Press-Telegram Slams False Statements from the NRDC and Teamsters Front Group

The Long Beach Press-Telegram editorialized on Oct. 27 that last week's settlement between the Port of Long Beach and the ATA was a "victory for clean air," and that attacks from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Teamsters front-group Coalition for Clean and Safe Ports are nothing more than "political hot air."

"Here's what is true," writes the Press-Telegram. "Both ports have cut diesel pollution dramatically in only 12 months by banning the oldest and dirtiest trucks. Already, two years ahead of schedule, half the fleet serving the ports are newer models, 80 percent cleaner than the old ones. The rest of the fleet will be replaced by 2012."

These environmental improvements have come without the Teamster-endorsed employee mandate at the Port of Los Angeles - a concession that the Port Long Beach never adopted because it has nothing to do with the environment and illegally regulates commerce.

"Just a few weeks ago the NRDC was praising the ports for making surprisingly fast progress in cutting diesel pollution," stated the editorial. "And now it claims that Long Beach is doing the opposite. That's not true."

"[Reducing pollution from diesel trucks] is happening, and will continue to happen, until all of the fleet serving the ports meet clean-air standards, whether the trucks are owned by big companies or little ones. It is the trucks that will get cleaned up, not the owners," stated the Press-Telegram. "All the rest is political hot air."