John Pérez was unanimously approved as the Los Angeles Harbor Commission’s newest member on Friday, Sept. 20, by the Los Angeles City Council.
The vote came following a contentious debate within the San Pedro-Wilmington communities when L.A. Mayor Karen Bass did not reappoint popular local commissioner Diane Middleton of San Pedro but instead nominated Pérez, who lives near downtown Los Angeles, as Middleton’s replacement.
The move took the five-member panel down to having just one local resident, Lee Williams of San Pedro. For more than 20 years, there have typically been three Harbor Area-based commissioners on the panel overseeing Port of L.A. decisions.
Councilmember Tim McOsker who represents City Council District 15 has authored Measure HH for the November ballot that would ensure two local members on the commission going forward, one each from Wilmington and San Pedro. Perez lives in the Boyle Heights area just southeast of downtown L.A. in City Council District 14.
McOsker is also a member of the council’s Trade, Travel and Tourism Committee, all of whom quizzed Pérez Tuesday at length. McOsker asked most of the questions and noted the nominee was well prepared.
Others joined in saying they supported Pérez.
“I’m a strong supporter of this nomination,” said Councilmember Paul Krekorian. “Perez is one of the most talented leaders that we have, he’s demonstrated leadership ability and the ability to dig in. It’s not even a subject to debate whether he’s qualified.”
Bass, who has taken some heat in the waterfront communities for the decision to replace the popular Middleton, said in a written statement she’s confident that Pérez would be an ally for San Pedro and Wilmington as well as buoy the port.
Pérez is currently a regent for the University of California. He was elected to the California Assembly in November 2006, representing downtown Los Angeles and surrounding communities, serving as speaker from 2010-14.
He championed legislation focused on job growth and economic development. He also authored the legislation that created the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz).
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Prior to his election to the Assembly, Pérez was a labor leader and served on the Board of the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency, California League of Conservation Voters, and the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation.
He’s a longtime advocate of the LGBTQ community and previously served on the President’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS during the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations.
Bass, in a written statement, hailed the qualities Pérez would bring to the commission, made up of appointed volunteers.
“He has unwavering passion for bettering our city and I’m confident that he will be a champion for the San Pedro and Wilmington communities and also work to support the port’s vital function as the number one port in the country,” she said, adding Pérez has shown a commitment to working families.
McOsker said the responses Pérez gave at the committee meeting convinced him he understood the issues and would be responsive to the needs of the communities surrounding the port.
In his brief remarks to the council on Friday, Pérez said the port is “an amazing resource for our city, our state and our nation.”
Pérez is expected to participate in his first commission meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, at the Banning’s Landing Community Center in Wilmington.
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