Editor’s note: The authors declined to identify the accused commissioner (Sandy Naranjo) and the state legislator who supported the port changes (David Alvarez), so I’ll leave them by name here.
Urtasun He is chairman of the Port of San Diego and lives in Coronado. moore He is the Vice Chairman of the Port of San Diego and lives in San Diego.
When a person applies for a position in a public agency, they enter into a contract. It’s easy. Officials are required to act in the public interest, refrain from abusing their authority for personal gain, and act as good stewards of public resources.
Our system of democratic representative government relies on trust. No agency will be subject to review if it appears that this implied contract has been violated.
Unfortunately, the Port of San Diego recently had to deal with a potential breach of trust by one of its own Port Commissioners, putting the Port Authority in the spotlight. Within the dynamic landscape of San Diego’s waterfront, the harbor plays an important role in making the area a great place to live and one of the most popular destinations. We believe in good governance, community engagement and participatory planning. This is demonstrated by the updated Marine Clean Air Strategy and Ports Master Plan.
These values were put to the test when the Secretary retaliated against a port ethics officer by refusing to cooperate with an investigation into a potential conflict of interest. After conducting an independent investigation into all allegations, our board made the difficult decision to censure the Secretary. This was the first and only such measure in the port’s history. The decision was unanimous.
Although some critics disagree and one lawmaker is proposing legislation directly related to accountability, we stand by our decision. Wrongdoing must be corrected. We value our employees and do not tolerate retaliation against them from anyone within our organization, especially those at the highest levels. This decision shows that our leadership is not afraid to hold itself and each member accountable to high ethical standards.
In response to requests from some members of the public for more information, we have taken steps to make the investigation report publicly available with limited edits. Transparency is always balanced with the need to protect individual and employee rights.
We learned many valuable lessons from this experience last year. In response, we established the Port Ethics Task Force, led by Chairman Sid Vorakara, who served on the City of San Diego Ethics Commission, to strengthen our ethics expectations. We have begun a comprehensive review and update of the Port’s already stringent Code of Ethics, established in 2002.
Separately, this year also announced the resignations of CEO Joe Stuyvesant and former chairman Rafael Castellanos. Critics try to link them with accusations without any evidence, but they are unrelated. The departure of the Port CEO will be governed by the usual privacy considerations for employees.
The Honorable Castellanos has demonstrated exemplary leadership throughout his 11 years at the ports, and no one disputes his personal decision to focus on his professional endeavors and the health challenges facing his family. .
In times of transition, we remember the legacy of the port’s founding. In 1962, a visionary state law, the Ports Act, was enacted to address the “unique problems” inherent in managing a busy port surrounded by diverse municipalities. Committed to “multi-purpose development of this state’s ports for the benefit of its people,” it created a framework that made San Diego Bay a place where maritime transportation, environmental stewardship, and recreational accessibility come together. Ta.
The port’s governance structure is a balanced one designed to serve both national policy and local interests. With representatives from five cities participating, cooperation is paramount. Our track record in expanding and improving waterfront parklands in Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City and San Diego. Improving air quality through the deployment of zero-emission technologies for ships, trucks, and cargo equipment. The proof is that we can stimulate economic growth and create 64,000 jobs without imposing taxes.
We are serious about protecting our end of the bargain. Like other public institutions, we expect public participation, including criticism, because democratic principles demand nothing more. The San Diego region deserves a prosperous port worthy of the public’s trust – a port that not only delivers on its promise, but upholds the values that define us.
