From: Dan Blanchard
To: Commission-Public-Records
Subject: [EXTERNAL] FW: Fishermen"s Terminal Rent Holiday for UnCruise Adventures and others
Date: Monday, April 27, 2020 4:30:09 PM
Attachments: image001.png
WARNING: This is an external email. Do not click on links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and
expect the content of this email to be safe.
FYI….
From: Dan Blanchard <danb@uncruise.com>
Sent: Monday, April 27, 2020 4:27 PM
To: 'bowman.s@portseattle.org
' <bowman.s@portseattle.org>; 'calkins.r@portseattle.org'
<calkins.r@portseattle.org
>; 'cho.s@portseattle.org' <cho.s@portseattle.org>;
'felleman.f@portseattle.org
' <felleman.f@portseattle.org>; 'steinbrueck.p@portseattle.org'
<steinbrueck.p@portseattle.org
>; 'merritt.m@portseattle.org' <merritt.m@portseattle.org>;
'pritchard.a@portseattle.org
' <pritchard.a@portseattle.org>; 'white.p@portseattle.org'
<white.p@portseattle.org
>; 'Vann.t@portseattle.org' <Vann.t@portseattle.org>
Cc: 'Rich Bushnell' <rich@bbks.com
>; 'Joe Arya' <josepharya@gmail.com>; 'Greg Reid'
<greg@reidsigns.com
>; 'John Burreson' <highlinerpub@gmail.com>; 'Sara McNally'
<sara@constellationco.com
>; 'Wild Salmon Seafood Market' <paula@wildsalmonseafood.com>;
'admin@cookandbartlett.com
' <admin@cookandbartlett.com>
Subject: Fishermen's Terminal Rent Holiday for UnCruise Adventures and others
April 27, 2020
Dear Port of Seattle Commissioners,
My company, UnCruise Adventures, has been a tenant at Fishermen’s Terminal for 17 years.
We closed our offices in March, as did most of the tenants at Fishermen’s Terminal. Prior to
Covid-19 we employed 81 office staff and 360 crew members that frequent restaurants,
stores and services at the Terminal. We also keep up to eight of our US Flag Passenger Ships
at Fishermen’s Terminal during the off-season and rent an additional six storage areas from
the Port. We are the largest employer and tenant at Fisherman’s Terminal. There is no
doubt that my staff plays a big part in keeping businesses at the Terminal humming along
during normal economic times.
I am requesting a Full Rent Holiday for the months of March, April, May, June and July
2020. UnCruise Adventures stands to lose our entire Alaska season due to COVID-19. Our
sales have dropped to near zero, with cancellations out pacing new business 8 to 1. We have
very little hope of earning any revenue until May of 2021 when our boats depart to Alaska.
Being a highly capitalized business (like airlines, trains, busses etc.) we cannot completely shut
our business down, save on expense and restart in a short period of time. We must meet
inspection schedules, haulout needs and maintenance regardless if we sail or not. As you are
aware, the travel market has completely gone flat with a grim short-term future in front of us.
Sales lost during this time will not be recouped, we will have to regenerate sales from scratch.
I understand the policy in place concerning a Rent Holiday and how this could be considered a
“gift of public funds”. However, that was before we found ourselves in this unprecedented
circumstance of having the economy come to a full stop. In a memorandum dated March 17
th
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson wrote: “In general, constitutional restrictions on
use of public funds should not be an impediment to state and local efforts to combat COVID-
19, because expenditures being made in furtherance of this effort in this time of crisis further
fundamental public purposes, such as protecting the public health and welfare”. We defiantly
provide for public welfare by providing jobs, medical insurance and other needs or our loyal
team.
UnCruise Adventures and other businesses at Fisherman’s Terminal are in danger of failing. No
one knows how long it will take to get over this hump, but your immediate action may make
the difference between survival and failure. I implore you to do all you can to save
businesses that have been loyal long-term patrons of the Port of Seattle.
Choose to UnCruise,
Capt Dan
Captain Dan Blanchard | Owner & CEO
UnCruise Adventures - Define your un-ness.
3826 18
th
Avenue West Seattle, Washington 98119
Reservations: 888-862-8881
UnCruise.com
The information contained in this email and any attachment may be confidential and/or legally
privileged and has been sent for the sole use of the intended recipient. If you are not an intended
recipient, you are not authorized to review, use, disclose or copy any of its contents. If you have
received this email in error, please reply to the sender and destroy all copies of the message. Thank
you.
