October 1st, 2009 marks the one year anniversary since the landmark Clean Truck Program was enacted at the Port of Los Angeles. To date this program has removed more than 2,000 dirty rigs from the road, put nearly 6,000 clean-burning trucks in service and reduced more than 30 tons of diesel particulate matter in the air Southern Californians breathe each year. This is equivalent to removing the particulate matter emissions of nearly 200,000 automobiles!
Unfortunately the American Trucking Association has challenged the Clean Truck Program in court, which risks its long-term success and creates legal doubt for other port cities seeking to enact similar life-saving efforts.
In celebration of the first anniversary of the LA Clean Truck Program, and in solidarity with more than 100 environmental, public health, community, labor and faith-based organizations around the country, members of the nationwide alliance as the Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports on the West Coast, and the Coalition for Healthy Ports on the Eastern Seaboard released statements calling for Congress to update federal law so local officials have the ability to clean the air and ensure green economic growth for our communities. Read more: Official Statement from the Coalition for Clean and Safe Ports
Alameda Labor Council, AFL-CIO
American Lung Association
Breathe California
Center for Environmental Health
Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice
Coalition for Clean Air
Communities For Clean Ports
East Bay Alliance For A Sustainable Economy
For a Better Bronx
FRESC
Garden State Alliance for a New Economy
Green Faith
Inland Regional Initiatives for a Strong Economy
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Ironbound Community Corporation
Long Beach Alliance For Children with Asthma
Los Angeles Alliance for A New Economy
Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
Natural Resources Defense Council
New Jersey Environmental Federation
Partnership for Working Families
Puget Sound Sage
San Pedro Democratic Club
Sierra Club California
South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council
Teachers Association of Long Beach, CTA/NEA
The Church Council of Greater Seattle