It should be no surprise that the Port of Los Angeles rejected the plan for a new shipyard. I am sure that the cost benefit analysis for the use of the land did not pan out. I am sure that the Port believes they can make more money using the land for more containers. The problem is that no one knows how to put a price on the value of jobs to the community, or the value of job diversity to the community, or the value of brining back a once dead industry to the community.
The port has once again put the Port above the community. Having a means to diversify the San Pedro job base would have been good for the community. Having a means to diversify the job base could mean higher skilled labor in the community. Having a diversified job base would help keep the community going in tough times like when the container business slows down.
Where are the community representatives on the Harbor Commission? Where is the local representation? It does not exists enough. And it does not exist to the extent necessary to ensure a good balance between the Port and the community it resides in and is surrounded by. The Port is a business, but a business that was created by the community it resides in. That link has been lost.
I hope the Los Angeles and San Pedro communities speak up. The future of our town requires a diverse job base that can handle slow downs in any one industry. The future of our town requires the creation of new higher skill jobs. San Pedro families need jobs that require more from our children than non-high school level educations. We can't expect our children to finish school when the jobs in the community do not require it.
Please San Pedro speak up.
Just a guy from Pedro
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