(From Nov. 17, 2006 front page post) -- A November 27 CSULB conference ("Paying For True Costs Of Goods Movement"), organized by State Sen. Alan Lowenthal, heard panelists including LB Mayor Bob Foster, L.A. County Economic Development Corporation Chief Economist Jack Kyser and [in audience, invited to speak at microphone] Cong. Dana Rohrabacher variously support implementation and use of cargo container fees at the Ports of LB and L.A.
Sen. Lowenthal publicly pledged to reintroduce container fee bill, opposed in 2006 by CA Ass'n of Port Authorities, and vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger.
Mayor Foster said he would insist that the proposed rebuilding of the Gerald Desmond bridge [to allow even larger container ships enter LB inner harbor] be linked to retrofitting 16,000 trucks.
Prof. Andrea Hricko from the USC Keck School of Medicine summarized mounting medical evidence associating goods movement-related impacts to public health harms...at current levels.
Cong. Rohrabacher expressed hope that he can work with a new Democrat-controlled Congress to support his legislation federally authorizing local container fees [which was previously killed in part by PoLB's DC lobbyist and opposed by American Ass'n of Port Authorities]
LB community advocate Bry Myown publicly pressed Sen. Lowenthal to commit to reintroduce his "no net increase bill" [opposed by CA Ass'n of Port Authorities] blocked and killed by CA Assembly's Democrat leadership...and Sen. Lowenthal said he will do so.
LB Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske urges reimposing state tax on bunker fuel (ended by legislation that then-Assemblyman Lowenthal backed).
Among the audience attendees we spotted Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal, Councilmembers Suja Lowenthal, Patrick O'Donnell, Tonia Reyes Uranga & Rae Gabelcih; PoLB Harbor Commissioners Mario Cordero & Mike Walter; Assemblywoman Betty Karnette; Pine Ave. business leader John Morris (spoke on requiring port to pay higher public safety costs); public affairs advocate Jeff Adler; LB enviro adviocate Ann Cantrell; WLB community activist John Cross; NLB activist Laurie Angel; 2d district activist Holly Light; San Pedro activists Janet Gunter and Kathleen Woodfield...and former LB resident David Sundstrom.
No reps from City of L.A., Mayor of L.A. or Port of L.A. were introduced or visible to us. Further as time permits.
