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

Just one week after President Obama appointed Commissioner Joseph E. Brennan as acting chair of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), the DC agency has reversed its positionon its lawsuit that sought to stop certain aspects of the Clean Truck initiatives underway at the Port of Los Angeles and neighboring Port of Long Beach. 

“We’ve been breathing this dirty air for too long, and our local officials need the tools to do something about it before more kids get sicker, said Silvia Martinez, a Long Beach resident whose daughter suffers from chronic symptoms related to exposure to diesel toxins. “The ports must be able to hold this industry accountable to clean up the pollution it creates, because residents, drivers and taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay the price.” Read more.

The FMC’s decision came just hours before Oakland residents obtained a much needed breath of fresh air.  Last night the Oakland Port Commission voted to ban dirty trucks from entering its port, concrete action and a solid first step to address the air pollution that affects both truck drivers and residents. Congratulations to our sister coalition, and keep following in LA’s footsteps!

A federal judge, bound by outdated laws temporarily halted several requirements of a plan to reduce pollution at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach including a mandate for independent drivers to become employees of trucking companies, the Associated Press reported. Much to the American Trucking Association’s dismay, U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder left several components of the Clean Trucks Program intact, but was forced to gut key provisions of the policy aimed to curb diesel emission at the nation's busiest port complex by phasing out 17,000 old trucks.

The temporary injunction came only hours after the  American Lung Association released its 2009 Annual State of the Air Report. Not surprisingly, the report ranked Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside metro areas, as the worst when it came to ozone and particle pollution. (Of course, those of us that live and work around the ports don’t need piles of data to prove just how ‘ozoney’ it can get here…cough, cough)

Sadly, despite similar reports in past years and the demand from both residents and workers for a sustainable Clean Trucks Program, the American Trucking Association proved they would rather sign a blank check to litigate against a life-saving program than help pay the cost to clean up the deadly pollution their businesses create in Southern California and in other major U.S. ports. As the Press-Telegram reported:

Backed by environmentalists and labor groups, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the L.A. port had pushed for a provision requiring harbor-area trucking companies gradually take responsibility for the purchase and maintenance of new, low-emission trucks by January 2013.

The approach, which port authorities argued was needed to shift the burden of expensive new trucks off low-wage drivers in years to come, was supported by President Barack Obama and California's entire Democratic Congressional delegation.

Tom Politeo responded on behalf of the Southern California environmental-labor-community alliance: “The federal deregulation of port trucking, like that of the financial sector, has been an absolute calamity that literally chokes and congests Los Angeles and other metropolitan regions along our nation’s coastlines. This upsetting ruling clearly demonstrates we cannot let 20^th century laws continue to govern a key American industry in which the challenges of the 21^st century – globalization and global warming – collide.

“This blue-green alliance will not stop fighting until we achieve a stable and sustainable market that no longer puts our lungs and livelihoods at risk. We will continue to explore all legal and political tools available to ensure justice for port drivers and community residents. We are confident the LA Clean Trucks Program can and will become the clean-commerce model for port trucking nationwide.” More

You can exhale now, because “U.S. court refuses to halt clean-truck program at L.A. and Long Beach ports” reads the headline in today’s Los Angeles Times.

Judge Leon’s denial of the Federal Maritime Commission’s motion was based on the federal agency’s “weak” arguments that the LA and Long Beach Ports’ differing “concession” models would cause irreparable harm to – or create anti-competitive conditions for – the goods movement industry. The LA Clean Trucks Program in particular aims to reduce diesel truck pollution by 80%, deliver $5 billion to the regional economy, and create stronger safety and security enforcement, meaning it will help clear a pathway to job-creating future port expansion projects.

In other words, the sky didn’t fall on October 1^st when the Clean Trucks Program went into effect and it’s not falling now. The decision is a welcomed breath of fresh air for the port residents, drivers, political leaders, public health advocates and environmentalists who made the development of the Clean Trucks Program a reality in the first place.

And, as LA City Councilwoman Janice Hahn noted: "We've always had the public on our side, now we have the law on our side too. I'm glad the judge was looking out for the people's health rather than the perceived harm to the trucking industry."

Mayor Villaraigosa, a key architect of what the Bush-appointed Judge Leon called an “...ambitious, multi-faceted program to reduce high levels of air pollution while also striving to improve the Ports’ safety and security” reacted to the favorable ruling:

"This is a clear victory for our Clean Trucks Program and the idea you can both green and grow the Port of Los Angeles at the same time.''

Thanks to the American Trucking Association – the nation’s largest trucking lobby group - supporters of the lifesaving Clean Trucks Program woke up today to a new stench in the air. Environmentalists, community members and port drivers expressed outrage at the Virginia-based lobby group’s efforts to kill a pair of critical-clean air programs in the San Pedro Bay after a Court of Appeals panel sent a favorable ruling back to the U.S. District Court. The panel suggested that the District Court was wrong when it denied the American Trucking Association’s request for an injunction that could shut down the Ports’ Clean Trucks Programs.

With over 3,700 premature deaths attributed annually to goods movement the public health threat is real. “While the hired guns high-five one another, my kids gasp for air,” said Alicia Carrera, a Long Beach mother of three asthmatic children. “This is more dirty tricks from a shameless industry that has bullied its way around our backyard for too long.”

Councilmember Janice Hahn, whose district covers port adjacent communities, expressed her concern: "We have been working for years to try to mitigate the critical health and safety issues that Port operations present. The Clean Trucks Program effectively addresses these air quality and public safety issues. Hopefully, Judge Snyder's ultimate ruling will allow us to continue to uphold these new and improved standards. So far, we can account for cleaner air, a more reliable work force, and improved public safety."

Through a statement by the Coalition for Clean and Safe Ports, public health advocates, environmentalists, mothers of children with asthma and truck drivers vowed to fight at all costs to protect LA green-growth model for nation’s ports. Read More

Swift may be viewed by some observers as the face of a greener port industry – the national trucking company was first in line to sign up for port concessions – but despite their clean fleet the concessionaire appears to be running a dirty campaign against its workers.

Like the haulers who last Monday protested the unscrupulous labor broker scheme at Southern Counties Express, Swift drivers this morning marched on their boss with a petition signed by nearly 80 drivers (partial listing available here) with a similarly clear message: Enough is enough.

Four Swift employees were wrongfully terminated in the past month, an Unfair Labor Practice filed Friday with the National Labor Relations Board charges. Anthony Herron, Bismark Sanchez Jr., Marco Diaz and Salvador Diaz say they were fired because they refused company pressure to illegally haul overweight loads on alternate routes to avoid Department of Transportation inspection points, and for questioning why they weren’t paid the overtime they worked.      

And that has Councilwoman Janice Hahn, whose district includes the Wilmington based Swift, beyond peeved. She joined the roughly 100 port drivers and their community and Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports advocates at 8 a.m. to deliver a strongly worded letter to the company’s terminal manager. It reads, in part:

I am very concerned by the grievances brought on against SWIFT by several of its current employees. It is my understanding that employees have been subjected to a series of meetings where they have been interrogated and beleaguered for raising safety issues and speaking out against workplace mistreatment.

I have been a strong supporter of the Los Angeles Clean Trucks Program because I firmly believe that my constituents deserve both clean air and good jobs. While I applaud your use of a clean fleet as part of your doing business in my district, I remind you that treating your workers in a fair and responsible manner is just as important to the Los Angeles Clean Trucks Program.

LA Clean Trucks Program supporters David Greene of the San Pedro Democratic Club, Angelo Logan of East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, Professor Jake Wilson from California State University Long Beach and several port residents agreed. . As public health advocates, they let the brave port drivers know that they would stand with them in their fight – it’s not enough to have clean trucks if the worker behind the wheel is being treated unfairly.

Bizmark Sanchez Jr. was deeply moved by all the support for him and his co-workers. As one of Hahn’s constituents, he courageously blew the whistle in a letter on Swift’s dirty tricks and said he was grateful that the Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports and the Councilwoman heard his plea for help. He couldn’t believe his simple words on college-ruled paper and blue ink would generate attention from TV cameras, newspaper reporters a powerful elected leader and community residents: 

We are hard working people who just want to earn an honest living for our families. I know that many port drivers fought hard to finally be employees and drive clean trucks, but the companies act just as bad as they used to when we were independent contractors. We want to work in the port but we also want to be safe and we want to get paid for all the hours we work.

 As the drivers like to say, Sí Se Puede.

While this morning’s front page of the Los Angeles Times business section declared great news – the Clean Trucks Program is paying off – it appears one of the trucking companies who cried foul a few weeks ago is now the one not playing fair.

At 7 a.m., 50 port drivers who haul for Southern Counties Express paid a visit to CEO Brian Griley to deliver a letter and petition demanding direct employee status from Southern Counties Express. The drivers were accompanied by their families, supportive community members, and their environmental advocates in the Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports.

Port drivers Lorenzo Justice and Jose Portillo led their co-workers into Mr. Griley’s office to insist that Southern Counties Express honor the spirit and intent of the Clean Trucks Program by directly employing them – instead of contracting them through a shady labor broker scheme. (see company memo 1 and 2) 

Lorenzo says he attempted to read the drivers’ letter to Mr. Griley, but Mr. Griley refused to listen and threatened to call the police. Lorenzo, who was surrounded by his wife and 9-year-old child, asked Mr. Griley: “How would you feel if you were being passed around like us? I have to feed my daughter. We deserve better, you need to take responsibility for us.”

Mr. Griley never accepted the petition, but the group delivered it at the reception’s desk before peacefully walking out chanting “Yes we can! Yes we can!”

Jose Portillo was proud for standing up, but expressed concern over retaliation. “I hope our boss doesn’t punish or fire any of us for signing the petition and speaking out. All we want is what we deserve; we want to be recognized as his employees and continue to work so that we can keep taking care of our families.”

The Garcia family arrived at Pier A90 already weeping, but determined to honor the life of their beloved husband and father Pablo A. Garcia, the truck driver who was tragically killed at the Port of Long Beach two weeks ago. The now family of four clung to each other as they made their way past a pack of TV and newspaper reporters and camera people and the community altar adorned with candles and flowers. Amidst painful tears, 17-year-old Pablo Garcia Jr. spoke to fellow mourners:“I am here today speaking to you all because I don’t want my father’s death to be in vain.

The family of the port truck driver who was tragically killed in an accident at the Port of Long Beach will demand an immediate assessment of current safety regulations from Port Authorities during a candlelight vigil today at 5pm.

Yesterday’s Los Angeles Times carried an ominous headline: “LA Port’s Clean-Truck Program Running on Empty.” And here we thought it was finally picking up steam, because though there’s no guarantee, it has been widely reported in the industry press that on February 18, the key component of the Clean Trucks Program – the cargo fee – will finally go into

Today we break from reporting on the Beltway gridlock that has temporarily stalled Southern California’s green-growth plan to move up the East Coast, where a powerful elected leader has planted the policy seeds to help an ailing New York industry thrive again.

The Federal Maritime Commission’s continuing delay of a key component of the Clean Trucks Program has become synonymous with one simple phrase. “Classic Bush Administration” is a logical guess – and not incorrect – but the Road believes “colossal mistake,” coined by the lone dissenting Commissioner Stephen Joseph E. Brennan, takes the cake.

Today's guest posting is by Adrian Martinez of NRDC. It originally appeared on Switchboard.

Two federal officials in Washington, DC, clinging to textbook Bush Administration arrogance, yesterday delayed clean air – again – for all Southern Californians. In a 2-1 vote, the Federal Maritime Commission jammed up the Clean Trucks Program cargo fee for another 45 days in a decision made behind closed doors, without public review or environmental study.

Apparently, environmentalists, worker advocates and community residents aren’t the only ones crying foul over the latest roadblock against the Clean Trucks Program, courtesy of the Bush Administration’s “midnight” attack on the environment.

So maybe the judge didn't bring down the gavel, but the good news is the LA Clean Trucks Program is moving forward and environmentalists, port drivers and the community continue to lead 2-0 in the courtroom battle to protect our lungs and livelihoods!

Today's guest blog is by Doug Bloch, Director of the Oakland Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports

Part II: The LA Solution

Yesterday, I wrote about why the California Air Resources Board, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the Port of Oakland's effort to meet new environmental truck standards will fail because the lowest paid workers in the industry cannot assume the highest cost (and risk) for clean air.

Today's guest blog is by Doug Bloch, Director of the Oakland Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports

Part I: The Oakland Problem

This week, the Oakland Port Commission will consider meeting minimum clean-air standards by requiring port trucks to be replaced or retrofitted with filters.

Today, The Road will refrain from further commentary on the FMC's latest maneuvering to delay clean air to bring you this shocking scoop: We actually agree with our zealous and frequent critics at the Long Beach Press-Telegram editorial board! (But of course not without a tinge of irony.)

There's been quite a change in our country since our last post and naturally some have already hypothesized about the impact a new Administration will have on vital programs to combat poverty and pollution, particularly at the ports. The national shift is of special interest when considering the Bush Administration's desperate 11th hour move to seek a court order to halt key elements of the Clean Trucks Programs at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

The FMC made what some are calling a "colossal mistake" on Wednesday upon voting 2-1 to seek a court order to halt portions of the clean trucks program at the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. NRDC and other environmental advocates are gearing up to respond with litigation against the commission for its attack to derail clean air gains in southern California.

Attorney-General Jerry Brown announced a new set of lawsuits against port trucking companies that misclassify their workers to pin them with the burden of truck ownership and to avoid paying taxes. The Road expects this new set of lawsuits to have implications for tomorrow's study session on the Long Beach Clean Trucks Program, which fails to provide the 92 percent of drivers an escape from the status quo conditions that prevent them from gaining employee rights.

Today's guest blog is by Doug Bloch, Director, Oakland Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports

Now that Los Angeles has overcome the industry roadblocks to successfully implement the most dramatic emissions reduction program in history, community, labor and environmental advocates here in the Bay Area have turned up the heat to get deadly diesel-spewing port trucks off our streets once and for all.

Shoot. They caught us flat-footed.

We never could have anticipated that the hired guns over at the Virgina-based American Trucking Association, seeing red that their "slam dunk" effort to stop a bold clean-air policy has twice gotten the green light in court, would resort to putting their highest-paid lobbyists on the case to enlist the support of their Beltway pals.

Nancyfoster1 submitted the following comment in response to a 17-year old's guest blog "Are you there, Bob? It's me Bianca" which focused on a so-called independent port driver who is earning poverty wages while the economy slows and the cost of diesel rises.

"FYI, If one isn't making enough then they need to get another job as Bob did...like selling and installing carpet on the weekends."

Last night I arrived at Long Beach city hall and waited for several hours before finally having the opportunity to give public comment at the city council meeting about the importance of cleaning our air without forcing local truck drivers into poverty. The three-hour wait made me hungry and a little worried about getting home in time to finish my homework, but I was determined to speak to Mayor Foster and my councilmembers on what I learned last week when I went to the port after school to speak to truck drivers about the Long Beach Clean Trucks program.

Fiona Lewis Mackert, Chair of the GREEN ACADEMY at Millikan High School

Today's guest posting is by Adrian Martinez of NRDC. It originally appeared on Switchboard.

Today marks an historic day for Southern California residents. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach started their clean trucks programs, which will pay huge dividends to the health of harbor area residents. Today, some of the oldest, most polluting trucks have been barred from port service. Over the next five years, all the old trucks that service the ports will be phased out to be replaced by newer, cleaner trucks. With some of the filthiest air in the entire Los Angeles region, this could not have come sooner for harbor area residents.

Today's guest post is by Jon Zerolnick of the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, co-author of "Foreclosure on Wheels."

On Friday I discussed how the Port of Long Beach - a public, government entity which once had a goal of reversing the economic conditions that created our environmental crisis - signed on the dotted line with Daimler/Mercedes Benz in a financing scheme that would make drivers poorer.

Today's guest post is by Jon Zerolnick of the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, co-author of "Foreclosure on Wheels."

Well, Long Beach went ahead and signed its predatory truck lending deal with Daimler, despite scathing criticism that extended well beyond this powerful local coalition of environmentalists, community, labor and public health advocates. The Consumer Federation of California and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People were among the prominent state and national organizations that refused to remain silent, with NAACP Chairman Julian Bond likening the plight of port drivers under this scheme to "Sharecropping on Wheels."

Today's guest posting is by Adrian Martinez of NRDC. It originally appeared on Switchboard.

When I was thirteen years old, I purchased a "keep on truckin" patch that I placed on my backpack. Back then, I thought it was a pretty cool design, but I did not know much about Robert Crumb or for that matter big rig trucks rumbling through the streets of LA and Long Beach. However, this phrase has a greater meaning to me and harbor area residents this week because a federal court of appeals told the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach that they can "keep on truckin" towards cleaner and more sustainable port operations.

Meet Moises Gonzalez, an "independent contractor" who hauls goods from the ports in a 1997 truck to support his wife and two children. Last week, this driver was suddenly fired by Express Intermodal Transportation, a company owned by Bob Curry. [Interestingly enough, Jose Maria Lira, a company at the center of the Attorney-General's crackdown, sub-hauls with K&R another one of Mr. Curry's companies. Coincidence?]

From Carlos Peinado, a student at Long Beach City College

I am the Director of Student Environment at Long Beach City College (LBCC). Our student group believes that the environmental hazards on our campus and in our community can no longer be ignored and we feel that if students come together against these issues we can really make a difference. That's why we hosted an information session entitled "The Port of Long Beach, The Community and The Environment: A Panel Discussion" last week.

We're certainly not the decision-makers at the Press-Telegram (The Road is pro-worker and pro-union, after all), but we did want to post this letter to the editor that Cabrillo High School teacher Bernice Banares forwarded to us in response to the P-T editorial last week that championed the Long Beach Clean Trucks Program, which frankly just puts lipstick on the same ol' polluting pig. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

Today's guest posting is written by Maria Agamenon, an active member of a local group for mothers of children with asthma.

I dedicate my life to taking care of my three kids. The two younger ones, Stephanie and Edwin, both suffer from asthma. Like many other mothers who also live in Long Beach, I hold my breath every time my child coughs and hope to God it will not escalate into another trip to the public emergency room. I can't put into words how frightening it is to see your child gasp for air. No mother can ever get used to the sight of their child struggling to breathe.

Today's guest posting is by David Pettit of NRDC. It originally appeared on Switchboard.

The American Trucking Association ("ATA") bragged that its lawsuit, aimed at killing the truck concession plans of the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, was a "slam dunk." United States District Court Judge Christina Snyder disagreed in a ruling issued on September 9, 2008, denying ATA's request for a preliminary injunction that would have put the concession plans on ice.

There are two main requirements for a preliminary injunction: probability of success on the merits, and a showing of irreparable injury. ATA threw up bricks on each issue.

On Sept 5 Attorney-General Jerry Brown announced a set of lawsuits against trucking companies that abuse their workers by denying them basic employee rights and protections. "These companies engage in cost-cutting schemes that take advantage of their workers and avoid California taxes. They unlawfully classify their workers as ‘independent contractors,' circumventing state employment taxes and labor laws that guarantee workers compensation, disability benefits and the right to a minimum wage."

Who would suffer more from the landmark clean trucks program set to begin Oct. 1: the trucking industry or residents affected by toxic diesel emissions?

On Sept 5 Attorney-General Jerry Brown announced lawsuits against tax-cheating trucking companies that abuse their workers by denying them basic employee rights and protections in the San Pedro Bay. "These companies engage in cost-cutting schemes that take advantage of their workers and avoid California taxes. They unlawfully classify their workers as ‘independent contractors,' circumventing state employment taxes and labor laws that guarantee workers compensation, disability benefits and the

When you invite guests to a party, it's very bad form to turn them away at the door. But that's just what the Port of Long Beach tried to do when over 100 port drivers and their community advocates showed up at the Ports' Clean Trucks Center this morning.

Well, today’s LA Times story certainly doesn’t fare well for Daimler Truck Financial, Mercedes Benz’ parent company, which is being accused of provoking foreclosures on wheels, sharecropping on wheels, sweatshops on wheels, and all other sorts of predatory wheeling and dealing. (How do you say ouch in German?)

After we posted the pay stub of an independent contractor port driver who spent a week behind the wheel and came home with only $1.76, some observers just had to see for themselves if diesel fuel and insurance costs could really eat up a driver's whole pay check. That's just what Isaias Alvarado of the country's most widely circulated Spanish-language daily, La Opinión, did when he contacted the driver in question and two others to confirm that, in his words, "port drivers are literally paying to move containers."

For all of you still laboring under the delusion that port truck drivers will be able to pay $500 - $700 a month for a new truck, please observe closely. Mario, a port truck driver with nearly a decade of experience, came to work each morning at 4:30 AM and took every load he was offered. Here's what he was left with at the end of the week:

It ran in the LA Times on Saturday and was confirmed this morning (here's the evidence) - the American Trucking Association has filed a law suit to block plans to replace old polluting trucks at both of the San Pedro Bay Ports.

Why is the Bay Area getting in line behind Los Angeles ? Take a virtual multimedia march, and transport yourself as 3,000 others did on Tuesday…

From Tom Politeo, Sierra Club Harbor Vision Task Force

It’s official. The campaign to keep dirty diesel trucks off the road for good has broken its own record for the most unfounded, hostile editorials by the Long Beach Press-Telegram. It was only a few months ago the local paper’s ed-board devoted several Sundays to wild claims about the Teamsters, one of the 30+ partner organizations of the Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports. The Road wonders, what will they think of next?

Here in the harbor area, a diverse community of activists has been fighting to hold the goods movement industry responsible for the environmental and public health impacts of its multi-billion dollar business for many years. So it comes as no surprise to us that the American Trucking Association's Curtis Whalen would tell a reporter for the Journal of

Enjoy your 4th of July weekend, and be very glad you aren't a port truck driver getting ready to purchase a truck through the financing scheme cooked up by the Port of Long Beach.

Good news. The Tidelands and Harbor Committee of the Long Beach City Council recommended yesterday that the entire council hold a study session to examine the Clean Trucks Program rushed through by Long Beach Harbor Commissioners in February. The recommendation came following a series of comments by community stakeholders who challenged the scheme, asking Committee Chair Suja Lownethal, and members Bonnie Lowenthal and Gary DeLong to take a close hard look.

There’s Councilwoman Janice Hahn, surrounded by the American Lung Association’s Tamara Watkins, the Sierra Club’s Tom Politeo, NRDC’s Adrian Martinez, “diesel-death zone” mothers, and port truck drivers on the steps of City Hall June 17, when the LA City Council unanimously adopted the comprehensive, sustainable Clean Trucks Program that will reduce deadly emissions by 80 percent.

A trio of press accounts this morning set a few things straight, and should have all Southern Californians cheering along with environmentalists, public health advocates and port drivers:

Less than one week after every majority-party Member of Congress across California sent a strongly-worded letter urging the Federal Maritime Commission to support the landmark Port of Los Angeles' Clean Trucks Program, officials in Washington found that competition will not be hampered by its initial implementation and granted expedited review of the historic clean-air policy. The FMC determines whether the plan conflicts with federal commerce law.

Here's the story from today’s Long Beach Press-Telegram. The American Trucking Association has confirmed it's preparing to file lawsuits against the Port of Long Beach’s Clean Trucks Program as well as against the sustainable, comprehensive plan passed by the Port of Los Angeles. Clike here to read CCSP's statement on the ATA's pronouncement.

Should America's ports be required to allow any trucking company that shows up at their gates entrance inside - no matter what? The American Trucking Association seems to think so. They may have spun their opposition to the San Pedro Ports' Clean Truck Programs as limited to responsible employer provisions, but it turns out the ATA appears to reject the Ports playing any role in restricting access to their property.

California Progress Report, the site that statewide Democrats and their staffs click on for their morning coffee, is running a two-day series by Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports Chair Patricia Castellanos and CCSP Oakland Director Doug Bloch on Los Angeles’ green-growth port model, aka

From Long Beach resident Martha Cota

I am a working mother of three sons and one daughter. I’ve often had to hold down as many as three jobs at a time to raise my children. I may not have much money, but living here by the port, I’ve come to learn one thing: It doesn’t matter if a person is wealthy or low-income. In Long Beach, we all breathe the same dirty air and we all suffer.

From Patricia Castellanos, Chair, CCSP

New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman recently argued in a Sunday magazine cover story "I think that living, working, designing, manufacturing and projecting America in a green way can be the basis of a new unifying political movement for the 21st century."

For the first time ever, a city outside of California, (Pittsburg, PA) tops one of the most polluted lists in the American Lung Association’s State of the Air: 2008 report. Los Angeles saw improvements in air quality, dropping its year-round particle pollution levels by nearly one-third in the last decade.