Dozens of community leaders attend meeting to voice support for decision
By Johnny McDonald | Downtown News
The Board of Port Commissioners reaffirmed their stand in an open meeting on Feb. 14 that a sport stadium will not replace the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal.
This marked the second time in four years that a developer has been turned away on a proposal for a non-maritime sports complex. In 2008, San Diego voters defeated a developer-led initiative to double-deck the terminal with a stadium by a 70 to 30 percent margin.
At the Feb. 14 meeting, approximately two dozen community leaders, elected officials, labor leaders and environmentalists voiced their support of the Port’s maritime cargo operation over a proposed stadium. They stated the current operation creates jobs, supports national defense and plays a key role in the California, as well as the national, system of ports.
Former Port Commissioner Stephen Cushman, now a special assistant to Mayor Jerry Sanders, said the mayor believes strongly in preserving a balanced port.
“It’s wonderful to have hotels, restaurants, lots of great tenants, 17 parks and the like,” Cushman said. “Let us remember, we work for the citizens of California. They have asked us to give them a balanced port to all member cities. That is why I moved, in 2004 [and] as a member of this board, that Tenth Avenue must be retained and not used as a football stadium,” he said.
“Tell the developers, the hoteliers, the sports team owners and the newspaper owners that Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal is not for sale,” said Chester Mordasini, president of Teamster’s Local 911, which represents clerks, wharf managers, police dispatchers and other Port of San Diego employees.
Jim Unger, chairperson of the board of the San Diego Ports Tenants Association agreed. “We are unified in the belief that this deep water asset is irreplaceable. It’s integral in the very definition of port,” said Unger. The association represents hotels, the hospitality industry, restaurants and other maritime-related attractions and businesses.
Job creation was a focus at the meeting, with Cindy Gompper-Graves, CEO of the South County Economic Development Council, questioning the value of a football stadium.
“Where is the multiplier for jobs? Yours is four-for-one. For every job you create there are four jobs outside,” she said of the impact of the Port’s current cargo operation.
“The significance of the Terminal is plain and simple: jobs, national security and the role it plays in California and U.S. System of ports,” said Joel Valenzuela, director of Maritime Operations for the Port of San Diego.
Wayne Darbeau, the Port District president and CEO, said the leadership of the Board of Port Commissioners has enabled the growth and development of maritime in regional, national and global markets.
“Along with the importance of our port as one of only 17 strategic commercial ports, I urge the board to stand resolute for an undiminished and vibrant maritime business at Tenth Avenue and the National City Marine Terminal and our cruise ship terminals,” he said.
Other representatives from various organizations attended the meeting and showed support and gratitude for the Port, including Ray Leyba of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and Jennifer Klein, director of business development for BNSF Railway.
The board regularly meets the second Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. in the Port Administration Building, 3165 Pacific Highway. March’s meeting is scheduled for the first Tuesday, March 10.
