I know it's wonky as hell, but I'd love for The Stranger to beat up on the Seattle Port.

For one, I have been lead to understand, but cannot cite - that Seattle's Port Authority is the the only major port on this coast that's is supported with tax money.

Every other port we "compete" with is profitable.

Again - I don't know for a fact that this is true, but if it is I'd like to know why.

I am one of the public information officers for the Port of Seattle, and I'd like to correct some of the inaccurate information in Jake's postings on this issue. I reached out to Jake yesterday and asked for a chance to speak to him about the issue before he posted again, but was not given that opportunity.

First, the proposal before the AAPA Legislative Policy Committee was not a Tay Yoshitani-driven proposal. The chair of the LPC, who oversees Massport, put forth the issue in response to ports across the country who asked for it to be considered. He attended the meeting as the representative for the North Pacific Ports Caucus - there are six caucuses, which represent all ports in North America, including Canada. The group agreed to language that said, in effect, we are strongly committed to the environmental programs that are already in place at our ports and are showing significant success. We do not believe a change in the law is necessary to achieve the strong air quality goals established by each community.

Secondly, the law in question - the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act, or F4A, does not have a "loophole" that needs to be closed. The law currently allows states or ports to regulate trucking for safety issues. The proposal is to expand the law so that regulation could occur for security, congestion, and environmental issues as well. The AAPA committee noted that other tools are available to achieve the environmental goals we are pursuing. The Port of Seattle program is succeeding - 42 older trucks have been scrapped to date; truckers are being offered financial assistance through a variety of programs. The Long Beach program is on pace to meet their goals a full two years ahead of schedule - again, under the existing law.

We did not hire a lobbying firm to lobby against this issue. McBee Strategic serves as our federal representative on all federal issues that affect the port; I'm happy to discuss that with Jake further as space doesn't allow it here.

Finally, Mr. Yoshitani is not "fighting against reform." He has championed the port's involvement in the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy, an international agreement that is reducing emissions in and around our harbors not just from trucks, but from all forms of equipment needed to move the goods to markets across the U.S. The Port of Seattle's commitment to environmental programs is evident in the multiple effective programs underway throughout our organization, and you can find more information about them at www.portseattle.org.

Thanks,

Charla Skaggs

The other 21 port pr hacks are cleaning their shorts. They thought they were home free because no press were covering the Port of Seattle anymore. Suddenly they have to wake up and start spinning again. Good job Jake!

Notice what the Port’s PR flak and Yoshitani are doing. They are arguing that the Port of Seattle and Ports all around the country SHOULD NOT have the authority to set environmental, security and safety standards for ports trucks. The ability to set environmental standards on polluting trucks without getting suited by the ATA, sorry we don’t want that.

They are not just parroting the position of the trucking industry and Walmart. They are leading the charge.

Well, the PR flak says Yoshitani’s not. But then notice what she does. She puts forth all the reasons the law should be left the same. She so careful mirrors the talking points from industry and the AAPA resolution that it leaves the impression she wrote those talking points herself.

As for her claim about not hiring McBee to lobbying, it’s a lie. Look up McBee’s 2009 3rd quarter lobbying disclosure form for the Port of Seattle. It’s in black and white as required by federal law: http://disclosures.house.gov/ld/ldsearch…. It’s not good form for the PR person to lie. It kind of makes you doubt anything else she’s saying.

Yoshitani has consistently championed the industry’s position on the trucks issue. He used to work for them as a ‘consultant’ and he’ll be richly rewarded we he goes back to them after his stint as the highest paid port official in the country. His commitment to environment is as thin as the paper the Port’s endless press releases are printed on.

Aren't the Commissioners supposed to make decisions about this kind of stuff? Isn't that why we elected them? For all the hot air Ms Skaggs is blowing, I didn't notice her deny that Yoshitani voted in favor of the AAPA resolution. And if Skaggs' comments are any reflection, it sure appears to be the official policy of the Port.

Careful, Jake. Being a watchdog of Port shenanigans is a full time job. But, righteous work for the public.

Jake -- you should get on the other story of how teh Port has screwed the envornmental movement. They are just about to through 210 "green taxis" onto the street by making Yellow cab the preferred port taxi service. All of the current Stita cab drivers have environmentally green cars and none of yellow cabs have been converted. SHAME on the Port of Seattle!

Snakes hiding under green coalition rocks...that sounds hot. Tay Yoshitani, not.