Being the President of the SF Port Commission, with the Port so much in the news lately, has to be a tremendous headache. Is it more than you bargained for?
Published: November, 2001
I don’t consider my responsibilities to be a headache. I am very fortunate to have the support of a very talented and diverse group of fellow Commissioners. We have a dedicated Port Director and Port staff along with other dynamic resources that the City & County of San Francisco offers. My role as President has been a rewarding learning experience. I’ve learned a great deal about the intricate process of city government. I’ve witnessed firsthand the amount of hard work and dedication that Port staff and community members put forth to ensure the process works and our waterfront is enjoyable for everyone. When I was elected President in January 2000, after serving for two years as Vice President, I knew we had our work cut out for us. After the many years that went into developing the waterfront land use plan, we were finally ready to implement the plan. As for the controversy, we’re witnessing the administration of monumental projects with major political, environmental and social implications. Controversy comes with decisions of this type. At times, the job can be challenging but to see the outcome of the various projects that we are working on is truly motivating and inspiring.
In practical terms, what does the job involve?
Being Commission President and a Vice President with Bank of America’s private bank is like having two jobs. I continue to maintain my various community involvements. I’m fortunate that Bank of America is very supportive of my city and community involvement. Time wise, in addition to my regular workday, I usually commit two to four hours a day on Port Commission business. The job involves staying on top of all the various projects and issues along the waterfront and listening to the citizens for whom we hold the property in public trust. The Port Commission holds public meetings an average of twice a month, in between the meetings, I am reading reports and interacting with key people to ensure an efficient process.
What do you say to San Franciscans concerned that the Port Commission is too development-oriented?
The Port, along with the Planning Department, the Redevelopment Agency, BCDC and numerous business and community organizations have spent years developing a blueprint for the San Francisco waterfront. What we are witnessing today, almost a decade after the Loma Prieta earthquake, is a revitalized waterfront reconnecting with the city. I would say that the Port Commission has implemented a vision of balance between development, maritime, recreational, industrial, transportation and public access for the benefit of the public. It is a delicate balance. However, today, as we speak, San Franciscans are enjoying the highest level of Port property utilization, including the new Ferry Terminal, Pac Bell Park, new fish processing facilities, the Embarcadero Parkway with beautiful palm trees, over forty restaurants, Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, Hyde Street Harbor, the cruise terminal and the list goes on. But at the same time, we are working to preserve the natural history of our waterfront.
Do you support the Water Transit Authority’s plan for a comprehensive regional ferry system?
Personally, yes! I think that as we continue to explore ways to improve public transportation and encourage people to get out of their cars, a regional ferry service would be appealing to many people. Expanding ferry service is an integral part of the Bay Area’s mass transit need, but it would take significant planning and coordination among representatives of all Bay Area counties.
The first phase of the new San Francisco Ferry Terminal has just opened. Besides making for a safer, more comfortable ride for commuters, might this mean that the foot of Market Street will become attractive to tourists wanting to get on the bay?
Absolutely! We are very excited about the opening of the new San Francisco Ferry Terminal. As I mentioned, one of the Port’s goals is to attract people to the waterfront. The new ferry terminal and a public market that is under construction at the Ferry Building is part of a master plan to support ferry commuters and attract people to our waterfront, whether they are tourists enjoying activities along the bay or workers in the nearby downtown area. San Francisco has successfully integrated mass transit and tourism.
Civic leaders like Gavin Newson, Senator Don Perata and Aaron Peskin are all on record as favoring studying the idea of air and seaport planning on a regional basis. What’s your view?
It’s good to know that there is civic support for studying a regional plan for air and seaport transportation and I think that the Senator and the Supervisors mentioned would be great in leading that study.
Has the recent terrorist attacks created a higher sense of security awareness at the Port of San Francisco?
I think the recent terrorist attacks have created a higher sense of security nationwide. Along with the rest of the nation, the Port of San Francisco has implemented several new policies to better protect our employees and the public. The cruise terminal and cargo terminal facilities have increased security. We have several new procedures for those terminals. We also have increased security at all Port-operated facilities including Pier 1, which, every employee now requires a security badge to get into. Along with the rest of the nation, we’re keeping our eyes open.
Tourism, particularly the merchants along Fisherman’s Wharf, have been hard hit by the slump in business that followed the terrorist attacks. What is the Port of San Francisco doing to help them?
Tourism in San Francisco, especially in Fisherman’s Wharf, has been hard hit. The Port is working with the Fisherman’s Wharf Merchant Association to implement a three-stage marketing plan to encourage tourists and the regional market to rediscover San Francisco and the Wharf. We are also supporting and working with the Mayor’s Office on the City’s "Open For Business" campaign. Stay tuned for the exciting and enticing ads.
Are there plans to take advantage of the existing ferry network to encourage Bay Areans to visit San Francisco in lieu of trips they might have taken elsewhere?
Yes, and it’s all a part of our marketing plan that I just mentioned. Hopefully, we will increase tourism with the marketing plan that we have developed.
Public demands for waterfront access and view corridors as well as development pressures are pushing out traditional maritime industries. What is the Port doing to protect them?
Prior to Mayor Willie Brown being elected to office, the Port of San Francisco didn’t even have a maritime division. We had one shipping line calling at Pier 80. All of the shipping business had migrated to the Port of Oakland because they have the land needed for storage, easy train access and trucks didn’t have to cross the Bay Bridge, which made it easier for the cargo lines to distribute their products. Since then, the maritime division lead by Peter Daly has increased cargo-shipping calls to the Port of San Francisco significantly. We have found our niche in the shipping industry and are actively marketing and pursuing new business opportunities. One of our Commissioners, Brian McWilliams, is an ILWU local member, as was his predecessor the legendary Jimmy Herman. Every vote we take includes a strong voice for maritime preservation.
