, some ferrying paying customers.
The parade runs nightly every day through Sunday, Dec. 23, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
8 Comments to “Newport Boat Parade May Be Dimmed by Boycott”
December 19, 2012 at 7:56 AM
as Clarence responded I'm blown away that a person able to make $7963 in four weeks on the computer. did you read this web page jump15.comCHECK IT OUT
December 19, 2012 at 9:20 AM
WONDER WHY THE BIASED MEDIA THINKS THIS IS ACTUALLY A NEWS STORY?……WONDER WHY THEY REFUSE TO DO REAL NEWS STORIES ABOUT ILLEGAL UNDOCUMENTED MEXICAN COMMON CRIMINAL IMMIGRATION AND ENDLESS STORIES OF MEXICAN CRIME THAT IS ABSOLUTELY OUT OF CONTROL ALL OVER SOCAL?…AND STORIES ABOUT MEXICANS BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR 90% OF ALL THE VIOLENT CRIME IN SOCAL?…….WONDER WHY THEY REFUSE TO DO THOSE STORIES?……….GUESS ITS EASIER TO DO A STORY ABOUT LIGHTS ON BOATS!!!…LOL
December 19, 2012 at 12:11 PM
Merry Christmas to you scrouges too.
December 19, 2012 at 12:36 PM
Brought to you by the same city that charges an "Emergency Service" tax on all non-HB-residents.
There is a good reason for all the Huntington Beach taxes: a masturbation tax would be too difficult to enforce…
December 19, 2012 at 12:37 PM
This was also on the front page of the LA Times the other day along with pictures of the first funerals for two of the young victims of the Newtown. REALLY? Like I care about a bunch of rich people upset because their dock tax is going up.
December 19, 2012 at 6:24 PM
Then lets raise you car tax. Or house tax. Then suddenly you'll care. Or if your on the doll, maybe not.
December 19, 2012 at 2:25 PM
Ann and Mark why did you read the article if you feel so strongly that it is junk. In fact why do you read at all? So you can have something to bich about? The fact that you state the articles are junk but you read them pretty much tells it all… about you.
December 19, 2012 at 10:49 PM
I think is really sucks that the city is charging more tax, when hey your well off, you already pay for the area you live in, that's your choice.. But in this time of year and what has transpired in the last week., we all need some kind of light in our lives. We all are going through a rough econimical time… As for this being in the news the same day as the funerals..NOT COOL..This is Christmas time, a time for giving! If a boat parade can bring some peace and hope to people and those children who have no idea what just transpired in CT, we owe our little ones the spirit of Christmas and the gift of giving. HUG and KISS your child(ren) because we never know when anyone will leave us GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND "MERRY CHRISTMAS". JESUS is the REASON for this SEASON.