Letter to Admiral Karl L. Schultz, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard - Schumer Reveals: Callous and Shortsighted Fed Process Threatens to Evict Sail Buffalo--a Local Sailing & Water Safety School--from Coast Guard-Owned Inner Harbor Site; Eviction Would Strip Wny Children & Teens of Invaluable Lake Erie Educational Resources; Senator Urges Coast Guard to Reverse Decision, Extend Lease and Be the Wind Behind Sail Buffalo

Letter

Dear Admiral Schultz,

I write to express my dismay at the Coast Guard's request that Sail Buffalo Sailing School vacate their present location on U.S. Coast Guard-owned land on Buffalo, New York's Inner Harbor. Sail Buffalo is a non-profit day-camp and sailing academy that teaches Western New York children to sail on and respect the Great Lakes. Located on the bend of the Inner Harbor across from the bustling Canalside area, Sail Buffalo's location and programming are ideal for educating the next generation of local sailors and should not be affected by any capital improvement plans for the nearby Coast Guard Exchange.

Sail Buffalo's footprint is small. Located on just a few acres, this sailing center has taken great strides to be a good neighbor and their operations do not interfere with the day-to-day operations of the Coast Guard. Since 2012, the staff has managed to create a community boating center that is both fun and educational for kids of all ages and backgrounds. With American Sailing Association (ASA) instructors and certification courses, programs like Sail Buffalo are making vital contributions to the landscape of the Great Lakes community. A bureaucratic decision to revoke their tenancy, despite their successes, is not in the interest of the community or the United States Coast Guard.

With this in mind, I request that Sail Buffalo's small parcel of land be excluded from any planned capital improvements made to the property and their lease be extended through the process. We simply cannot allow a bureaucratic process to derail the education and enrichment of hundreds of children and close public waterfront access to those who want to enjoy our region's greatest natural asset.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to your response. Please feel free to contact me or a member of my staff with any questions you may have.

Sincerely,

Source