I am borrowing (okay, stealing) my title today from the name of a free event that will occur here in Long Beach in two weeks’ time: the tenth Town Hall meeting sponsored by the Center for International Trade & Transportation at Cal State Long Beach.
The full title of the event is “The Decade Ahead: Jobs, Cargo, Competition, and You.” If you are interested in the region’s economy or worried about whether our local ports will remain competitive in the current economic climate, I’d urge you to attend. The heart of this event is a panel discussion featuring several experts in the business: senior managers from ocean carrier lines, port terminal operators, railroads, and trucking. In case you’re wondering where labor is, they are on the podium (giving closing remarks this year) and in the audience. The main audience for these Town Hall meetings is the rank-and-file of the ILWU, and at past Town Halls I’ve attended, members have turned out in force.
CITT has sponsored these Town Hall meetings over the last decade, one per year (with the exception of 2008). This will be the tenth and final Town Hall, but its focus is not on the past but on the future. In particular, the goal is to get attendees – whether ILWU, other industry professionals, or community members – thinking about their own role in our region’s economic success and how we can continue to benefit from global trade while minimizing the downsides. There’s been some debate recently among experts as to whether our ports’ flat or declining trade volumes are really the result of the global downturn, or part of an underlying trend towards greater market share for other U.S. ports.
Other highlights of the Town Hall will include a talk by Paul Bingham, a trade economist with the firm IHS Global Insight who has earned an international reputation for his expertise, and a video presentation on the factors affecting trade through Southern California’s ports. In my experience, these videos are not only beautifully produced but also extremely informative. What’s more, the panel discussion will be followed by a chance for the audience to pose questions to the panelists, so you can bring up any concern you may have.
Again, the event is free, as is the parking, though it’s a good idea to arrive early since attendance usually approaches or exceeds 1,000 people. The Town Hall will be Wednesday, March 11th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center on the Cal State campus, 6200 Atherton Street in Long Beach. I hope you’ll attend!