Thirty years ago, Los Angeles residents were forced to breathe some of the dirtiest air in the country. Unfiltered emissions from over-trafficked streets and heavy industry filled our atmosphere and our lungs. I remember days as a child when I could hardly see Downtown LA, only a few miles away from where I grew up.
As Mayor of Los Angeles, I have put our City's efforts behind tackling our City's pollution problem while creating the jobs our residents so desperately need. We've done it by investing in our transportation infrastructure, attracting new high-tech and green-tech businesses to our City, and creating viable transportation options to build healthier, more sustainable communities.
Throughout, I have relied on strong partnerships with legislators locally and in Washington, DC. Janice Hahn has been one of my strongest local allies, and I know she will become one of the LA-area's strongest advocates in Washington if the 36th District elects her to represent them in Congress.
My friendship with Janice stretches back years. She has always been an unwavering supporter of job creation, transportation innovation, and a healthy environment. Her track record in these areas is unparalleled.
I watched her in action as she and I worked to establish the LA Port's Clean Truck Program. This effort replaced antiquated diesel rigs with state-of-the-art electric vehicles at our busy ports. Together, Janice and I helped reduce emissions in the Harbor Area by 80 percent in less than two years. And by manufacturing these electric trucks locally, we created new green technology jobs right here in Los Angeles.
And that was only the beginning. Since then, Janice has worked to create the Alternative Maritime Power berth, allowing ships idling at the port to plug directly into the City's electric grid, rather than burn dirty fuel. And she has improved how we transport cargo from the port into our stores, pushing for a greater reliance on rail, and more container hauling at night, which means fewer trucks on the roads during rush hour.
We need Janice Hahn in Congress.
For as long as I've known her, Janice has been an endless champion for our common goals. If elected to Congress, I know she will continue to fight for job creation, for investment in our local economy, for a 21st century transportation network and for a cleaner, greener Los Angeles and Southern California.
Please join me with your support and help us send her to Washington, DC.