Tall ships organizers
scale back event

BOSTON - Organizers of this summer's tall ships visit to Boston say they will scale back the event because of a dispute with the city over how to pay for public safety and cleanup costs.

Sail Boston officials tell The Boston Globe they will cut the number of ships coming to port, reduce the number of docks used and their time in port, and charge a fee for people who want to board the vessels.

The original plan had been to bring 50 ships to Boston Harbor.

Mayor Tom Menino says the city cannot afford to pay for police and cleanup crews. The city was stuck with a $1.6 million bill the last time tall ships sailed into Boston Harbor in 2000.

Sail Boston had said it would raise the money itself, but missed a city-imposed deadline earlier this week.


Information from: The Boston Globe, http://www.boston.com/globe