Cong. Rohrabacher, St. Sen. Lowenthal & LB Councilwoman Lowenthal Also Speak Out for an Inland Port
LONG BEACH, CA. - Mayor Terry Caldwell of Victorville, CA, spoke before the Port of Long Beach (POLB) Board of Harbor Commissioners weekly meeting today and told the Commissioners an inland port is “inevitable”. “Victorville is the logical and ideal choice”, he said, and thanked them for unanimously voting today for a six month feasibility study examining proposed sites in the Southland, including Victorville.
“A Victorville inland port is unique. It allows for the continued growth of Southern California’s most important job producing, tax generating economic engine..."
Mayor Caldwell was joined by U.S. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA, 46th), State Senator Alan Lowenthal, Chair, Senate Transportation & Housing Committee and Long Beach Councilmember Bonnie Lowenthal. Each expressed their strong support and indicated the absolute necessity for an inland port for the good of the port and the surrounding communities.
“You and your fellow Commissioners have wisely chosen to look well beyond today’s severe economic challenges because you know the economic growth projections,” Caldwell said. “You all have experienced the frustrations, delays and controversies over new construction in and around the ports to also know that no build-out plans are ever on-time or a sure bet. I applaud you for acting now so we can plan for the waves of economic activity that will inevitably make an inland port an essential part of your operations.”
Mayor Caldwell reproposed his October 2006 offer to build, “A place not only to store containers, but where we can develop a world class, state of the art, green, intermodal logistics and distribution center…akin to the Port of Rotterdam’s inland port in Duisburg German which like Victorville, is similarly situated approximately 90 miles away.”
“A Victorville inland port is unique. It allows for the continued growth of Southern California’s most important job producing, tax generating economic engine and still protects neighborhoods and the environment. Now much of the new port growth would occur in its High Desert 100,000 acre redevelopment area in the Mojave AQMD bringing jobs to our area,” he added.
Mayor Caldwell did not discount the “monumental challenges” involved but said it required “leaders with vision” to act now to preserve the ports premier status as the gateway to America; “leaders with creativity and imagination to develop an alternative technology zero emission cargo conveyor system”; “leaders who will take on the naysayers” who once challenged the Ports environmental policy and now challenge the need for an inland port. “You held your ground, proved them wrong and changed forever the way people think about ports with your Green Port Policy and Clean Air Action Program. We will do the same with an inland port.”
“We dream big in Victorville. And we build big….the success of our (air, ground, rail logistics goods movement) projects are not dependent upon an inland port. Mayor Caldwell warned, however, “We have a once-in-a-lifetime moment to do something bold because our redevelopment area still offers you one more thing that no one else can. Land. Lots of it. We can set it aside for you. But not forever. We in Victorville are your allies. We can help you expand your port, build an inland port and provide job growth in the High Desert. It will be a perfect partnership”, the Mayor concluded.
© 2009 Inland Group All Rights Reserved