September 2, 2021
Board of Port Commissioners
San Diego Unified Port District
3165 Pacific Highway
San Diego, California 92101
and by email to mcas@portofsandiego.org
Esteemed Port Commissioners,
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the revised Port of San Diego Maritime Clean Air Strategy for the Port of San Diego tenants and Portside Communities.
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In order for the Port of San Diego to attain its identified goal of transitioning to 100% zero emission vehicles by 2030, the revised MCAS must accelerate its current objective of 20% zero emission vehicles and charging infrastructure by 2026. Charging stations should not add a further burden to marginalized communities.
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The Port of San Diego must immediately collaborate with the City of San Diego to enforce the established drayage truck route along Harbor Drive and prohibit drayage trucks from transiting residential streets where residents of Barrio Logan and National City are walking, shopping, recreating and children are going to school.
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Fleet Electrification. Via the American Rescue Act Plan Funds, State of California Green Finance Programs and implemented port fees and tariffs, there will be increased funding for fleet electrification, reducing diesel emissions and low-carbon transportation infrastructure. Therefore, we support the recommendations by the Environmental Health Coalition, the City Council of National City, Barrio Logan Planning Group and the S.D. Air Pollution Control District as admirable and doable by the Port of San Diego. It will be another way to show that San Diego is truly “America’s Finest City” and a leader for other ports in California.
The League of Women Voters is a 100-year-old national organization that promotes informed participation of citizens in government and advocates for policy positions that have been adopted by our membership. Our positions include support for measures to establish air quality standards that will protect the public health and welfare, and the development of effective enforcement and implementation procedures to attain these standards. We support environmentally sound policies that reduce energy growth rates, emphasize energy conservation and encourage the use of renewable resources. Environmental Justice focuses on preventing and repairing negative environmental effects in marginalized communities such as the Portside Communities identified in the MCAS.
Sincerely,
Kim Knox
President, League of Women Voters of San Diego