Vote NO on Article 4
Don't Give Up Your Rights - Keep Citizen Cruise Ship Control
Protecting Our Community
Local Control Matters
Limiting mass cruise ship tourism will protect the health, community, and environment of Bar Harbor and Frenchman Bay for generations to come.
Retaining local control of cruise ship disembarkation in Bar Harbor will allow us - the townspeople - the right to decide how much is too much. We have only this one opportunity to hold on to local/citizen control over cruise ship visitation in our town.
Do not give the power to the Cruise Lines, and the Pier Owners (Ocean Properties), both mega corporations, and/or foreign flagged entities with no concern about congestion, pollution, or overcrowding in our community. Your vote is needed now more than ever.
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Local control - Local choice.
What will happen if Article 4 is approved?
The fight to control cruise ship traffic isn't just about numbers - it's about truth.
Article 4 will repeal the 1000 passengers a day disembarkation limit of current Land Use Ordinance 125-77(H).
Article 4’s daily passenger caps of 3200 (plus) in Chapter 50 will more than triple the current 1000 daily cap approved by the voters.
Passenger caps will not be able to be changed without the written agreement of the Cruise Lines.
If the Town Council decides to terminate contracts, the earliest this can go into effect is November 2029. No action will result in automatic renewal of these contracts indefinitely.
Article 4 will replace our Citizens' Initiative with Chapter 50, a new ordinance controlled by the Town Council, NOT Bar Harbor Voters.
Article 4 will give control to the Town Council, Cruise Lines and Pier Owners (Ocean Properties), not Bar Harbor Citizens. The cruise line and Pier Owners contracts both state that they cannot be affected by changes in Town laws or rules.
Article 4 limits the voter’s role to approving or disapproving the Town Council’s negotiated changes in the 3200 (plus) passenger cap, or their decision to terminate one or more contracts.
The Town will not be able to alter or supersede the terms and conditions in the Pier Owners (Ocean Properties) contract, without the written agreement of the Pier Owners.
The legality of the Citizens' Initiative has been upheld in a major Federal Court victory. The Town of Bar Harbor's attorney supports the Chapter 52 rules that enforce the Citizens' Initiative. He states:
“To be very clear, our opinion was and remains, that Chapter 52 is lawful, enforceable and legally defensible... and we are prepared to do that.”
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Town Council Public Hearing, 8/27/2024 at time stamp 2:56:07 of the video stream.
​Who We Are
The Vote NO on Article 4 movement represents the collective voice of Bar Harbor residents who believe that uncontrolled growth of the cruise ship industry threatens our community. We are concerned about the environmental damage caused by large vessels, the strain on our infrastructure, and the potential for negative impacts on our local businesses and quality of life. We believe that sustainable tourism, shaped by our community's needs and values, is the path to a thriving future. Support local decision-making.
Join the Fight
Help Let Others Know the Truth About Article 4!
Join our campaign by attending town meetings and voting on Nov 5th.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Share our website and social media pages with friends.
Join Us This Saturday, November 2nd from 2-3PM at the VILLAGE GREEN
Signs will be available or make your own​
- Democracy starts at the local level -
