FUTURE SHOCK CALIF PORTS IN PERIL?

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From: RbrtFis
To: mayor@lacity.org, councilmember.hahn@lacity.org, mayor@longbeach.gov, cityclerk@longbeach.gov, dpw@lacounty.org, collier@scag.ca.gov, okabel@cacities.org, tschuiling@sanbag.ca.gov
CC: letters@latimes.com, Letters@msnbc.com, letters@ocregister.com, letters@sfchronicle.com, letters@washpost.com
Sent: 4/26/2008 7:21:48 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time
Subj: PORTS OF LOS ANGELES AND LONG BEACH IN PERIL

WHY ARE RECISSIONS NEEDED ON I-69 PROJECTS IN THE VARIOUS STATES IN THE FY 2008 FEDERAL HIGHWAYS TRANSPORTATION BUDGET?

California elected officials should support the above recissions to the I-69 projects in the various states, because completion of these projects in future years would take away $billions of business from California, and give it to possibly the PORT OF HOUSTON or some other port in the "NAFTA Scheme of things."

Recissions are needed to avoid Asian cargo container vessels from by-passing Los Angeles and Long Beach Ports by going through the Panama Canal to berth at the Port of Houston in future years, once the Panama Canal is widened to accomodate cargo container vessels.

Currently, these vessels do not have an alternative to the San Pedro Bay Ports. However, proposed deep water ports in Mexico and the Panama Canal expansion project, now under construction would change things.

The Asian nations have been complaining about the high cost of port fees for over 30 years, I know because I was the Rep for essentially all local govts in the California Coastal Communities to the California Coastal Commission 1974-78.

Container fees have escalated over 30 years, and have not been lowered.

Environment regulations of the California Coastal Commission, the Bay Conservation Development Commission (BCDC), and the Air Resources Board have added more costs for compliance with the above environmental regulatory agencies for Asian cargo container vessels.

Common sense would tell you that should Asian cargo container vessels by-pass Los Angeles/Long Beach in future years, it would be cost beneficial to the Asian cargo container vessels.

ONE CAN THANK BILL CLINTON AND GEORGE W. BUSH FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT

by:
Robert E. Fisher, MSW,
Former City of Los Angeles Legislative Analyst/City Rep to the California Coastal Commission 1974-78