Two more departing harbor commissioners bid farewell amid some tears — but also a festive mariachi band performance — on Thursday, April 27, marking the end of an era for the Port of Los Angeles as the longtime panelists make way for new members who LA Mayor Karen Bass recently nominated to succeed them.
It was the final meeting for board President Jaime Lee, who was praised for her calm and steady demeanor leading the panel through difficult years, and Commissioner Lucia Moreno-Linares, who was a voice for the Wilmington community during her more than five years on the panel.
Former Commissioner Anthony Pirozzi was the first to depart, doing so on April 13.
The nominees to replace all three are:
- U.S. Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (replacing Moreno-Linares).
- Michael Munoz (replacing Pirozzi).
- Lee Williams (replacing Lee).
The nominees must first go before the City Council’s Trade, Travel and Tourism Committee and then confirmed by the full council. They are expected to be seated by the time the commission meets again, typically in about two weeks.
Remaining on the five-member panel are Commissioner Diane Middleton and Vice President Ed Renwick. It is unclear if any further appointments are coming from the mayor’s office.
Moreno-Linares, confirmed on Sept. 20, 2017, was taken aback when she was approached by the office of then-Mayor Eric Garcetti for a nomination to the commission.
“I thought, ‘You’re kidding,’” she said in remarks on Thursday. “I thought it was a prank call.”
But the question posed to her, she said, was whether she’d be willing to serve.
And she was, she realized.
“I want my community to be better and I’m willing to do my part to make it better,” said Moreno-Linares, who is a Wilmington native and has been active in numerous causes in her hometown.
Wilmington abuts the northern boundaries of the Port of Los Angeles and has long been impacted not only by the industrial pollution but also the heavy container…
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