A Statement by Chair Patricia Castellanos of LAANE, on behalf of the Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports

“Today’s 9th Circuit Court decision is a victory for clean air advocates. The court’s refusal to extend a Virginia-based trucking lobby’s bid to completely shut down the life-saving emissions reduction plan in Southern California affirms that the Los Angeles Harbor Commission, City Council, and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa did the right thing in passing a comprehensive, sustainable Clean Truck Program.

“But the American Trucking Association’s legal assault on the U.S. EPA award-winning program continues, and threatens the sustainability of the port’s clean-air goals, as well as every infrastructure expansion project that relies on clean trucks.

“Southern Californians deserve a unified port program that ensures companies – not lowwage workers – take full responsibility to purchase and maintain a new fleet of lowemissions and alt-fuel trucks. From our perspective, and economists agree, contract drivers are paid too little to acquire and properly maintain clean-technology trucks. The Port of Los Angeles seeks to change that dead-end cycle.

“We are hopeful that the company vehicle requirements that remain stalled despite today’s decision will be restored and the LA Clean Truck Program will be fully upheld when the case goes to trial next month. However, we cannot leave a 21st century public health crisis up to interpretations of arcane 20th century law. The industry’s vigorous opposition has compelled our nationwide coalition of more than 100 environmental, public health, labor, community, and faith organizations to join the mayors of Los Angeles, New York, Newark, Seattle, Oakland and Broward County in Florida to urge Congress to ensure local governments can fully implement market-based solutions that address the environment and improve efficiency, safety and security enforcement.

“We will not stop fighting until we achieve a stable and sustainable port trucking market that is no longer subsidized by the lungs or livelihoods of drivers and port communities.”

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