On Thursday, June 2, 2022, the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) held a public meeting to discuss removing the Howard Terminal’s Port Priority Use designation to make way for the Oakland A’s private real estate development. Unfortunately, BCDC staff recommended the removal of Howard Terminal from Port Priority Use even though there is already a crisis at the Port of Oakland due to lack of ancillary space.
Agricultural stakeholders have come together to make it known that it is imperative for the long-term health and growth of the California agricultural export community that BCDC keep the Seaport Priority Use designation for Howard Terminal. Last week, a broad coalition of agriculture stakeholders sent a letter which fiercely opposes removing Howard Terminal’s Port Priority Use designation.
The letter eloquently sums up these concerns when it says, “In light of current congestion issues at the Port of Oakland, the removal of property which provides us with more transportation options will only make our issues worse and make it harder for us to use the Port of Oakland as our primary export gateway. More specifically, this acreage at the Port of Oakland is necessary to be retained as a Seaport Priority Use for our farmers now because Howard Terminal is currently a critical staging area supported by the USDA to alleviate current supply chain crisis impacts on American exporters and in the future to ensure that Oakland exporters can grow with the economy.”
The letter goes on to say, “Moreover, we ask BCDC to reject the narrative that the State of California should develop its policies and planning through 2050 on an assumption that our agricultural export community will perpetually be stuck in a “slow-growth” scenario. We would not be in this business, as it would be unsustainable, if we were to believe that our markets and crops would only be growing at a one percent compounded annual growth rate. As policymakers, this Commission should not be planning on the failure of California’s agricultural community, instead we implore you to plan on our success and our investment in our economy and that means embracing at least a moderate growth scenario.”
For more information about the upcoming public meeting and how to participate, contact CCM Director of State Governmental Affairs Jacob Villagomez at Jacob@cacitrusmutual.com.
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