The Port of Oakland is making a public appeal to prevent a loose coalition of anarchists from shutting it down next week.
As reported here recently, “Occupy” groups have called for a “total west coast ports shutdown” on December 12th that would target Oakland – the fifth largest ocean cargo gateway in the U.S.
Here’s the thrust of the port’s appeal:
Port of Oakland maritime operations were partially shut down on November 2nd - what did that accomplish? Lost work hours, lost shifts, and lost wages for workers and their families. The impact was not just one day; it is lasting.
Shutting down the Port of Oakland is a bad idea. ?It will divert cargo, tax revenue, and jobs to other communities. It will hurt working people and harm our community.
That’s why we call upon you: Join us to keep the Port open, keep people working, keep tackling our shared challenges, and keep creating jobs!
It means jobs: Together with our tenants and customers across aviation, maritime, and real estate, the Port of Oakland generates over 73,000 jobs in the region and is connected to more than 800,000 jobs across the country.?
It means tax revenue: Unlike most public agencies, the Port does NOT receive local tax dollars to fund its operations. Rather the Port and its business and labor partners together generate a combined $462.7 million in state and local taxes.
While we applaud the preemptive nature of this tactic, shippers may have already been making plans to divert cargo to less vulnerable ports.