As part of the continued conversation to address the positive and negative impacts the logistics industry in the Inland Empire, Assembly Majority Leader Emerita Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-Colton) convened a roundtable discussion with local leaders to discuss the importance of incorporating sustainability into the logistics and goods movement industry. Centered on gathering diverse perspectives from groups impacted by the industry; the roundtable included labor, environmental justice, local government, and business stakeholders and was moderated by UC Riverside Professor and former Mayor of Riverside, Dr. Ronald O. Loveridge.

The roundtable discussion was held in Colton – the epicenter of the logistics and goods movement industry in the state. The roundtable discussion was held the day after Amazon’s internal community engagement plan for Southern California was leaked. While the roundtable was scheduled well before this information became public, this leaked memo only further highlights the importance of engaging community members to craft solutions for the future of the region.

Dr. Loveridge commented that “this is the first time we have had a roundtable with such a diverse set of stakeholders focused on the warehouse and logistics issue. This is historic.”

Logistics and economic growth should not come at the expense of the community. Public health ought to be at the forefront of the decisions moving forward in the region. Following the roundtable Assemblymember Reyes said this of the discussion, “Sustainability in the Inland Empire is something everyone should be invested in. Today I was proud to host a roundtable to discuss the future of logistics and warehousing in the Inland Empire.

“The diverse perspective at this roundtable is something I was especially proud of. We had participants who often disagree with each other, now sitting next and across from each other seeking solutions. Stakeholders from the business community, environmental justice, labor, public health and academia all came together in what I believe is a step forward for our community. A special thanks to Dr. Ronald O. Loveridge for facilitating this critical discussion. One thing that I believe is clear is that the status quo is not working. My hope is that our conversation today will inform immediate action that needs to occur in the Inland Empire. As I have said since being elected, I stand ready to work with all stakeholders on a balanced approach to this important issue.”