Bob Filner: “As a representative of San Diego, there are a lot of things we don't want to imitate about Los Angeles, but we look with…”

“As a representative of San Diego, there are a lot of things we don't want to imitate about Los Angeles, but we look with envy at the economic engine that the Port of Los Angeles represents. It is truly, and I say this with some envy, Southern California's gateway to international commerce, maintaining its competitive edge with record-setting cargo operations, groundbreaking environmental issues, progressive security measures, and diverse recreational and educational facilities. The port's economic contributions are far-reaching. The port is connected directly and indirectly with tens of billions of dollars in industry sales each year in the Southern California region and in the Nation, translating into hundreds of thousands of local jobs and billions of dollars in wages, salaries and State and local taxes. One out of every 24 jobs in Southern California is generated by the port. That's almost 260,000. One out of every $23 paid in wages and salaries, almost $9 billion, comes from the Port of Los Angeles. Almost 1½ million jobs are generated nationwide, and the port generates almost $1.5 billion in State and local taxes.”