For the first time in 22 years, the US Navy won't be sending their ships to Port Everglades for Fleet Week. Sequestration rears it's ugly head again; last month the Thunderbirds pulled out of the Lauderdale Air and Sea Show; and now thousands of sea men and women won't be coming to town.
Fleet Week, which starts on April 29, will be missing the Navy this year. The events will go on; sponsors have some $500K invested in the week-long festivities, but instead of the usual "fleet", local military veterans will be honored.
Fort Lauderdale was scheduled to have 2 Destroyers, a submarine and a Coast Guard Cutter in port. That's a couple of thousand seaman that won't be in town.
Fleet week usually generates about $4 million for the local economy. It's not a crushing loss. But it won't be the same.