The city will send a letter asking the California attorney general what Avalon needs to do to ensure multiple freight carriers are allowed to deliver goods to Catalina. City Attorney Scott Campbell will draft the letter next week after he returns from his vacation. The exact wording of the letter will be subject to the approval of Councilman Joe Sampson and Mayor Anni Marshall.
The city will send a letter asking the California attorney general what Avalon needs to do to ensure multiple freight carriers are allowed to deliver goods to Catalina. City Attorney Scott Campbell will draft the letter next week after he returns from his vacation. The exact wording of the letter will be subject to the approval of Councilman Joe Sampson and Mayor Anni Marshall.
The Island Company owns the only freight facility on Catalina and has chosen Avalon Freight Services to ship goods here. Sampson saw the issue as an antitrust or monopoly issue. Sampson wanted a formal investigation of what he sees as a monopoly. Marshall, however, opposed putting those words in the city’s proposed letter, arguing that the council members were not attorneys. Marshall said she did not want the city to initiate an investigation. Councilman Oley Olsen opposed sending the letter at all, arguing it was a waste of the city’s time and the attorney general’s time. Council members Rirchard Hernandez and Cinde Cassidy left the council chambers and abstained from the vote and discussion. Martin Curtin of Curtin Maritime urged the council to send the letter. Martin argued that there is an antitrust issue.
