Council votes to deny appeal, clears way for West Harbor amphitheater in San Pedro

The Los Angeles City Council voted to deny an appeal and adopt agenda item 0.36, clearing the way for the proposed West Harbor amphitheater project in San Pedro, council proceedings show.

Council members and dozens of public speakers addressed the project, which supporters described as a multi‑use waterfront redevelopment with an amphitheater. Proponents said the project would bring jobs and revenue to San Pedro; opponents had filed an appeal that council members characterized as without legal merit. Council members voted to deny the appeal and adopt the item; the vote was recorded as 15 in favor.

The project drew repeated support from San Pedro business owners, labor representatives and neighborhood advocates during the public‑comment period. Eric Johnson, identifying himself as “Senior Project Executive for the West Harbor Project,” told the council the project would advance waterfront revitalization and urged support for an environmental report. He said the project had a multi‑year review and community engagement process: “Nosotros estamos aquí para entusiasmarlos que que se pongan a a la el pedido de un informe ambiental.”

San Pedro business leaders also urged approval. James Brand, who said he owns port‑area businesses in San Pedro, told the council the amphitheater would boost downtown San Pedro commerce and attract visitors. Alis Swanson, identified as president of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, cited the project’s economic projections during her remarks, saying it would create 1,700 jobs and generate $88,000,000 in one category and $250,000,000 in another (figures provided by the speaker).

Councilmember McCusker, who moved to deny the appeal, said the appeal lacked merit after a lengthy environmental review and hearings, and described the last‑minute appeal as “ofensivo.” In council remarks he said, “esta apelación ... no tenía mérito,” and urged the body to affirm the Harbor Commission’s decision. He also pointed to support from labor groups and local stakeholders.

Speakers representing the Port, the harbor commissioners and contractors were cited by council members as having provided technical environmental documents and mitigation measures; several union representatives and business owners urged the council to deny the appeal. One project representative said programming would include roughly 100 music shows and about 100 community events annually.

The council’s action denies the appeal and adopts item 0.36 as amended on the council floor, enabling the city and port processes to proceed. Council comments noted extensive prior review by the Port and Harbor Commission; the council record states the Harbor Commission materials were considered in the council’s action.

What’s next: the council adopted the item as recorded in the minutes; further permitting, staging and implementation steps described by speakers are managed through the Port of Los Angeles and project proponents, according to comments made during the meeting.