Oakland (Special to ZennieReport.com) – Barbara Leslie Port Of Oakland Economic Development Will Boost Airport, Not Name Change Barbara Leslie, once friend, current Port of Oakland President of the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners and President and CEO of the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce has an idea that she undoubtedly borrowed from her early Chamber days when Joe Haraburda was its leader.
Upset with the City’s handling of Occupy Oakland, Joe floated the idea of changing the name from the Oakland Chamber of Commerce, to the Oakland-East Bay Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.
Leslie’s Idea As Controversial As Haraburda’s For The Same Reasons
It was a decision that went down with a loud thud. After the complaints died down, including charges of racism by this blogger, and the discovery that Haraburda never lived in Oakland, but Tiburon, Joe managed to get the word “Metropolitan” in, and so it does as the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce today.
And so now here comes Barbara Leslie to bring back those sad memories, and prove that she forgot what the Port of Oakland does at the same time. Wrong way, Leslie! The Port of Oakland will consider modifying the airport’s name to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport from its current official name, the Metropolitan Oakland International Airport (OAK). The airport code OAK and visual brand will not change.
Ms. Leslie Actually Thinks A Name Change Will Do What She Claims
“The Port is considering a name modification to boost inbound travelers’ geographic awareness of the airport’s location on the San Francisco Bay.” Port Commission President Barbara Leslie also said, “This will protect our airport’s over 30,000 good-paying, direct jobs and $1.6 billion in economic impact on the region.”
Wow. Obviously, Barbara, and by extension the current people who sit on the Port of Oakland Commission , have completely forgot that the Port’s response to economic problems in Oakland has always been to develop its economy.
Port of Oakland Forgets Its In The Economic Development Business
Barbara Leslie proves that the Port of Oakland forgot that its also in the business of real estate property management and development. And Barbara Leslie proves that the Port forgot that its airport’s terminal area is underdeveloped.
Got a problem with attracting tourists? The Port should build a new 300-room convention hotel right across from the terminals , and not think that a name change would be better.
Port says it can’t afford that? I say, the Port does not know that it can do EIFD separate from the City of Oakland, and called an SIFD, where the “S” is for seaport.
Port of Oakland Can Make Its Own EIFD, Called An SIFD
The point is, the Port of Oakland has, like the City of Oakland itself, forgot how to do economic development. And that’s the real big story.
The Port of Oakland today would rather long for San Francisco than improve at home. This entire affair shows that the City of Oakland and its Port need to rediscover the joy of job creation.
Can the Port of Oakland gets its long-gone mojo back? We shall see on April 11th.
Stay tuned.
Are Port Commissioners paid or just get free junkets to exotic destinations?
Port of Oakland Board of Commissioners Members are not paid; they donate their time. The “payment” is in the valuable range of contacts one can gain by holding such a position. Now, that does not mean the Port of Oakland has not paid for a trip the group went on in the past.