One way or another the City is about to be out of the cruise ship business. Okay, let the Navy have the Mole back. Then raise disembarkation fees by 100 percent (which would actually be closer to market rate than we're charging now, thanks to Rossi's sweetheart relationship with the cruise industry).

What's to lose? The city's making no money from Pier B and very little from Mallory Square. Time to just get out of this cheap floating trailer park business and move on with the Malling of Duval and the attraction of an upscale tourist market.

So...let's see: Historic Tours of America......makes $530,000.00 each year......simply doing shuttles from Navy Pier.....plus they gain from individual tours and private charters from these ships as well. The "City".......only makes $559, 449.00........only $29, 449.00 more......and incurs all of the liability, as well as having to provide a Police check point manned by numerous officers as well as a Private security service as well? So......how much does 'the City" NET......after all of that? NOT MUCH. HOW STUPID IS THIS? Let HTA lease the facility......and make whatever they make. We can't AFFORD to run this pier when you really think about it......especially after reading their actual numbers. Let HTA lease it......and let a private company run it just like the Westin/Walsh group does. I would REALLY like to know exactly how little "the City" NETS.....after paying all of the cops and insurances. I'll bet it's running at a LOSS. This is BS. There is something else going on behind the scenes. This .....sounds line another "City" endorsed Trojan horse.....because that's exactly what it is.

Wonder if all the complaints from the County Commission about the Navy air traffic had anything to do with the decision to bid this out. Don't mess with the FEDS!