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| From the Reporter |
| What the Mayoral Candidates Are Saying About Port Commerce |
| Bob Filner: Expansion of the port has “the biggest single potential for (increasing) middle class jobs in this nation. We’re talking about thousands of jobs — jobs that pay a livable wage. That has an impact on the whole economy, and whether tourists come.” Carl DeMaio: “In order to bring jobs in, we have to rethink the relationship between the city and the port.” |
| What the Candidates Want to Do For Port Commerce |
| Filner: Bring interest groups together to develop an expansion plan to spur private investment. DeMaio: Audit maritime operations, promote public-private partnerships and streamline permitting. |
| What the Hurdles Are |
| San Diego’s port brings in niche goods, not the major consumer items handled by ports at Los Angeles and Long Beach. It is spending only a fraction of what its northern neighbors have invested to increase commerce. An expert said any port expansion here could bring job numbers in the hundreds, not thousands. |