Impacts San
Bernardino County Economy $$$ 
Assemblyman Jay
Obernolte speaks to David Kuhnen, General Manager
of Recycling
Industries, which is unable to move recycled wastepaper
out of California due
to the West Coast port shutdown.
Assemblyman Jay
Obernolte represents the 33rd Assembly District, which includes the San
Bernardino County communities of Adelanto, Apple Valley, Baker, Barstow, Big
Bear City, Big Bear Lake, Big River, Crestline, Fort Irwin, Hesperia, Johnson
Valley, Lake Arrowhead, Lenwood, Lucerne Valley, Needles, Phelan, Running
Springs, Silver Lakes, Trona, Twentynine Palms Base, Twin Peaks and
Victorville.
Thursday
February 13th in Sacramento Assemblyman Jay Obernolte called for
Immediate Resolution to Lessen Economic Impact that may affect San Bernardino
County Economy.
Assemblyman
Jay Obernolte (R-Big Bear Lake) today joined his legislative colleagues in
urging both sides in the West Coast port shutdown to come together and resolve their
differences in the ongoing dispute that has impacted port operations and hurt
the economy.
The
Pacific Maritime Association and
Longshore and Warehouse Union have been locked in labor negotiations since
May 2014. February 11th Wednesday, it was announced that all port
operations in California will be suspended for four days as a result of the
current labor dispute.
Searles Valley Minerals, a local raw materials
mining and production company with operations in Trona, has expressed concern
that the port shutdown will severely restrain their ability to ship product
out of San Bernardino County.
“We
export 550,000 tons, over half of our production, through the Port of Long
Beach,” stated Arzell Hale, Director of Government Affairs and Public Relations
for Searles Valley Minerals.
“Our
storage is full. If they stop the exports at the port, we will end up having to
curtail our operations. If this dispute continues, it can definitely affect our
700 employees.”
“I’m concerned that the shutdown of the ports will take a toll on
our local economy and businesses like Searles Valley Minerals who employ many
of my constituents,” stated Obernolte.
“Failing to resolve this ongoing dispute has the very real potential
to adversely affect hardworking, middle class folks here in San Bernardino
County.”
The
West Coast’s 29 ports handle about $1 trillion worth of cargo each year.
According to one estimate, a 10-day shutdown of the port would cost the nation
$2.1 billion per day. It
is also estimated that congestion at the ports could cost retailers $7
billion this year.
“The
ongoing West Coast port labor dispute is having a devastating impact on our
economy. Farmers and ranchers in particular are having a tough time shipping
perishable food to customers worldwide. It is
unacceptable that California’s economy is essentially being held hostage to a labor
dispute,” said Assembly Republican Leader Kristin Olsen, of Modesto. “I
am calling for action from President Obama and the federal government to
intervene and secure a resolution so we can get our ports fully operating again.”
> Click here to see recent
images taken at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports illustrating how the port
dispute is impacting shipments in and out of California.
Assemblyman
Jay Obernolte speaks to David Kuhnen, General Manager of Recycling Industries, which
is unable to move recycled wastepaper out of California due to the West Coast
port shutdown.