Port of Los Angeles reports record cargo year, committee debates leasing policy, workforce training plan

The Port of Los Angeles told a City Council committee on Monday that 2024 was one of its strongest years and outlined plans for a goods‑movement training campus, while committee members and union representatives pressed for changes to the port’s leasing policy to make job‑impact analyses more transparent.

In a quarterly update, Port official Jean Soroka said 2024 was “the second best year in our shipping business in the 117 year history of the Port Of Los Angeles” and that the port remained the largest container port in the Western Hemisphere for the 25th consecutive year. Soroka said year‑over‑year cargo volume rose roughly 20 percent and the port handled about 1,600,000 more container units than the previous year. He said the port opened 2025 with more than 922,000 containers in the first month, “about 8% better than a year ago, 13% better than the 5 year average.”

Why it matters: committee members and labor leaders said strong throughput does not guarantee local jobs. Speakers urged the committee to require systematic job counts and post‑project comparisons so the public can see whether automation or redevelopment reduces employment in port‑adjacent communities.

Union leaders and counsel for several longshore locals urged the committee to press the port for clearer job‑impact rules. “Amendments to the port’s leasing policy are critically needed,” said Gary Herrera, president of ILWU Local 13. Marco Solgin, counsel for multiple longshore locals, said it is “critical to understand how proposed port projects would impact jobs.” Sal DiCostanzo added: “Jobs are critically important to the local community.”

Councilmember Ed McCosker, who introduced motions seeking stronger leasing‑policy language and a possible charter amendment, said the port’s application changes were a step forward but not sufficient. McCosker asked that applications include an analysis of baseline jobs, construction‑period jobs and end‑state jobs so commissioners and the public can assess whether a project would cause net job losses.

The port described steps it has taken and planned investments. Soroka said the port and partners secured a $110 million state line item to help build what he described as the nation’s first goods‑movement training campus. The port donated about 20 acres for the project; Soroka said roughly $40 million in port funding and private pledges—he named a $15 million pledge from the Pacific Maritime Association—are expected to complement the state funds. The port has engaged AECOM for design and expects environmental review (CEQA) and public comment later this year, with a tentative opening around 2029.

Soroka stressed workforce‑development components: a 16,000‑square‑foot Mechanics Upskilling/Reskilling Center recently opened at Pier 400, and the campus would include simulators and classroom space so workers can train in a safe, controlled environment. Soroka said the ports and partners aim to upskill workers to operate and maintain electrified and hydrogen equipment as terminals decarbonize.

On automation and jobs, Soroka said robotics and automation can boost terminal throughput and that examples exist where automation coincided with stable or greater on‑site employment. But he said the port will not advance an automation project at a marine terminal until the ILWU and the private operator present a joint staffing plan for review. “Staff at the Harbor Department of Los Angeles will not entertain a project that automates a marine terminal facility until we see the ILW and that private sector company come in unison together to staff,” Soroka said.

The update also covered disaster response and community support after recent fires: the port provided 50 off‑duty uniformed officers for perimeter and traffic control, reactivated a volunteer logistics program that distributed nearly one million N95 masks, and reported about 115 harbor department employees volunteered as disaster service workers.

Other port business discussed included the Wilmington property inventory (staff said it needs updating and site visits), the Public Access Investment Plan (PAIP) and possible LAFD fire‑boat needs. Soroka said about 10 percent of the port’s operating income has gone to public access projects over the last two decades and the PAIP has contributed more than $400 million to public projects.

Votes at a glance: the committee closed public comment and moved items 2 through 13 on the consent calendar; the clerk recorded three ayes and the consent items passed.

What remains undecided: committee members discussed but did not vote on placing a charter amendment before voters. McCosker said he had drafted a motion that would go to full Council to consider enshrining job‑analysis requirements in the city charter; committee discussion continued about whether that step or a leasing‑policy amendment is the correct route.

The Port of Los Angeles quarterly update was verbal; no committee action was required on the presentation itself. The committee adjourned after the update.