Sharon L. Weissman kicked off her term as harbor commission president at Port of Long Beach (POLB) by announcing an agenda of environmental, community and labor goals for the coming year.
As head of the board, Weissman said she wants to strengthen the port’s environmental focus by ensuring that POLB works toward a goal of deploying all zero-emission cargo handling equipment by 2030 and zero-emission dredging trucks by 2035.
Weissman also said she wants to increase the board’s support of the port’s community grants and sponsorship programmess, in addition to educational outreach programmes.
“I know we can make real progress on the goals I have outlined because we have an exceptional staff who have been working on many of these issues and making real progress long before I joined the Commission,” said Weissman.
“The Harbor Commission is a deliberative body that works together, and I have no doubt we will carry on in building upon the strong foundation we have here,” she added.
In her opening remarks, Weissman said she also plans to focus on exploring building an outdoor amphitheater in partnership with the Long Beach Symphony on vacant land.
She also considers it important to improve working conditions for the 20,000 truck drivers who serve the San Pedro Bay port complex.
Finally, Weissman wants to make the 710 freeway safer, less congested and cleaner, while reducing impacts on neighbors and improving freight flow.
