Port of Tacoma turns that frown upside down with its own spin on events

Times are tough.

Unemployment is up and revenue is down. Our houses are worth less and so are our 401(k)s. Health care costs more just as our stress levels are peaking. The world still doesn’t like us very much. Rio got the Olympics.

It’s at moments like these that we all have two choices. We can continue to muck around in the squalid depths of self pity, expecting the worst at each turn. Or we can look for inspiration by consulting the one entity that always looks at the bright side of events.

That’s right. The Port of Tacoma, the Pollyanna of public agencies. No matter how depressing the news, the port – better known as the economic engine of Pierce County – can see the silver lining.

Take last week when it finally had to admit that a massive terminal project that enticed Japan-based NYK to jilt the Port of Seattle and move south was a no go. Despite dropping $35 million in public money on a terminal that will likely never be built, the port staff and commissioners were stiff-upper-lipping it down on Sitcum Waterway.

That’s because NYK won’t be retreating back to Seattle. Instead it will be taking over a terminal that was abandoned by Maersk when it moved to Seattle.

Port Executive Director Tim Farrell told his bosses there are “many wins that go with this action.”

Now you might think Farrell was trying to spin the commissioners, to portray a defeat as a win. That, however, would be unnecessary with a group of elected officials who do so much spinning on their own that they are at constant risk of auguring into the Tideflats.

“It’s great for Pierce County and it’s great for the port,” said commissioner Dick Marzano.

Now don’t the rest of you feel ashamed for thinking this was bad news? The port gets handed a container full of lemons and does it whine? Does it wish it was another load of cheap Chinese electronics?

No. The port makes lemonade. Try it sometime.

In furtherance of the port’s leadership, I have asked our port officials to give their buoyant perspective on some of the events and circumstances that are bringing the rest of us down.

Call this The World According to Port.

 • State unemployment is pushing 10 percent: “We at the port have done our best to contribute to this issue but we don’t see it as a problem. They’re not out of work, they’re on sabbatical. Each now has the opportunity to relax, take stock and perhaps improve their skills in filling out forms and waiting in lines. That will leave Pierce County better, not worse.”

 • Swine flu threatens to become a global pandemic, throwing the world into a social and economic Apocalypse: “What does not kill us makes us stronger.”

 • The war in Afghanistan is deteriorating into a quagmire: “Afghanistan is a foreign country. We are in the business of shipping stuff between the U.S. and foreign countries. A longer war means more tonnage. What’s not to like?”

 • Russell Investments announces it will leave Tacoma for Seattle: “This is a big win for Tacoma. The Economic Development Board already beat us to the conclusion that the departure opens up oodles of classy office space for future customers. Forget for now that this kind of great opportunity comes around more frequently in Tacoma than elsewhere. We’ll stick with the fact that hundreds of well-paid Russell employees who may have to commute to Seattle will help Tacoma build the case for more federal and state transportation dollars.”

 • American carmakers are in bad shape and may not survive financial reorganization and a reformed product line: “Did we mention that we make money importing foreign cars?”

 • Global warming might be melting the polar ice cap: “Two words, Northwest Passage. And while our port facilities might go all Atlantis on us, wouldn’t Stadium Bowl make a fabulous container terminal?”

Peter Callaghan: 253-597-8657

peter.callaghan@thenewstribune.com

blog.thenewstribune.com/politics