22.LCLAA Resolution in Support of Clean and Safe Ports and Trucking Jobs

WHEREAS, the Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports is an alliance of environmental, labor, faith-based, community and

public-health organizations working to promote sustainable trade at the Los Angeles and Long Beach Ports; and

WHEREAS, an unjust and broken port trucking system is a major source of air pollution creating an environmental and

public health crisis in the San Pedro Bay and the trucking industry is aggressively lobbying to preserve a business as usual

attitude on this matter; and

WHEREAS, among those affected there are over 16,000 truck drivers and their families who live in the mostly low-

income harbor neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, pollution from goods movement causes more than 2,400 premature deaths annually in California; and

WHEREAS, each year more Californians die from inhaling diesel fumes than are murdered; and

WHEREAS, residents of the mostly low income harbor communities suffer from life-threatening diseases like asthma,

bronchitis, cancer, and heart disease; and

WHEREAS, air pollution and global warming is caused by the burning of fossil fuels and the release of its associated

pollutants into the oceans, air, soil, and lungs jeopardizes the planet's ability to maintain a livable climate and intensifies

grave public health ailments; and

WHEREAS, heavy duty trucks contribute significantly to air pollution through the emission of diesel fumes and diesel

particulate matter; and

WHEREAS, diesel particulate matter is widely recognized as an important cause of severe health effects including

cancer, bronchitis, asthma and other respiratory ailments in neighborhoods with high diesel emissions; and

WHEREAS, California children suffering from pollution-related illnesses miss 1.1 million days of school each year while

their parents miss 360,000 work days annually for the same reasons; and

WHEREAS, communities of color are disproportionately affected by negative economic, environmental, and health

impacts because of their proximity to ports and areas of commerce; and

WHEREAS, Latino and African American children, many of whom live in communities surrounding the ports, are at a

greater risk for asthma.

WHEREAS, as per a 2007 survey of residents of the state of California by the Public Policy Institute of California,

Blacks (40%) and Latinos (35%) are far more likely than Asians (19%) and Whites (16%) to say air pollution is a very

serious threat, and the percentage of asthma and other respiratory problems is higher among Blacks (51%) and Latinos

(41%) than Whites (38%) and Asians (27%)

WHEREAS, thousands of truck drivers, are classified as independent contractors and personally absorb the costs of rising

fuel prices, parking, licensing, permits, maintenance, health care and insurance all while making poverty-level wages; and

WHEREAS, the Port of Los Angeles recently adopted a Clean Trucks Program that will significantly reduce diesel

particulate pollution while providing family wage jobs and clean and safe working conditions for drivers by making those

drivers employees of trucking companies; and