(Oct 31, 2006) -- Vice Mayor/1st district Councilwoman Bonnie Lowenthal and 2nd district Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal are scheduled to join four LB Harbor Commissioners (as of last week, all except Commissioner Hancock) for a PoLB-paid trip to Sydney, Australia in early November.

PoLB spokesman Art Wong says the group plans to attend the Nov. 5-9 "Cities and Ports International Conference" organized by the "International Ass'n of Cities and Ports" (HQ'd in Le Havre, France) and the New South Wales (Australia) Maritime Authority (event venue). To view the event webpage, click here.

Under LB's 1980s era City Charter, LB City Councilmembers don't govern the city's Port; non-elected, non-recallable Harbor Commissioners do. Councilmembers have the power to approve or disapprove the Port's annual budget, approve or disapprove Mayoral appointees to the Harbor Commission and hear appeals of Port-prepared Environemntal Impact Reports (for sufficiency only).

None of the Harbor Commissioners and Councilmembers on the trip are scheduled as speakers or panelists at the event.

LB Harbor Commission president James C. Hankla is scheduled to meet the group in Australia after first traveling Shenzhen, China for the "World Shipping (China) Summit" Nov. 2-3...and Harbor Commission President Hankla is among the scheduled speakers at that event.

The topic of Commission President Hankla's scheduled address is "It’s Not Easy Being Green."

To view the event webpage, click here.