Survey shows Californians back Container Tax on Shippers

A PUBLIC survey conducted throughout California shows that 68 per cent of respondents approved of a container tax on the owners of cargo moving through California ports, a figure that rises to 72 per cent for respondents living in the Los Angeles area, reports the Long Beach Press Telegram.

The poll comes as Sacramento is considering a US$30 tax per TEU that would collect $500 million a year supposedly to pay for traffic relief and environmental programmes.

But Bill SB 974 is opposed by retailers, shippers and agricultural interests, who argue it would raise costs and divert cargo to ports outside of California.

The poll, "Californians and the Environment," conducted by the non-profit organisation, Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), examined people's perception of ecological conditions, government response and mitigation efforts in the state.

It found that only 25 per cent approved of the way President Bush is handling "green" initiatives. But almost half - 49 per cent - say the state government was doing enough to protect the environment, while only 33 per cent believe the federal government is doing enough.

"Dissatisfaction with government action reflects their continuing - and some cases rising - environmental anxieties," the report said. "That concern holds across political parties, all regions of the state and all racial and ethnic groups."

Mark Baldassare, president and CEO of PPIC, said "green expectations are way ahead of the government ability to deliver".