L.A. Port Spending Measure Will Be Placed on May Ballot

The City Council voted Tuesday to put a measure on the May 20 ballot that would allow revenue from the Port of Los Angeles to be spent on recreational, educational and tourism improvements in the surrounding communities of Wilmington and San Pedro.

The City Charter amendment would broaden the allowed use of port revenue, now generally limited to maritime- and commerce-related improvements and services at the harbor.

Councilwoman Janice Hahn of San Pedro said the ballot measure is a response to recent changes in state law that give the port more flexibility in spending money to mitigate the negative impacts that the port and its truck traffic have on surrounding communities.

Representatives of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and the Steamship Assn. of Southern California said the council, in initially approving the ballot measure last week, had not provided for public input as required by state law.

“Our only concern is the speed with which it is moving along,” said Timothy Parker of the Steamship Assn. “We question whether or not there has been enough time for enough dialogue in the community.”