Oakland, CA
02-25-08 – Strengthening the Port
of Oakland's focus on the
environment, the Port Board of Commissioners recently created an Environmental
Liaison position on their Board. President Anthony Batarse announced his
appointment of Commissioner Margaret Gordon as the Commission's very first
Environmental Liaison at the Commission's last meeting on February 19, 2008.
"We are stepping up our efforts in the environmental arena, with an
important focus on air quality," stated Anthony Batarse, President of the
Port Board of Commissioners, at the Commission's last meeting. "I've asked
Commissioner Margaret Gordon to serve as an Environmental Liaison to the Port
Board. Her expertise related to air quality and her experience as a West Oakland health and environmental advocate will serve
the board well," added Batarse.
Over the last decade, Margaret Gordon has been involved locally, regionally
and nationally as a health and environmental advocate. A recipient of the 2007
Alameda County Women's Hall of Fame award, Ms. Gordon is one of the founding
members of both the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project and the
Alameda County Stakeholder Project for the Environmental Health Tracking
Project.
"There's no may or maybe," stated Commissioner Gordon. "The Port of Oakland must develop true commitments,
collaborations and partnerships with impacted residents. The issues are of
public health, environmental justice, equity, independent truckers having
better working conditions, local small trucking businesses, and access to
capacity and sustainability. The role of a commissioner is to make the Port of Oakland
the model city port, to encourage social responsibility and to serve the
citizens of Oakland.
Our policies should ensure that many voices effect change and that the Port of Oakland grows in an accountable and
transparent manner," added Gordon.
In 2006, Ms. Gordon was a presenter at a Port-related conference concerned
with trucking, shipping and logistics sponsored by the Intermodal Maritime
Association, while also contributing to the development of three
community-based participatory research reports and the publications,
"Neighborhood Knowledge for Change," "Reducing Diesel Pollution
in West Oakland" and "Paying with Our Health"
Port of Oakland Executive Director Omar Benjamin
said, "We are fortunate to have someone on our board who is en expert on
air quality. We are committed to working with our community and regulatory
partners to reduce air pollution at the Oakland
seaport. Having Commissioner Gordon as an Environmental Liaison to the board
will be extremely helpful as we move forward with important projects that will
improve the air for all of us."
The Port's mission statement includes enhancing the economic, social, and
environmental well-being of the City of Oakland
and the region, while generating earnings to reinvest in its activities.
