Boston, tall ships organizers, at odds over money

BOSTON -- Organizers of this summer's tall ships event in Boston are vowing to go forward even though the city says it will not help pay for police and other city services.

Sail Boston officials said Wednesday the event that attracts millions of visitors to see the windjammers parade through the harbor will go ahead, even though they missed a deadline to give the city $2 million.

That angered Mayor Tom Menino, who told The Boston Globe that holding the event without city services could cause a "public safety crisis." He says he may ask the Coast Guard to bar the 50 ships from the harbor.

Sail Boston is still working on raising money.

The city had to absorb $1.6 million in public safety costs the last time the tall ships sailed into Boston Harbor in 2000.

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