Omar Benjamin named new Port of Oakland boss - East Bay Business Times:

Omar Benjamin named new Port of Oakland boss - East Bay Business Times:: "East Bay Business Times - December 6, 2006
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Omar Benjamin named new Port of Oakland boss
East Bay Business Times - 4:31 PM PST Wednesday
by Ryan Tate

The seven-member Oakland Port Commission voted unanimously to name the port's real estate chief, Omar Benjamin, the new executive director.

Benjamin's appointment is effective Feb. 1, when the current executive director, Jerry Bridges, will leave his post to lead Virginia's Port Authority.

A port spokesman said the commission felt it was important to maintain continuity with a strategic plan adopted by the commission and implemented by Bridges, and so sought an internal candidate rather than conducting an external search.

In an interview, Benjamin praised Bridges and said he would continue to support and learn from him through February. He added he is committed to 'very aggressively' implementing the commission's strategic plan.

In the near-term, that means building a bridge or tunnel along Seventh Street to allow truck traffic to proceed even while trains are in motion, adding a new berth, and building a new intermodal termi"