Continuing a shakeup at a federal agency with which local port authorities have repeatedly clashed in the past year, President Obama has nominated a longtime shipping executive and former Coast Guard member to a seat on the Federal Maritime Commission.
If approved by Congress in coming weeks, Richard A. Lidinsky Jr. would replace retiring commissioner Harold Creel to help manage an agency that last fall sued the cities of Long Beach and Los Angeles in federal court to block their clean truck concession plan. The agency also delayed by months the ports' ability to collect a $35 container fee enacted to help fund replacement of those trucks.
Lidinsky's nomination comes just a week after Obama promoted current commissioner Joseph Brennan to chair the 3-member FMC board - a move that placed a strong supporter of the LA-LB truck replacement plan in charge of FMC policy.
Brennan was the lone dissenter in several key decisions regarding the truck plan and truck fee, with Creel (retiring June 30) and fellow commissioner Rebecca Dye forming a 2-1 majority in decisions to file the lawsuit, delay the fee and investigate the ports for "anti-competitive" business practices.
Just days after Brennan's appointment, the FMC said they would drop their lawsuit in federal court, generating a collective sigh of relief from supporters who say they can now focus on the lone remaining lawsuit against the plan (brought by the American Trucking Associations).
An attorney by trade, Lidinsky began his legal career at the Federal Maritime Commission from 1973-75 and later took positions at the Port of Baltimore and with private firm Sea Containers. In recent years, he's worked as an attorney and trade consultant in private practice.
Obama's press release here.
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
politics. A newcomer to the Press-
Kris Hanson reports on the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles,
covering environmental issues, economic triumphs and
pitfalls and trade trends of America’s largest port.
He also writes a weekly column “On The Waterfront”,
appearing Tuesdays, and also produces an occassional video
and column titled “On The Job,” which follows the hard-working
men and women who keep Southern California’s economy humming.
Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
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