HOT Monday Morning Briefs on the Los Angeles Political Machine

While the Port of Los Angeles-representing Politicos flock to welcome the largest Container Ship ever to berth at the Harbor, the facts are that the twin Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are still in recovery mode after recent work actions.

Photos via David Roberts.

** You can't blame the likes of Mayor Eric Garcetti, CD 15 City Councilman Joe Buscaino and Congresswoman Janice Hahn for flocking dockside at the Port of Los Angeles to welcome the largest Container Ship ever to berth at the Nation's busiest Harbor. The French-based Shipping Company CMA CGM's newest Container Ship "Benjamin Franklin", is a behemoth with its 1,300 ft. length and 180 ft. cross section, that enables a capacity of 18,000 "TEUs" (one TEU equates to a 20 ft shipping container). 

While the berthing of the Benjamin Franklin is hopefully the first of many Ports of Call for the growing fleet of mega Container Ships being built by the world's largest shipping firms, recent train counts via the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority, show that since the end of the most recent Labor Job Action in late 2014/early 2015. the amount of daily train traffic is down from 47 (2014) to 39 (2015) per day.

In recent years, both the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles have invested Billions of Dollars in upgrading their respective waterfront infrastructures, to accommodate for the arrival of the newest generation of mega Container Ships, by dredging shipping channels and building dockside rail-loading facilities (while secretly rolling-back, promised pollution-cutting requirements) .

Yet unlike ports in Europe and Asia, which have invested in robotic automation that keeps pace with the growing size of ships ........, and their desired quicker unloading needs, The twin ports, especially LA, are endangering their share of the global trade market, as they remain vested to the interest of Organize Labor (and City Hall, which has increasingly used the Port of LA Department as a patronage dumping ground).

For the moment, the twin ports can rejoice in the fact that the Panamanians are having issues with the seals on the new, larger locks for a upgraded Panama Canal, which will enable large Container Ships (but not those of the super size of the Benjamin Franklin), to bypass West Coast Ports. But if the twin ports remain wedded to Labor's 20th Century-rooted dockside practices, the loud horns pronouncing a economic-sustaining Port of Call, may become fleeting.

Infrared Video of Aliso Canyon Gas Leak. 

** The video posted above shows the COSTLY ramification of not replacing a safety valve on a certain Porter Ranch area Methane Gas Line. BTW, we are still seeking any semblance of comment from California Governor Jerry Brown as the Daily News notes. But then the female sibling of Governor Moonbeam II might take exception to any comments that cast dispersion on her employer's contribution to supposed, Climate Change-causing CO2 pollution?

USC President Max Nikias (on right) with LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis and local enablers.

Hmm, can you find the safety issues?

** Memo to USC President Max Nikias, can you have your staff recognize the potential safety issues that your Norfolk Street Extension, may have on Hazard Park patrons who use the Historic Handball Courts? But then according to sources, its still a goal to move the courts to another area of the park, away from its decades-long location  Remember, supposed Good Neighbors don't endanger fellow community members.

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14