Harbor Area: One Year on Port Commission

One year ago this month, I received a call from newly elected Mayor Richard Riordan asking if I would accept a position as a Los Angeles Harbor commissioner. My immediate response was yes.

I was told I would be an asset to the Harbor area and to the city of Los Angeles. That was the beginning of a year that has been a tremendous learning experience for me.

I thought once I was confirmed by City Council, I could change things in the port to the way I thought things should be. But change is hard, I found out. Policy is determined by the mayor and City Council, with the commissioners as overseers.

All port employees have a specific job to perform in the smooth-running operations between the port, tenants and public. Everyone I worked with made me feel welcome and listened to what I had to say concerning a variety of issues.

Because of Los Angeles’ financial conditions, we were asked to forgo any financial remuneration, which I believe was $50 per meeting for past commissioners. I was given two credit cards (telephone and general credit), which I have never used. I filled my gas tank with my own credit card. I attended every commission meeting and represented the port at all functions I could. I returned all phone calls from concerned individuals with questions.

Three of my fellow commissioners were unfamiliar with the immediate surrounding area, so I invited all of them to tour with local communities of Wilmington and San Pedro.

I voted no on two agenda items. One was the monies taken from port funds and sent to City Hall to the general fund. I believe a percentage of these funds should be spent in the communities of San Pedro and Wilmington, which are affected by the port. Very little of these monies trickle back to us.

My second no vote was the certification of the environmental impact report of the B and C streets realignment in Wilmington. There are three possibilities in this report: 1) no project, 2) upgrading B Street, which includes upgrading the C Street off-ramp of the Harbor Freeway and 3) relocating B Street up to C Street and installing a 20-foot-high buffer wall to protect the adjacent residents from the noise of a double-track rail line and expanded container terminal.

This wall is approximately one mile in length with no breaks. No community input was requested pertaining to this wall or who was going to clean up graffiti or maintain the landscaping. During the scoping meeting, the majority of people present asked for the upgrading of B Street, with the natural buffer being commercial development between B and C.

My fellow commissioners told me I was their conscience and promised this 20-foot buffer wall would not be chosen by them in the B/C Street project, and Wilmington would get its port interpretive center at Bannings Landing at the foot of Avalon Boulevard. I hope these promises come true for the betterment of Wilmington.

I started hearing rumors in early June that I wouldn’t be reappointed. I was never contacted by City Hall one way of the other on my reappointment.

Councilman Rudy Svorinich Jr., business people, politicians, labor organizations and community people sent letters, faxes and telephoned the mayor’s office in my behalf. I thank everyone for this outpouring of support.

On July 15 I talked to Mayor Riordan, asking about my reappointment and the letters of support that were sent in my behalf. He told me Bill Wardlaw made the final decision on commission appointments and looked puzzled about the support letters.

After calling Bill Wardlaw three times with no response and Greg Dawley in City Hall with no response, Deputy Mayor Mike Keely called me, stating that two new Harbor Commissioners will be appointed. I talked about the mayor’s look of puzzlement pertaining to the letters of support in my behalf. He stated the mayor was aware, but sometimes forgets. He offered me a commission on the Convention Center, which I later turned down.

I feel sorry for my supporters who took the time to write in my behalf as it fell on deaf ears.

I am being decommissioned, but I am not going in mothballs. Thanks to all of you who supported me; it is deeply and humbly appreciated. I still have not been given a reason why I was not reappointed.

GERTRUDE SCHWAB

Wilmington