Antonio Gives $205,000 Payoff to Democrat/Union Hack

Written by CA Political News on May 07, 2009, 10:37 AM

Executive is added to bulk up Port of Los Angeles

By Donna Littlejohn, Daily Breeze, 4/7/09 


In a move that some believe signals trouble is brewing at the Port of Los Angeles, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has asked former state Assemblyman Wally Knox to come onboard to help guide the port as the department juggles dozens of major initiatives with plummeting cargo revenues.

Knox, 62, announced Tuesday that he was stepping down from his 21-month stint as a member of the city's Department of Water and Power Commission.

A new position - deputy executive director of external relations - is being created for him at the port, where he will report to Executive Director Geraldine Knatz, 57. He is set to begin work later this week.

"He's got a very strong legislative background and an understanding of the DWP, an organization that will play a big role in our future as we're electrifying the port," said Arley Baker, head of communications for the port.

Knox could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Baker characterized the move as "adding bench power" to the port at what is a critical period.

"He's got a solid reputation, he's known as someone who's extremely dedicated and knowledgable on city issues," Baker said. "The bottom line is we needed to up our game and we needed to have a full bench."

While no formal announcement has been made, top port staffers heard the news about two weeks ago from Knatz.

Several sources - who asked that their names not be used - said the appointment reveals a concern at City Hall with the way things are going at the port.

Internally, discontent has reportedly grown as the port's revenue sag, with labor unions and terminal operators becoming increasingly frustrated in working with the port administration.

Along with city employees, port staffers - who number just under 1,000 - also are facing possible furloughs and early retirement packages.

The economic downturn, Baker said, has complicated what was already a difficult period in the port's history.

"The overlay of this economic crisis and the new interest in infrastructure and pursuing clean tech types of initiatives is right now all really crashing down on us," he said.

The port last year weighed hiring outside consultants but was told by the mayor to handle those duties internally.

"We recognized that we were just not resourced internally in light of the number of projects and initiatives that were coming our way," Baker said.

"The bottom line is we've made a number of staffing changes over the past year and Wally coming to the port is the final culmination so we'd have the internal resources that we needed to move forward on a full plate."

Knatz's appointment was announced in December 2005 by Villariagosa, making her the first female top executive to oversee the nation's busiest harbor.

She was a 24-year veteran with the Long Beach harbor department and won the post over top Port of Los Angeles executives.

Knox represented Los Angeles' 42nd District from 1994 to 2000, during a time when Villaraigosa also was in Sacramento.

Knox's district included Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Bel-Air, Century City, Hollywood, Westwood, West Hollywood, Encino and Sherman Oaks.

From 1987 to 1994, he was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles Community College district.

He holds a bachelor's degree from Harvard University and is a Vietnam veteran.

An attorney, Knox is married to Elizabeth Garfield, a labor attorney who has represented the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 68.