After rabid community debate, Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske’s three proposals to the City Council that aimed to both clean up the Port of Long Beach and give a larger portion of its funds back to the city’s general fund were killed Tuesday night.

Schipske’s proposals were made public last week and sparked widespread debate about both the morality and constitutionality of forcing the Port to contribute more of its profits to Long Beach.  Some believed the measure was unfair to the Port while others insisted the action was necessary to improve an ailing economy.

The extra funding would also have been allocated to improve the condition of local tidelands, which have been diminished and polluted to a great degree.  Schipske’s final proposal was that a tax be enforced on bunker fuel, a cheap but highly pollutant gas used by many incoming cargo ships.

Read the Press-Telegram article here for more background and detail.  And check out the District Weekly’s account, including strong words from a private citizen.