In an interview with North Alabama radio’s WVNN, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle made the case as to why those in Huntsville should support efforts to expand the Port of Mobile, even though it is over 300 miles away from the Rocket City.
Battle’s remarks were in response to the suggestion by some that proceeds from a proposed future gas tax increase be used in part to fund the port’s expansion.
The Huntsville mayor explained that goods produced in Huntsville would make it to market more efficiently if the port were expanded.
“I think you got to say by helping Mobile, you’re helping Huntsville,” Battle said on Monday’s broadcast of “The Jeff Poor Show.” “We are going to be bringing in or shipping out parts, shipping cars out from the Mazda-Toyota project or from Toyota Motor Manufacturing, as we send them down 65 on those 18-wheelers and they hit the port. If they have the capacity for bigger containerized cargo, it helps their shipping costs be a little less, and it helps us with our balance of trade, where they can actually sell things from Huntsville, Alabama that are sold all over the world.”
“So, I think there’s a good argument – if we have bigger containerized cargo being able to come in there, it lowers your shipping costs, and it gives us goods that cost a little bit less,” he added. “But it also helps us sell goods at a lower price throughout the world. That helps everybody.”
@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University, the editor of Breitbart TV and host of “The Jeff Poor Show” from 2-5 p.m. on WVNN in Huntsville.
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