Debicella Criticizes Himes for Derecktor Shipyards

Press Release

Bridgeport native and candidate for Congress Dan Debicella criticized Congressman Jim Himes for his involvement with failed luxury yacht builder Derecktor Shipyards, saying Himes had "wasted taxpayer money on special interest friends, destroyed jobs in Bridgeport, and attempted to cover it up." Debicella made the announcement in the East End of Bridgeport, where the failed shipbuilder used to stand.

Congressman Himes voted to give Derecktor $3 million in government assistance in 2009, which the company received in August of that year. Derecktor, a mega-yacht builder, filed for bankruptcy in 2012 (for the second time in 5 years) costing 300 jobs in their Bridgeport location.

When Himes was asked about Derecktor in 2012, after the company went bankrupt, he responded, "I had nothing to do with Derecktor. That was before I was in office. I had nothing to do with it."

"The timeline here is very clear," said Debicella. "Jim Himes voted in 2009 to give Derecktor $3 million. In 2010 he tours the facility for a photo op. Then just two years later they go bankrupt for the second time in five years. Then later that year when asked about Derecktor, Himes denied he had nothing to do with it."

"Derecktor Shipyards is a perfect of example of why Connecticut is 50th out of 50 in job creation," continued Debicella. "Jim Himes thinks the way to create jobs in Connecticut is to give millions of taxpayer dollars to mega-yacht builders so he can take a photo op, while I believe it is to reform the tax code, help the long term unemployed, and empower small business."

Records from Himes' Flickr account show he took a tour and photos at Derecktor Shipyards on January 8, 2010.

"Creating jobs takes more than a photo op," concluded Debicella. "We need adults in the room in Washington. We need leadership that will stop with the photo ops and talking points and put forward real solutions. That is why I have put forward a detailed plan to grow our economy and expand the middle class."

Source