In an article posted today on TheDistrictWeekly.com, senior editor Dave Wielenga masterfully weaves the tale of an important but ultimately futile act of defiance by Harbor Commissioner Mario Cordero, who on November 2 would not waver from his position to oppose an agreement to allow the American Trucking Association to monitor itself – a position which some say will allow them to circumvent strict pollution regulations at the Port of Long Beach – much to the dismay of his fellow commissioners.
In fact, the deal had already been signed, so Cordero didn’t actually prevent the agreement’s implementation. Despite dozens of public speakers in opposition, the vote was merely a formality.
The article oozes with Wielengese terms and language:
Anderson-Wise almost made it sound as if the people’s opinions made a difference. But they most certainly didn’t, and that became clear when it was time for the vote on the two settlement-related items—or really, when Cordero announced that he did not intend to be permanently stained by the ink of what everybody knew was just a rubber stamp.
Click here to read the article.
Environmental groups like the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) have blasted the agreement with the ATA, which ended an ongoing lawsuit with the Port. But Port officials insist that allowing the ATA to essentially police itself won’t mean relinquishing air quality.
ATA spokesperson Clayton Boyce told the lbpost.com in October that the NRDC outcry had more to do with unions that clean air.
Whatever the case, the ATA continues its legal fight with the Port of Los Angeles, which has refused to agree to a similar plan.