The Los Angeles Times is weighing in on a dispute between the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles that could potentially drive away business in an already struggling economic climate, and it all comes down to unionized labor.
Last year, the two neighbor ports came together to produce strict environmental regulations in an attempt to clean up the region’s air quality. Recently, though, the differences in their plans have been highlighted as Los Angeles favors a plan that forces truck drivers to work for trucking companies rather than operating independently.
Long Beach disagrees.
The Times’ Ronald D. White predicts that the rift could mean trouble for the ports’ bottom line:
If the two cities continue to clash, importers and exporters might begin avoiding the harbor altogether, dodging confusion over which trucks would be allowed to move cargo. That’s a scenario that could devastate businesses that depend on international trade at a time when the value of goods passing through the ports is on track to drop 29% this year.
The complicated, never-ending labyrinth of issues with the Clean Trucks Program adopted by both ports hardly has anything to do with its ultimate goal – improving the environment – anymore. The program is operating and progressing as planned, with early indicators showing that its actually ahead of schedule, but the program has taken on a new double life with recent talks of lawsuits, union interests and possible economic impacts.
This is an issue that can be difficult to follow, but the decisions concerning the Clean Trucks Program that are made today will be vital in shaping the environmental and economic climates of the entire South Bay region in the years and even decades to come. I’d strongly suggest taking a few minutes to read White’s article, and catch up with what’s going on.
In other Long Beach news appearing in the L.A. Times recently, we happened to miss an interesting article published last week about the peculiar rule that allows Long Beach politicians to bypass term limits by mounting write-in campaigns. This April, two incumbent Councilmembers will attempt to win their third terms in office even though they’re not allowed to appear on the ballot.
Here in Long Beach, it’s simply accepted – somewhat – that this is an option for local politicians if they so choose to run for additional terms.
But as the Times’ Tony Barboza points out, it’s an odd quirk in the system that makes Long Beach unique. If you can ignore Barboza’s cringe-worthy assessment of Long Beach as “the port city,” this article is a great read and interesting take on how the Long Beach political system is perceived.
What do you think?