Patrick T. Conley’s “Journal, city fumble ‘wilting waterfront’” (Sept. 30) Providence Journal letter to the editor contains a number of factually incorrect and misleading statements.

First, no adult entertainment establishment has ever been a member of the Providence Working Waterfront Alliance, nor has any such establishment ever contributed one cent to our efforts to preserve a vital marine-industrial neighborhood.

Second, Mr. Conley’s claim that “no new marine industrial business has been created on the waterfront since 1974” is incorrect.  J. Goodison Company is a full-service marine repair contractor which employs 19 people.  J. Goodison has partnered with Promet Marine for the past three years, and primarily operates from Promet’s pier. As a federal HUBZone contractor, J. Goodison has helped attract numerous Coast Guard repair contracts, and has hired and trained many employees from economically depressed areas of Providence.

Finally, it is a serious stretch to argue that Promet, a water-dependent marine repair shipyard is somehow not in compliance with the city’s W-3, Port/Maritime Industrial zoning. To quote from the definition of the W-3 district: “This zone is intended to promote the Port of Providence and related maritime industrial and commercial uses within the areas of Providence’s waterfront; to protect the waterfront as a resource for water-dependent industrial uses; and to facilitate the renewed use of a vital waterfront.”

Unlike Mr. Conley, the Providence Working Waterfront Alliance is committed to protecting and promoting our waterfront as a resource for water-dependent industrial businesses and the good paying blue collar jobs they provide.

The Providence Working Waterfront Alliance