Protect the Port of Oakland!

Peter Friedman

The Honorable Ces Butner
President
Board of Port Commissioners
Port of Oakland
530 Water Street
Oakland, CA  94607
   
Dear President Butner:
On behalf of California and the nation’s agriculture and forest products producers, farmers, processors, exporters, we must register our deep concern regarding proposals to permanently remove a viable marine terminal at the Port of Oakland from the international supply chain infrastructure upon which we depend.

The Port of Oakland is a critical gateway to our largest international markets – Asia Pacific and South Asia.  All around the United States, ports are expanding their terminals and export capacity. It is almost inconceivable that one state, city and port would now be reducing capacity, by shuttering a maritime terminal, converting it to non-maritime uses such as hotel, retail, residential housing and a ballpark.

Industrial waterfront property suitable for container and other international ocean shipping expansion is virtually non-existent on the US west coast. That such an asset would be voluntarily sacrificed has port authorities and economic development authorities scratching their collective heads. We, the agriculture exporters who continually strive to increase our sales to global customers will be among the first to feel the loss of this gateway expansion opportunity.

Farm goods account for 40-50 percent of the Port's total exports ... about $6.1 billion worth of containerized fruit and veggie shipments moved through Oakland in 2017, equaling 135,000 20-foot containers. The Port’s terminals serve the nation, and are particularly critical if the Central, San Joaquin, Salinas and Napa and Sonoma Valleys are to remain premier export generators. The Port serves as the primary gateway for California's premium agricultural goods, including nuts and dried fruits, wine, dairy products and other products.
 
We ask the Governor, City of Oakland officials and Port Commission to very carefully consider the impact of permanently limiting the ability of the port to expand and negatively impacting existing maritime operations to serve the states’ and the nation's agriculture production and exports. Such deep water marine terminals are already in short supply; taking Howard terminal off-line and creating barriers to Oakland’s other marine terminals, is directly contrary to the expanding infrastructure taking place at all US coasts, in Canada, Mexico and Latin America and efforts to improve cargo velocity and flow. California’s agriculture competitors in those countries are benefiting by these new and expanded marine terminals, gaining more efficient access to global markets. California and the Port should know that removing this terminal and impeding vessel and truck access to marine terminals would be a step backwards, as it will limit the potential for growth of our own US and California exports.
   
Prior to taking action on the Howard Terminal development project, we strongly urge the Mayor and the Oakland Port Commission to meet with all segments of the international trade community, including  farmers, manufacturing, trucking, logistics services, warehousing, labor, maritime and others who depend on the Port as a trade gateway.

Thank you for your consideration and concern.
 
Sincerely    
Peter Friedmann
Executive Director
Agriculture Transportation Coalition