Rep. Janice Hahn (D-San Pedro) is throwing her support behind the demands of harbor-area residents calling for independent oversight of the Port of Los Angeles after its failure to impose air quality improvements at one of its busiest shipping terminals.
The Times reported Monday that beginning in 2009, top port administrators violated the settlement by privately giving China Shipping permission to ignore requirements that ships shut down their diesel engines and plug into electricity while docked to reduce harmful emissions.
Gene Seroka, who was hired as head of the port last year, has vowed to fix the situation and to move forward with a new plan to put in cleaner technology at the terminal to make good on its pledges.