Leland Wong has a knack for being in the middle of big public works projects. He was president of the Los Angeles Harbor Commission from 1996 to 1998 as the commission oversaw a massive port expansion. And just last month, Mayor Richard Riordan appointed Wong to an even hotter seat the Airport Commission, just as that body wades into a controversial expansion being proposed for Los Angeles International Airport. Should the expansion take place at LAX, or should it be directed to Ontario or Palmdale? Wong is expected to play a key role in that huge regional decision.
While his civic responsibilities are considerable, Wong also has a high-level “day job” as state director of government and community relations for Kaiser Permanente. The Los Angeles native has a long history of community service, from his days working for former Los Angeles Councilman Bob Farrell to serving on various city commissions, including a previous stint on the Airport Commission in 1992 and the Police Pension Commission.
One of the seven children of two Chinese immigrants, Wong grew up in a close-knit community in Chinatown, fostering in him a belief that giving back to one’s community is a must.
Question: Pundits have identified you as a key player in the expansion of the airport. What do you see as the priorities for that project?
Answer: Properly communicating the value of the airport is going to be the biggest challenge. There has not been a clear message. Let’s look at the word “expansion” what does that mean to people? For the person who’s living a mile or two away from the airport, it means there are going to be more cars, more jet fumes, more noise and more vibration.
I don’t think the airport has done a very good job of communicating the work it has done already. We all hear that the airport was built for 45 million passengers a year and that it is currently handling 60 million. Well, what has happened over the last five or six years while this growth occurred? What have they done? Have they communicated what they have done already in terms of relieving traffic congestion, handling environmental issues, soundproofing homes? I think that the airport has behaved in a responsible manner, but nobody knows about it.
Q: What do you think about the idea of diverting future growth to outlying airports?
A: There has to be a regional solution. We have to find what role LAX will play, but there are other players involved. We really have to study the issues surrounding Palmdale. That is the big question right now and Ruth Galanter has made it very clear what her position is on Palmdale.
I think we have a responsibility to look at it. We have to look at the market and utilization. We can’t just say it won’t work. The other question is Ontario. Ontario can play a major role as being the hub for all of the carriers that fly south of the border, to relieve some of the international congestion.
Q: Do you support expanding LAX?
A: I am in support of expansion, if it is done right. But it is not going to happen overnight. We are talking 2010 or 2008. It is going to be out there. Perhaps we haven’t been very smart about communicating that. Rather than have people think there is this big monster coming, let’s talk about phasing.
The other thing that has been bothersome to me is the impact on communities. Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, Torrance, South Los Angeles and Inglewood are all cities we have to have discussions with before we go forward. Here is the opportunity to deal with air-quality issues, the opportunity to talk about synchronizing signals, widening streets and expanding freeway off-ramps and on-ramps.
Q: How often do you use LAX and what’s that like for you?
A: I use LAX six to seven times a year. I use Burbank a lot more often because my office is closer to Burbank and I use the Southwest shuttle.
I think LAX is a well-run airport. Of course it needs some improvements, like better parking and less traffic from vans and hotel shuttle buses. But for the most part, it is a very efficiently run airport. In terms of just getting on and off planes, it is very well run. The problem is, we are running out of space.
Q: The Airport Commission is much higher profile than the Harbor Commission. Are you ready to handle that?
A: The Airport Commission is facing some big decisions that affect people’s lives, so I have to be very diligent and I have to be informed. I have to do my homework before I make decisions.
Do I want to be high profile? No, I don’t want to be high profile. My mom used to tell me a Chinese saying, that the tallest tree catches the most wind. Believe me, I do not want to catch wind. But I am very proud to be a commissioner and I am very proud that I have a chance to participate in the democratic process.
The hard part is finding a balance between serving on the commission and my duties at Kaiser Permanente. It is very hard, but it is possible. Kaiser Permanente values citizen participation, which makes it a lot easier. It has encouraged its employees to be a part of the community. I am very grateful to work for Kaiser Permanente.
Q: How do you juggle your airport job and full-time position at Kaiser?
A: I work very long hours. It is a very difficult task to balance. I have to be very focused. I depend on my staff from both jobs a great deal. I have to keep people accountable for their performance, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to do both jobs. It is not uncommon for me to work a 16-hour day.
I also do a lot of traveling to Sacramento and Washington on behalf of Kaiser, so I am out of town quite a bit. I am involved in a lot of events on weekends, but I try to limit that so I can spend time with my family.
Q: Do you have grander political ambitions?
A: In 1987 I ran for a City Council seat in the Third District against Gloria Molina and three other candidates. Basically it comes down to money, and I didn’t have enough to win. I am not planning to run again. It would have to be a grass-roots campaign, and that is really difficult.
Q: How would you describe your relationship with the City Council in particular Galanter?
A: Galanter voted for me. I think I have demonstrated over the years that I can be a person that can balance the issues. Yes, I am a (Riordan) appointee, however I don’t think that prohibits me from being sensitive. I have relationships of my own. I think over the years I have worked and have built very good relationships with the City Council. I think they view me as someone who is very approachable, as well as open to new ideas.
I want to be very clear that I have no preconceived notions as to what is the right way, in terms of how the expansion should go. I believe Ruth Galanter has a very important role in this. She represents the district and she is a stakeholder and her constituents are stakeholders. We have to remember that and factor that into all of our decision making. By the way, it was an 11-0 vote for me to join the Airport Commission.
Q: Does being an ally of Mayor Riordan make your job more difficult?
A: When you look at the political landscape in Los Angeles, it is very easy to designate someone as being in one camp or the other. I put myself in the camp of the people who care. I really think people can make a difference if they participate and that is one of the reasons I am involved.
Q: What is your position on airport contractors getting paid a living wage?
A: I believe that people should have a livable wage. When you look at what it takes to rent an apartment or feed a family, it gets very expensive. I think living wage makes sense, but we have to reach a balance. I think that it hasn’t been handled right, like many other things concerning the airport. A bargain has to be struck that appeases the airline carriers as well as all of the contractors.
The city needs to get a return on the concession stands in the airport, but maybe we can meet each other half way. Maybe there is a formula we can come up with where the contractors’ sharing of receipts (with the city) can be reduced. Contractors would be able to make a decent profit as well as pay their employees a living wage. Everyone has to pitch in to make this thing work.
