West Sacramento Leases Port of Sacramento To Seattle Firm
WEST SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — West Sacramento is leasing the port of Sacramento to a Seattle-based company in hopes of breathing some life it.
Rice is the big business at the port of Sacramento—more than 14,000 tons of it was loaded onto a boat bound for Japan on Tuesday—but rice alone won't keep the port afloat.
"It's been a big money loser for a long time," said West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon. "As a result, in the downturn in the economy, it's just been bleeding."
Since 2006, the city has been operating the port, which it owns. In July, it will lease the port to SSA, a Seattle shipping company. Cabaldon says the region needs the port to stay open.
"The port is the primary way that rice farmers in the Sacramento Valley are able to get their goods around the world."
The five-year lease will bring $650,000 to West Sacramento each year. The company leasing the port has also agreed to forgive the $850,000 the city owes it.
The mayor says SSA has shipping connections around the world and can do a much better job of drumming up business than he can from city hall.
