The Port of Long Beach is a very strong point of pride for Long Beach, both as an economic engine, and a major local and regional employer. Large amounts of cargo traffic pass through our harbor each and every day, helping to make Southern California’s second largest port essential to the financial health of the entire country.
Our port is more than an economic steward. It also is an environmental caretaker implementing new practices to reverse environmental harms that it has caused to the region. It has been a noble and successful fight as the Port of Long Beach has become one of the most environmentally friendly ports in America, and the world.
Our port’s neighbor, the Port of Los Angeles, joined in the new “green” spirit, but with a few small differences. Unfortunately, today we are seeing that these differences have caused huge rifts in the transportation industry that may negatively affect business in the entire region, and prove that the Port of Los Angeles was using the veil of environmental efficiency to attempt an industry takeover based on power and greed.
As the shipping industry slows, the ports should do everything they can to attract business. However, the Port of Los Angeles is pushing potential clients away and alienating those who work long, dangerous hours for them. And it may be dragging the Port of Long Beach down with it.
The Port of Los Angeles is lobbying the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (or so-called F4A) so it can have greater control over the trucking industry. Its ultimate goal: to prevent independent truckers from operating at its port, which will lead to full unionization of all truckers. The Port of Long Beach is not participating in this advocacy sham. Obviously, the Port of Los Angeles signed up with the Clean Trucks Act not to improve the environment, but to impose its will on its business partners.
Chain reaction
Why does this matter in Long Beach? Well, the two ports are in such close proximity to one another that they are often confused to be one large port, and any bullying tactics used in Los Angeles could also be negatively attributed to Long Beach. Ultimately, this will make shipping companies less willing to do business here. Such a chain reaction would be devastating to the Port of Long Beach, which has seen container traffic steadily decline for the last two years with no signs of relenting. In fact, because of increasing fees, taxes and generally poor reputations (thanks to the Port of Los Angeles), shipping companies have made it no secret that they prefer to take their business elsewhere.
The Port of Los Angeles is lobbying hard to pass their bullying tactics into the F4A. Well, Long Beach should lobby Congress even harder. The Port of Long Beach has been an excellent community partner for many decades, and it’s time we step up for them.
Randy Gordon is president and chief executive of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.
