The Los Angeles City Council Wednesday confirmed Wilmington resident Yolanda De La Torre as the newest member of the Harbor Commission, a five-member body overseeing the Port of L.A.
In a unanimous vote, the council confirmed De La Torre to fill a vacancy left by the departure of Michael Munoz.
She will serve a term ending June 30, which may be extended further.
Mayor Karen Bass nominated De La Torre for the position last year. Appointments to commissions are made by the mayor and confirmed by the City Council.
Prior to her appointment, residents of the Harbor area and Councilman Tim McOsker, who represents neighborhoods such as San Pedro and Wilmington, raised concerns over the board’s composition. Commissioner Ishmun “Lee” Williams of San Pedro was the lone representative for residents of the Harbor Area.
Commissioners John Pérez, Lucille Roybal-Allard and Edward Renwick reside in central and west L.A.
Those concerns were heightened when elected officials appointed Pérez to take over the seat held by Diane Middleton. A 50-year resident of San Pedro and attorney, and well known by her community, Middleton represented the workforce of the Harbor area.
“It is so critically important to be sure that we have qualified professionals, strong leaders, and people that represent the communities across Los Angeles,” McOsker said at Wednesday’s meeting.
“But for the Port of L.A., it’s critically important that we have folks that represent the Harbor Area because only if you sleep or drive, or work, or put kids to school in and around the area, you know what potential there is for the Port of Los Angeles, and what harms there come from living in such close proximity to heavy industry.”
The councilman also highlighted the recently approved Charter Amendment HH, a measure that strengthened and updated the city’s governance powers. In part, it mandates that at least two members of the Harbor Commission reside within the Harbor Area.
De La Torre’s appointment fulfills that mandate.
“Yolanda is only the second commissioner in my memory to be a resident of the city of Wilmington — born and raised in Wilmington — it’s so critically important,” McOsker said.
De La Torre serves as the regional vice president of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles. She previously was the regional executive director for Wilmington and Gardena-Carson with the same organization from 2021 to 2023.