The Long Beach City Council will discuss the Port of Long Beach’s proposed Middle Harbor project during tonight’s meeting, and large crowds both in support and opposition are expected to fill City Hall. The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners unanimously approved (5-0) the project on April 13.
The Middle Harbor project is expected to take ten years to complete, creating more than 14,000 permanent jobs and more than 1,000 temporary jobs per each year of construction. It will drastically increase the cargo handling capacity of the Port, and will replace what Port officials say are badly outdated equipment. It is also being touted as environmentally friendly, with reports suggesting that emissions will be reduced by 50% of current levels once the project is fully operational.
That may not be for another ten years, though, and several environmental groups have voiced strong opposition. The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) are two of the most notable groups to oppose the Middle Harbor Project.
The Council cannot reject the project, but can make specific requests and suggestions to alter plans.
By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor