[courtesy of California Progress Report]

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By Patricia Castellanos & Doug Bloch
Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports

Pollution from goods movement kills almost 2,500 Californians annually. That means the industry claims roughly the same number of lives each year as does homicide statewide.

So ask leading environmentalists at the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Sierra Club and other major green groups what they think about the mitigation initiative the Port of Los Angeles recently adopted to deal with this crisis that has stalled expansion since 2001.

They’ll tell you the “Clean Trucks Program” is bold – and holds the promise of becoming the sustainable model to dramatically reduce deadly carbon emissions from diesel rigs at our nation’s seaports.

Pose the question to anyone at LA City Hall or at the harbor commission. First they’ll expound on the public health benefits lauded by statewide organizations like the Coalition for Clean Air and the American Lung Association of California. Then they’ll cite a $4.2 billion boost to the regional economy in the first few years. And let you know the very same policy will beef up security at one of the most vulnerable terrorist targets in the nation.

by Elliott Petty [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

In a landmark vote by Los Angeles Harbor Commissioners, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa moves closer to his goal of cleaning up Southern California's air and paves the way to improve the lives of 16,000 port truckers and their families.  The sorely needed L.A. Clean Trucks Program is expected to serve as a national model for ports around the country.