LA OBSERVED-This is the last week on the job for Geraldine Knatz, who was brought on in 2006 by former Mayor Villaraigosa as the first woman executive director of the Port of Los Angeles - and who was not asked back by Mayor Garcetti. (She'll be staying on in a transitional capacity through next January, working with interim executive director Gary Lee Moore.)
The mayor's office has been vague about its decision, though folks who follow the port were not surprised. Container traffic has been down so far this year, but more than that Knatz had a sometimes rocky relationship with port tenants, as I posted in early October. That's not ideal considering how Panama, Mexico, Canada, and Long Beach all want a piece of LA's business. "We don't have the leverage we used to," she acknowledges.
Even so, Knatz made huge strides in reducing truck emissions, thanks to implementation of the clean air program, and has overseen major investments in capital improvements involving cargo terminals and related infrastructure.
Prior to coming to Los Angeles, Knatz, who is 62, was managing director at the Port of Long Beach. She's held positions at the two facilities for most of her career. This week, I sat down with Knatz at her office in San Pedro to discuss her tenure (interview is edited for clarity).
So this is your last week...
My last board meeting is on Thursday. But I don't officially retire until Jan. 31.
It's been announced as a retirement. Are you really retiring or are you going to do something else?
Yes, I am actually retiring. But I had already made plans to resume teaching at USC in the civil engineering school. I have a file folder over there from everybody who's emailed me and wants me to be on this board, do that thing, other academic appointments. I've also had people coming at me with full-time jobs right now, but I don't want to work full time.
Are you going to take it easy for a while?
(Laughs) No, I'm going to jump right into other things. For eight years I've gotten up at 4:45 and I get here by 6. I like getting in here early because you can get through a lot of work. So I'm looking forward to sleeping late - until about 6. (Read the rest … including what she’s most proud of and the challenges ahead as the result of the coming Panama Gulf expansion … here)
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 11 Issue 90
Pub: Nov 8, 2013