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Councilmembers Baker, Lowenthal, Reyes Uranga & Gabelich Want City Hall To Support State Sen. Alan Lowenthal's Clean-Air Bills...Incl. "No Net Increase" In Port-Related Air Pollutants
(April 9, 2005) -- Councilmembers Dan Baker, Bonnie Lowenthal, Tonia Reyes Uranga and Ray Gabelich have agendized an April 12 City Council item seeking to put LB City Hall on record supporting three bills by State Senator Alan Lowenthal (D., LB-SP-PV) on Port-related air pollution. The bills include SB 764, a reincarnation of Senator Lowenthal's 2004 "No Net [air pollution] Increase" legislation that was supported by the LB City Council, opposed by LB's Board of Harbor Commissioners and vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In March 2005, the Council voted 7-1 (Gabelich dissenting) to approve an item agenized by Councilmembers Lowenthal and Baker which supported the Port's self-declared "Green Port" policy. The Port's policy doesn't commit to "No Net Increase" in air pollutants.
During discussion of the Council item, Councilman Baker pledged that he would introduce a Council resolution to support Senator Lowenthal's No Net Increase legislation.
In their agendizing memo, Councilmembers Baker, Lowentha, Reyes Uranga and Gabelich write:
The Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles are the third largest port complex in
the world. The ports are important economic engines for the region and nation
but port related activities have adverse impacts from congestion and pollution on
surrounding areas.
Senator Alan Lowenthal has introduced three pieces of legislation that comprise
the Harbor Area Air Quality Investment Initiative and attempt to mitigate the
community impacts of port activities. The specific bills do the following:
SB 760 would impose a fee on containers transported through the Ports of
Long Beach and Los Angeles - the fee would go to programs that would
improve air quality, strengthen port security and improve the transportation
infrastructure by funding improvements to move more cargo by rail;
SB 762 would create a port congestion and environmental quality district
to reduce the truck fleet by prohibiting the dirtiest trucks from the ports; &
SB 764, a reintroduction of last session’s "no net increase" bill, will provide
accountability to the emissions problems at the ports.
We would like to request our colleagues to support this resolution and these
efforts to protect our residents.
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