Sheila Lewis, an executive with the Watts Labor Community Action Committee, has been nominated by Mayor Karen Bass to serve on the Board of Los Angeles Harbor Commission.<\/p>\n
The five-member appointed board governs the Port of Los Angeles, managing port policies, budgets and developments.<\/p>\n
If approved by the full L.A. City Council, Lewis would fill the seat being vacated by former U.S. Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, who submitted her letter of resignation in July.<\/p>\n
Lewis\u2019 appointment would put local residents in a majority on the port panel.<\/p>\n
Her posted resume lists more than 30 years of experience in municipal government and nonprofit work, directing more than a $12 million dollar portfolio of publicly funded initiatives for WLCAC in family stability, youth development and other areas.<\/p>\n
Her background combines direct government service, civic appointment, and large-scale public-sector contract and fiscal oversight responsibilities. She has a master\u2019s degree in business administration and expects to receive her doctorate in organizational change and leadership from USC in 2027.<\/p>\n
Lewis, who was not immediately available for comment, is a harbor resident in the 15th City Council District. If her nomination is approved, she would join two other local residents on the panel: Lee Williams of San Pedro and Yolanda De La Torre of Wilmington.<\/p>\n
Her nomination will first go before the Trade, Travel and Tourism Committee, and then the full City Council for final approval.<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Lewis is both a One-Five resident and someone who has dedicated 20 years of her career to being a tireless advocate for neighborhoods across our district, particularly in Watts,\u201d Los Angeles Councilmember Tim McOsker, who represents the Harbor-to-Watts district, said in a written statement, signaling that he was pleased with the mayor\u2019s pick. \u201cI hope she brings that community-first approach to the harbor commission, and continues to make sure the voices of the people who live and work throughout the One-Five are heard.<\/p>\n
\u201cI look forward to sharing my vision for the port and our surrounding communities,\u201d he added, \u201cand hearing her responses and priorities at the upcoming Trade, Travel and Tourism Committee meeting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lewis has also worked as a consultant for the Los Angeles Unified School District and was a deputy to Pasadena Councilmember Joyce Streator from 1997 to 2002.<\/p>\n
She has been with WLCAD full time since November 2005.<\/p>\n
The demand from local residents to have more representation on the harbor commission has been central for years as concerns over port pollution, traffic and other impacts on nearby communities have grown.<\/p>\n
Two years ago, McOsker championed Charter Amendment HH, which Los Angeles voters overwhelmingly passed in November 2024, that ensures at least two dedicated seats \u2014 one from Wilmington and another from San Pedro \u2014 on the commission going forward.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, another vacancy on the board was created when John P\u00e9rez resigned.<\/p>\n