Is San Pedro Getting A Battleship?
The USS Iowa, a historic battleship that served extensively in WWII and the Korean War, could be setting sail for San Pedro as early as this summer, according to plan supporters, if the Navy decides to relocate the vessel currently berthed near San Francisco, reports CBS.
In September, Los Angeles City Council approved a resolution to support berthing the historic battleship at the Port of Los Angeles, and on Saturday, dozens of supporters turned out for a rally that included a fireboat display and a flyover by World War II aircraft. Backers in favor or bringing the boat to Los Angeles say "the battleship could draw hundreds of thousands of tourists to San Pedro," notes CBS.
Providing a permanent home and museum for the historic craft is also expected to create hundreds of jobs in the surrounding community. Said LA Councilwoman Janice Hahn:
“I knew that this was really what we’ve been looking for, what we’ve been waiting for. Since I was elected in 2001 on the City Council, I’ve been wanting to read about this waterfront.”