Orwellian Logic and Port Policy By John McLaurin
Journal of Commerce
April 17, 2013
It appears the ports of California are on the verge of adopting a policy that will automatically increase costs for their tenants and customers on an annual basis. Proposed by the California Association of Port Authorities, a new annual general rate increase would automatically increase various rates on port tenants every year without public debate, and without regard to the economy, state of the industry, impact on competitiveness or financial standing or needs of a port authority.
The proposal comes at a time when California ports already are losing market share.
The Port of Long Beach conducted a "study session†about the proposed annual rate increase at a recent Harbor Commission meeting. Based on the tortured and disjointed rationale posed by one member of the Harbor Commission in support of the policy change, the ports owe their customers an apology — or at least a better explanation.
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