This opinion piece is by Warren T. Furutani, who represents the 55th District in the California Assembly, including parts of Long Beach and Lakewood.
Warren T. Furutani
It’s impossible to overstate how important transportation and trade are to our region. Ports mean trade, and trade means jobs. The Gerald Desmond Bridge, which connects Terminal Island to downtown Long Beach, is a vital link for 15 percent of the nation’s cargo that travels to and from the Port of Long Beach — one of the world’s busiest seaports — and for the commuters of Southern California.
The bridge must be replaced as a matter of public safety, and it represents a critical investment in our future.
If California is going to compete in the global market, we must improve our infrastructure. East Coast ports and ports in Canada and Mexico have been expanding their ability to manage increased trade, and capture that business. With the expansion of the Panama Canal, set to be completed in 2014, larger ships can choose to bypass California’s ports, threatening their competitiveness with other port communities.