Meeting with Sandre Swanson re: SB 974 Port Container Fee Bill

Friday I gathered together with a diverse group of clean air advocates, including NRDC, Regional Asthma Management and Prevention (RAMP), Pacific Institue, and others, to go meet Sandre Swanson and his staff to lobby him for support of SB 974, the Port Container Fee bill (SB referring to "Senate Bill" in the State of California). This bill was initially floated in 2005 I think, by Sen. Lowenthal, with the result that the governor vetoed it because he did not feel it was comprehensive enough (it did not include Port of Oakland). The Bill calls for levying $30 in fees on each container entering the ports of L.A., Long Beach, and Oakland. These are 3 of the top 5 most busy ports in the nation. (L.A. and Long Beach are 1 and 2, Oakland is 4, I read). So it will be hard for shipping companies to avoid paying this fee.

The bill analysis shows just who is on which side of the fence. Basically it's government + clean air activists + public health / non-profits vs. all manner of trade groups (including, all the major retailers and even Miller Brewing!). Yes, this will increase the cost of doing business in California. Yes, it is not "free trade". However, Port communities like West Oakland, and the neighborhoods near Long Beach, are bearing the brunt of the pollution from ships, trucks and rail. For example, I took a stroll with my girlfriend down to Jack London Square and smelled soot, as I watched a Chinese mega-container ship dock in the Port of Oakland, assisted by tugboats belching black smoke. Trade with China, which accounts for the majority of shipping, is increasing each year. The communities near these ports clearly need to be helped, and air quality concerns need to be attacked in as equitable a manner as possible. This version of the bill also requires that 50% of the revenue must be spent on pollution mitigation (basically, air quality improvement), and the other 50% on "congestion relief" - which can take many forms, including electrifying and more efficient rail connections at ports. The money is controlled by a special commission, the CTC (not sure at the moment what that body is - but it is NOT the Ports themselves).

So, the Ports will benefit from the container fee by improving their infrastructure and efficiency (hopefully), the community will benefit from cleaner air and better health, while the consumer out in Nevada, Illinois or Ohio will be asked to pay a few cents more for their hawaian t shirt, coffeemaker or computer made in China. Seems fair to me. The State Senator agreed, saying he'd support the bill.