Harbor Board Meets With (Almost) All-New Leadership

L to R: Interim Port Executive Director Gary Lee Moore poses with newly appointed Harbor Board Commissioners Ed Renwick, Vilma Martinez, and Councilman Joe Buscaino at City Hall on Tuesday. (Photo credit: Port of Los Angeles)

Mayor Eric Garcetti’s final two appointees to the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners, the body that makes decisions for the Port, sat on their first meeting as commissioners last Thursday. Their appointments mean four of the board’s five members are new faces.

Vilma Martinez, former U.S. Ambassador to Argentina, and Ed Renwick, partner of private equity firm the Yucaipa Companies, were confirmed to the board by the Los Angeles City Council last week, replacing outgoing commissioners Dr. Sung Won Sohn and Doug Krause, respectively. Commissioners serve five-year terms.

“Spurring investment and creating job opportunities at our nation’s No. 1 Port is critical to Los Angeles and the entire country,” Garcetti said in a press release. “I’m looking to this panel to assure that the Port remains the premier trade gateway in North America and continues to produce needed jobs here in Los Angeles.”

At Tuesday night’s Ports O’ Call Village redevelopment public meeting, Councilman Joe Buscaino said the commissioners bring diverse perspectives to the board.

“[Commissioners Martinez and Renwick] bring incredible experience on the business side and the international trade side,” he said. “During the proceedings today at city hall, it was clear that they too believe in the importance of waterfront development.”

Martinez and Renwick are the newest faces in a shakeup of leadership at the Port, which has been subject to criticism for multi-million dollar budgetary overruns.

The board recently got two new commissioners from San Pedro: former Chamber of Commerce Chairman Anthony Pirozzi, and Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy Deputy Director Patricia Castellanos, who replaced commissioners Cindy Miscikowski and Robin Kramer. Together with Dave Arian, Pirozzi and Castellanos make up three San Pedrans on the board.

Earlier this month, former City Engineer Gary Lee Moore took the reigns as the port’s interim executive director, replacing Dr. Geraldine Knatz, who suddenly announced her retirement in October.

The new board should elect its new president and vice president at its Dec. 12 meeting.

Photo: (l to r) Interim Port Executive Director Gary Lee Moore poses with newly appointed Harbor Board Commissioners Ed Renwick, Vilma Martinez, and Councilman Joe Buscaino at City Hall on last Tuesday. (Photo credit: Port of Los Angeles)