Port Commissioner Rafael Castellanos will provide an overview of the blue economy in San Diego and discuss some of the steps the Port of San Diego is taking to develop its blue economy potential. The blue economy accounts for approximately 46,000 jobs and contributes over 14 billion dollars to the San Diego region’s economy.
The Port of San Diego was created by the State Legislature to manage San Diego Bay and its surrounding waterfront land on December 18, 1962. It is the fourth largest of the 11 ports in California, and it has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in public improvements in its five member cities – Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City, and San Diego. The Port oversees two maritime cargo terminals, two cruise ship terminals, 18 public parks, the Harbor Police Department, and the leases of hundreds of tenant and subtenant businesses around San Diego Bay. The Port is an economic engine (250 million bananas go through the Port a month), an environmental steward of San Diego Bay and the surrounding tidelands, and a provider of community services and public safety. The Port has a $145 million annual budget and is governed by a seven-member Board of Port Commissioners; one commissioner each is appointed by the city councils of Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach and National City, and three commissioners are appointed by the San Diego City Council.
A former president of the San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association, Rafael is also an advisor to San Diego Foundation’s Center for Civic Engagement Climate Initiative, and is a director of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation.
Rafael is a partner at Solomon Minton Cardinal Doyle & Smith LLP where he specializes in commercial real estate and business transactional law. He earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Chicago Law School as a Cornerstone Scholar graduating in 2002. He is a member of the California State Bar Association, the San Diego County Bar Association, and the Mexican American Business and Professional Association. Rafael was named one of the San Diego Daily Transcript’s Top Young Attorneys in 2008, and in 2011 was named one of San Diego Metro Magazine’s 20 Men Who Impact San Diego.
Twitter: @RafaSanDiego
LinkedIn: Profile
Website: Solomon Minton Cardinal Doyle & Smith LLP
This is the last regular meeting of the year as we don’t meet in December, although we will be taking part in the OB Holiday Parade on December 5th and we have our annual Holiday Party on December 6th.
Please remember to bring your check book, cash or a credit/debit card to renew your membership for 2016 that promises to be an exciting year for Democrats. If you prefer you can also renew online. We’ve kept membership rates at the same low level of $20 individual and $30 per household.
4:00PM – 5:30PM
Point Loma Assembly, 3035 Talbot St, San Diego, CA 92106
For additional info call (619) 800-5098
Directions and parking information
Social Time
Members are encouraged to get together from 3:30PM before the meeting starts, please bring whatever light drinks/snacks that you’d like to share.
After the meeting ends we suggest adjourning to the Point Break Cafe at 2743 Shelter Island Dr to continue our progressive conversation. Happy Hour is until 6:30pm.
POINT LOMA & OB DEMS 