Sharon L. Weissman was recently elevated from Harbor Commission vice president to the leadership role after beginning her six-year term in 2020. The newly elected Long Beach Harbor Commission president announced her priorities for the organization that weighs heavily toward environmental concerns regarding port activity.
“Congratulations to President Weissman for continuing a long legacy of strong leadership on the Harbor Commission,” Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero reportedly said. “We look forward to collaborating with her in fulfilling an ambitious agenda that will improve the lives of the people who work at the Port and our surrounding communities.”
The commission is tasked with providing “policy direction and oversight” of an improvement plan expected to invest upwards of $2.6 billion over the next decade. The goal of the capital investment focuses on environmental protection and increased competitiveness. The Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles made national news when more than 100 cargo vessels were bottlenecked in 2021, unable to dock and offload.
“I know we can make real progress on the goals I have outlined because we have an exceptional staff who have been working on many of these issues and making real progress long before I joined the Commission,” Weissman reportedly said. “The Harbor Commission is a deliberative body that works together, and I have no doubt we will carry on in building upon the strong foundation we have here.”
Port projects slated to move forward include a Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility and Terminal Island Wye Rail Project, as well as other infrastructure investments to improve cargo flow and reduce traffic. During her opening remarks as the organization’s new president, Weissman outlined the following priorities.
- Exploring whether to build an outdoor amphitheater in partnership with the Long Beach Symphony on vacant land adjacent to the Queen Mary and the Carnival Cruise Terminal on Pier H, pending a decision by the Long Beach City Council on whether to seek transfer of oversight of the property to the Port.
- Improving working conditions for the 20,000 truck drivers who serve the San Pedro Bay ports complex by increasing efficiency and working to secure state and federal financial assistance to purchase zero-emissions trucks.
- Working with Metro and the Gateway Cities Council of Governments to make the 710 Freeway safer, less congested and cleaner, while also reducing impacts on neighbors and improving cargo flow.
- Resuming in-person Board meetings, public events, employee gatherings and other Port programs when safe.
Weissman indicated her priorities involve pressing forward to have only zero-emissions cargo-handling equipment by 2030. She also called for zero-emissions drayage trucks by 2035 and improving truck driver working conditions.
Sources:
https://ajot.com/news/weissman-lays-out-goals-for-port-of-long-beach
https://www.randomlengthsnews.com/archives/2022/08/16/port-of-long-beach/41043
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