Clearing air around ports
Re “2 ports aim to slash diesel exhaust,” April 14
My family and I were happy to read about the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports working together to propose an unprecedented plan to cut diesel truck emissions at the port complex. It’s about time.
We all know how dangerous diesel emissions are, and the port complex is the largest fixed source of these emissions in California.
It angers me when industry and business groups use the same old fear tactics of “the additional fees will drive up prices for the consumer” or “businesses will move elsewhere.”
Can these groups please tell me how adding $26 to the cost of a shipping container carrying hundreds of televisions will make the price of those televisions go up more than a few cents? This port complex is the largest in the U.S., with more than 40% of what we use coming through it. If the $26 container fee causes the cost of big-screen televisions and computers to go up a bit, that’s fine.
The costs we Southern Californians bear, both financial and health-wise, need to be spread out to the rest of the country.
We are sick and tired of our quality of life and our health being compromised for big business.
LORI VALESKO
Long Beach
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