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Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism University of Southern California
Southern California

Increased Cargo Ship Traffic Adds a Boost to L.A. Economy

Mayor Villaraigosa hopes a rise in cargo traffic will help local economy.

Air freight traffic out of LAX saw a 3.8 dip last years, however cargo traffic in the port increased in 2011. And success in the port means progress for the region.

An increase in cargo traffic has the mayor hoping for a boost in the local economy (Photo courtesy AP).
An increase in cargo traffic has the mayor hoping for a boost in the local economy (Photo courtesy AP).

"We are the capitol of the Pacific Rim. We are the gateway to the rising economies to Asia and Latin America," Said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. "We are the Nexus. This is where it all comes. Like this, right here in L.A."

"From the mom and pop shops to the manufacturing business, to the garment business to all the infrastructure workers. All of that work gets funneled through the port...The more and more exports we have going out, the more volume of work we have," said Villaraigosa.

The plan's objectives include the securing of current and future jobs, doubling exports over the next five years, encouraging global exports outside of the Pacific Rim and Europe, providing seminars for small business owners and using target market research to promote  substantial growth in our local export industry.
 
The Plan targets the port of Los Angeles and LAX, which already have programs in place that introduce smaller business owners to the world of export, but this initiative was made to make that process easier.

"What the mayor's initiative is doing is making it a much wider scale connecting all of the agencies that have potential business needs to be successful in exporting," said Phillip Sanfield.

Long Shoremen unions like Local 13 in San Pedro say this initiative is about more that just the export business.

"The more work we have, the more money our workers- our Long shoremen are making," said ILWU Local 13 member, Chris Viramontes. "The more money they in turn can put into the community."

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