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Lt. Governor Newsom Pushes For Growth, Investment In Oakland Port

OAKLAND (KCBS)— California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom was at the Port of Oakland Friday to speak on both the state and nation's sea port competitiveness.

Newsom claimed the state is in a "code red" and losing its leadership edge when he addressed the need to have port maintenance funds released to California.

KCBS' Dave Padilla Reports:

"We are literally 18th now in port infrastructure around the world," he criticized. "17 other nations far exceed our capacity in terms of our infrastructure investment compared to the United States of America."

Surrounded by port officials and maritime industry leaders, Newsom said the state has to "step up its game," or it'll continue to lose it competitiveness in the global economy.

"What looks worse is our economic competitiveness, because the rest of the world is passing us by to a degree none of us could have even imagined five years ago and they're barely getting started," said Newsom.

He said California's future as a global leader depends on job creation and economic growth. And right now he said we're losing that fight.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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