By Greg Moran /inewsource / April 24, 2024
San Diego Port District commissioners dug in harder against a bill pending in the state Legislature that would require ethics and governance changes to the agency, saying they would support it so long as large sections were cut and several amendments included.
At a special meeting Monday afternoon the commissioners voted 6-1 to oppose AB 2783, a bill from San Diego Assemblymember David Alvarez, unless changes covering funding, ethics reform and governance of the board were adopted.
The move is the latest in a faceoff between Alvarez’s attempt to reform the powerful agency and the port’s resistance. When he introduced the legislation in February, the port said it was concerned that the bill would have “many negative impacts” and hurt businesses.
The port controls activity on tidelands in five cities: San Diego, Coronado, National City, Imperial Beach and Chula Vista. While each city appoints a representative — San Diego as the largest city appoints three — the port operates as an independent special district established under state law, and its decisions are not subject to ratification by elected officials or residents of the member cities.
Assemblymember David Alvarez, D-San Diego, is sworn into office during a June 16, 2022, ceremony. (Courtesy of Assemblymember David Alvarez’s office)
The port’s preferred version of the bill would cut out large sections dealing with term limits, lobbying and disclosure of any evidence relating to the censure of any commissioner for unethical conduct.
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