Transportation
Car Review: 2015 Hyundai Genesis AWD 3.8
By Frank S. Washington
NNPA Columnist
DETROIT (NNPA) – From the moment we got in the 2015 Hyundai Genesis, our thought was Hyundai has found how to bake in that intangible that says luxury. It wasn’t in the sedan’s equipment or the engine; it was the ambience or the air of luxury inside the car.
You can call something a luxury car, but if the interior doesn’t feel or look like a luxury car, then you have a tough sell ahead. The first thing we noticed about the Genesis interior was the wood. There was a broad swath of matte-finished wood across the face of the dash and it had a natural grain look and feel. It continued through the doors fore and aft.
There was a TFT screen between a three dimensional odometer and speedometer. The touch screen was pretty wide but not so big as to overpower the wood finish. Inside trim included aluminum, chrome and upscale polymers.
And the car was quiet, really quiet – with the engine on or engine off. We had the Genesis 3.8. AWD. That means our test car had a 3.8-liter direct injection V6 that made 311 horsepower and 293 pound-feet of torque. It was mated to an eight-speed transmission. This powertrain was smooth, quiet and assertive.
The 2015 Hyundai Genesis is available with either rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive HTRAC. Our test vehicle had all-wheel-drive. The system distributed torque to the wheels according to the drive modes: Eco, Normal, Sport and Snow. Even on dry pavement it will send more torque to the rear wheels.
Hyundai said, “This system has a wider range of torque distribution variability than many competitive systems and has been tuned to variable conditions such as straight-line acceleration, medium- and high-speed cornering, and hill-starts.”
Putting power to all four wheels is great for slippery roads. But it also contributes to effective handling on dry pavement. And the 2015 Hyundai Genesis stuck to the pavement. Turns were sharp, cornering was crisp and the car accelerated with authority, once reaching 95 mph from 75 mph in roughly two seconds.
High strength steel was used extensively on the platform of the new Genesis. The result was 16 percent stiffer torsional rigidity and 40 percent stiffer bending rigidity compared to the first Genesis. That may sound too technical. but the bottom line is it was a smoother ride with hardly any noise, vibration or harshness.
We went over a stretch of road, Outer Drive between Wyoming and Livernois, which was ruddy surfaced and pock marked from one street to the other. There were no squeaks or rattles, the 2015 Genesis was quiet, even the thumps and bumps of the suspension were muffled.
Hyundai said the Genesis is the first model to use the company’s Fluidic Sculpture 2.0, yes there was a 1.0. The swerves and curves of the first generation have been reduced. Thus, the design can be incorporated into more Hyundai models. The Korean automaker needs to find a familial exterior style for its vehicles.
The Genesis had a distinctive hexagonal grille and a crease accent line running along the flanks of the car. It had a long snout and short rump with a longer wheelbase and shorter overhangs than the car that it replaced. This car looked like it could run – fast.
Our test vehicle was loaded. It had a 12-way front power seat. The driver’s chair had power bolsters and a seat cushion extension. The front seats were heated and cooled while the rear seats were heated. Our beige perforated leather seats had black piping.
Those rear seats were spacious, there was plenty of legroom and headroom was great. The 2015 Genesis has more interior room than its competitors, so said Hyundai.
But from those back seats we got a good look at our only quibble with the Genesis. Buttons, lots of buttons. We counted some two dozen on the front control center. That’s a lot of buttons for a car with a mouse and a touch screen.
Don’t get it twisted; the controls were not confusing in the least. However, with proximity technology, infrared and other sensing mechanisms, luxury automakers are, read Hyundai competitors, moving to clean interior looks that involve hardly any buttons or switches.
The test car had a panoramic roof, manual shades on the rear side windows and of course a power shade on the rear window. There was a backup camera with cross traffic alert and parking guidelines. The system would even project a vertical look of the car’s rear.
It had a navigation system, satellite radio, voice controls, auxiliary and USB jacks, blind spot alert and land departure warning. The technology package included partial automatic emergency braking from 50 mph to 112 mph and full automatic braking from 5 mph to 50 mph.
A Hyundai Blue Link app for your smartphone will let you remotely start the car, lock or unlock the doors, do point of interest searches using the navigation system, search for gas stations, call roadside assistance talk to a Blue Link agent and locate nearby dealers.
And the 17 speaker, 900 watt infotainment system let you voice control the navigation system, the audio system, including Pandora and Sound Hound, search for fuel prices, get movie tickets and check the weather.
That was just some of the 2015 Hyundai Genesis’ equipment. The sticker on our test car was $52,450. Quite frankly, we thought it was underpriced.
Frank S. Washington is editor of AboutThatCar.com.
###
Business
Port of Oakland, Army Corps Sign Historic Harbor Design Agreement
OAKLAND POST — Oakland Port Commission President Stephanie Dominguez Walton called the agreement a historic milestone that will support thousands of jobs. “Today marks a historic occasion for the Port as we sign the inaugural Design Agreement for the Turning Basin Widening Project, which will keep Oakland competitive,” said Walton.
A $642 million project designed to accommodate larger cargo ships and strengthen the Port of Oakland’s position as a major Pacific trade gateway moved a significant step closer to construction on Aug. 27.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) San Francisco District and the Port of Oakland commemorated the signing of the inaugural Design Agreement for the Oakland Harbor Turning Basins Widening Project during a ceremony aboard the USS Potomac, the presidential yacht once used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The project will widen the Port’s Inner and Outer Harbor turning basins, allowing today’s increasingly larger and longer vessels more space to safely maneuver and turn around. The current basins are narrow, creating delays and operational inefficiencies.
Oakland Port Commission President Stephanie Dominguez Walton called the agreement a historic milestone that will support thousands of jobs.
“Today marks a historic occasion for the Port as we sign the inaugural Design Agreement for the Turning Basin Widening Project, which will keep Oakland competitive,” said Walton.
The agreement advances the project into its preconstruction engineering and design phase following years of planning and collaboration.
Lt. Col. Virginia Brickner, commander of the USACE San Francisco District, said the signing represented tangible progress toward construction.
“We are moving forward. We are showing progress,” Brickner said.
Major General Jason Kelly, USACE Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, said dredging is critical for maritime dominance, supply chains, and economic competitiveness.
“Dredging sustains our national economic infrastructure,” he said. “The future demands more, the taxpayer deserves more, and together we’re going to deliver.”
For U.S. Representative Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), the Port project will support jobs beyond its completion. “This will impact workers and businesses, and every shipping container represents multiple jobs.”
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee described Oakland as a gateway to international markets and spoke on earlier efforts to deepen Oakland’s shipping channel to 50 feet. While serving in the California Legislature, Lee helped bring together labor, business, environmental advocates and Port officials to resolve disputes surrounding dredging and environmental protections.
“We want the Port to remain competitive economically,” Lee said, excited about both protecting the environment and generating sustainable jobs in the region. “We want to make sure that we create good-paying union jobs, and that the Port continues to not just survive, but thrive.”
Port of Oakland Executive Director Kristi McKenney said economic growth is dependent on investments in the Oakland Harbor’s infrastructure.
“This investment and staying competitive will fuel our economy for years to come,” said McKenney.
The Port of Oakland, with its partners, supports more than 98,000 regional jobs and $174 billion in annual economic activity. The Port oversees the Oakland Seaport, the Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK), and nearly 20 miles of waterfront, including Jack London Square.
Business
Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton Blasts California New Tire Rules; Newsom Hits Back
Newsom defended the regulations Aug. 19, citing the commission’s projected savings for consumers. “I think it was a good choice,” said Newsom. “Save a billion dollars a year in fuel. Talk about an affordability agenda, that makes sense to me.”
Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton is criticizing California’s new replacement-tire efficiency standards, arguing they will limit consumer choice and increase costs for drivers.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, however, says the regulations will save consumers money.
Hilton protested the standards Aug. 20 outside the California Energy Commission in Sacramento, where he and supporters chanted, “Hands off our tires.” The commission unanimously approved the regulations Aug. 17, making California the first state to adopt energy-efficiency standards for replacement tires.
“We are done with these bureaucrats and these politicians in our state, making everything so insanely expensive,” Hilton said at the protest.
Hilton said that, if elected governor, he would eliminate or defund the Energy Commission. His opposition to the tire standards is part of his broader criticism of California’s high cost of living.
Newsom defended the regulations Aug. 19, citing the commission’s projected savings for consumers.
“I think it was a good choice,” said Newsom. “Save a billion dollars a year in fuel. Talk about an affordability agenda, that makes sense to me.”
The Replacement Tire Efficiency Program sets limits on rolling resistance, which measures how much energy a tire requires to move along a road. Tires with lower rolling resistance can improve a gasoline-powered vehicle’s fuel economy or extend an electric vehicle’s driving range.
The first phase will take effect in 2029, setting a maximum rolling resistance of 9.1 newtons per kilonewton. A stricter limit of 7.2 newtons per kilonewton will take effect in 2033.
The Energy Commission says the standards will ensure that replacement tires are, on average, at least as energy efficient as those installed on new vehicles. The agency estimates the regulations will save Californians nearly $1 billion annually in gasoline and electricity costs while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by two million metric tons a year.
Some tire manufacturers, however, have raised concerns about the effect on prices and product availability. Goodyear estimates that about 70% of replacement tires currently sold in California would not meet the 2033 standard and argues that the regulations could increase costs for consumers.
The Energy Commission estimates the standards will add about $1.50 to the cost of each tire during the first phase and $6.50 per tire beginning in 2033. The commission projects that a driver with a gasoline-powered vehicle could save about $179 in fuel costs over the life of a set of tires meeting the 2033 standard.
The regulations exempt several specialty products, including competition, winter, used, retreaded, motorcycle and certain off-road tires.
Business
Frontier Airlines’ Return to Oakland Airport Brings Flights, Jobs and Opportunity
The inaugural celebration brought together elected officials, airport executives and Frontier Airlines leadership. Participants included U.S. Representative Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, Port of Oakland Board President Stephanie Dominguez Walton, Port of Oakland Executive Director Kristi McKenney and Frontier Airlines Vice President of Public and Consumer Affairs Tyri Squyres.
Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport welcomed Frontier Airlines back on Aug. 20, with a ribbon-cutting celebration marking the launch of new nonstop service between Oakland and Las Vegas.
The celebration, held in Terminal 1, highlighted Frontier’s return to the East Bay airport after last serving OAK in 2023.
The airline’s new Las Vegas service expands travel choices for Bay Area passengers headed to one of the airport’s most popular destinations.
The new route is scheduled to operate 11 times weekly, including daily service, strengthening connections between Oakland and Las Vegas for both leisure and business travelers.
The inaugural celebration brought together elected officials, airport executives and Frontier Airlines leadership. Participants included U.S. Representative Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, Port of Oakland Board President Stephanie Dominguez Walton, Port of Oakland Executive Director Kristi McKenney and Frontier Airlines Vice President of Public and Consumer Affairs Tyri Squyres.
“We’re excited to restart our service in Oakland,” said Squyres. “The early reaction and response have been great.”
“I’m so glad to have Frontier back,” said McKenney. “I appreciate the partnership we have. We work on it every day with our airlines, community, and our leadership. As your public agency, that’s what we’re here for; to create jobs and opportunities for our community.”
Dominguez Walton also chimed in.
“Today we are celebrating the inaugural flight from OAK to Las Vegas on Frontier Airlines. Oakland is the best way to and from the Bay,” she said.
Squyres highlighted the economic impact.
“Oakland is a critical gateway for the Bay Area moving nearly 10 million travelers each year. OAK is driving local and regional growth keeping the City of Oakland moving forward, moving ahead and also competitive,” she said. “Expanding travel opportunities means not only more options for residents but also opening more high-quality jobs. And when travelers arrive through OAK, they directly support our neighborhoods, businesses, hotels, restaurants, and our cultural attractions.”
Simon broke down what the airline’s reopening means to Oaklanders.
“It’s the grandmother heading to the family reunion at a price she can afford. It’s the small business owner who gets to go to the industry tradeshow and be back by dinner. And it’s the family being able to come from Nevada to get excellent cancer care at our Children’s Hospital at a price they can afford,” she said.
Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport serves as the primary airport for much of the East Bay and provides connections to the region through highways and BART. Operated by the Port of Oakland, the airport is part of a broader transportation and economic network that also includes the Oakland seaport and approximately 20 miles of East Bay waterfront.
According to the Port of Oakland, its operations and business partners support nearly 100,000 regional jobs and generates nearly $175 billion in economic impact.
Simon also emphasized the flights’ potential to create well-paying jobs in the local community.
“More flights means more work for real people in the community, in East Oakland. We know aviation work is steady, and it pays well. It’s work that brings in good labor jobs and prevailing wages.”
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Transportation
Car Review: 2015 Hyundai Genesis AWD 3.8
By Frank S. Washington
NNPA Columnist
DETROIT (NNPA) – From the moment we got in the 2015 Hyundai Genesis, our thought was Hyundai has found how to bake in that intangible that says luxury. It wasn’t in the sedan’s equipment or the engine; it was the ambience or the air of luxury inside the car.
You can call something a luxury car, but if the interior doesn’t feel or look like a luxury car, then you have a tough sell ahead. The first thing we noticed about the Genesis interior was the wood. There was a broad swath of matte-finished wood across the face of the dash and it had a natural grain look and feel. It continued through the doors fore and aft.
There was a TFT screen between a three dimensional odometer and speedometer. The touch screen was pretty wide but not so big as to overpower the wood finish. Inside trim included aluminum, chrome and upscale polymers.
And the car was quiet, really quiet – with the engine on or engine off. We had the Genesis 3.8. AWD. That means our test car had a 3.8-liter direct injection V6 that made 311 horsepower and 293 pound-feet of torque. It was mated to an eight-speed transmission. This powertrain was smooth, quiet and assertive.
The 2015 Hyundai Genesis is available with either rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive HTRAC. Our test vehicle had all-wheel-drive. The system distributed torque to the wheels according to the drive modes: Eco, Normal, Sport and Snow. Even on dry pavement it will send more torque to the rear wheels.
Hyundai said, “This system has a wider range of torque distribution variability than many competitive systems and has been tuned to variable conditions such as straight-line acceleration, medium- and high-speed cornering, and hill-starts.”
Putting power to all four wheels is great for slippery roads. But it also contributes to effective handling on dry pavement. And the 2015 Hyundai Genesis stuck to the pavement. Turns were sharp, cornering was crisp and the car accelerated with authority, once reaching 95 mph from 75 mph in roughly two seconds.
High strength steel was used extensively on the platform of the new Genesis. The result was 16 percent stiffer torsional rigidity and 40 percent stiffer bending rigidity compared to the first Genesis. That may sound too technical. but the bottom line is it was a smoother ride with hardly any noise, vibration or harshness.
We went over a stretch of road, Outer Drive between Wyoming and Livernois, which was ruddy surfaced and pock marked from one street to the other. There were no squeaks or rattles, the 2015 Genesis was quiet, even the thumps and bumps of the suspension were muffled.
Hyundai said the Genesis is the first model to use the company’s Fluidic Sculpture 2.0, yes there was a 1.0. The swerves and curves of the first generation have been reduced. Thus, the design can be incorporated into more Hyundai models. The Korean automaker needs to find a familial exterior style for its vehicles.
The Genesis had a distinctive hexagonal grille and a crease accent line running along the flanks of the car. It had a long snout and short rump with a longer wheelbase and shorter overhangs than the car that it replaced. This car looked like it could run – fast.
Our test vehicle was loaded. It had a 12-way front power seat. The driver’s chair had power bolsters and a seat cushion extension. The front seats were heated and cooled while the rear seats were heated. Our beige perforated leather seats had black piping.
Those rear seats were spacious, there was plenty of legroom and headroom was great. The 2015 Genesis has more interior room than its competitors, so said Hyundai.
But from those back seats we got a good look at our only quibble with the Genesis. Buttons, lots of buttons. We counted some two dozen on the front control center. That’s a lot of buttons for a car with a mouse and a touch screen.
Don’t get it twisted; the controls were not confusing in the least. However, with proximity technology, infrared and other sensing mechanisms, luxury automakers are, read Hyundai competitors, moving to clean interior looks that involve hardly any buttons or switches.
The test car had a panoramic roof, manual shades on the rear side windows and of course a power shade on the rear window. There was a backup camera with cross traffic alert and parking guidelines. The system would even project a vertical look of the car’s rear.
It had a navigation system, satellite radio, voice controls, auxiliary and USB jacks, blind spot alert and land departure warning. The technology package included partial automatic emergency braking from 50 mph to 112 mph and full automatic braking from 5 mph to 50 mph.
A Hyundai Blue Link app for your smartphone will let you remotely start the car, lock or unlock the doors, do point of interest searches using the navigation system, search for gas stations, call roadside assistance talk to a Blue Link agent and locate nearby dealers.
And the 17 speaker, 900 watt infotainment system let you voice control the navigation system, the audio system, including Pandora and Sound Hound, search for fuel prices, get movie tickets and check the weather.
That was just some of the 2015 Hyundai Genesis’ equipment. The sticker on our test car was $52,450. Quite frankly, we thought it was underpriced.
Frank S. Washington is editor of AboutThatCar.com.
###
Business
Port of Oakland, Army Corps Sign Historic Harbor Design Agreement
OAKLAND POST — Oakland Port Commission President Stephanie Dominguez Walton called the agreement a historic milestone that will support thousands of jobs. “Today marks a historic occasion for the Port as we sign the inaugural Design Agreement for the Turning Basin Widening Project, which will keep Oakland competitive,” said Walton.
A $642 million project designed to accommodate larger cargo ships and strengthen the Port of Oakland’s position as a major Pacific trade gateway moved a significant step closer to construction on Aug. 27.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) San Francisco District and the Port of Oakland commemorated the signing of the inaugural Design Agreement for the Oakland Harbor Turning Basins Widening Project during a ceremony aboard the USS Potomac, the presidential yacht once used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The project will widen the Port’s Inner and Outer Harbor turning basins, allowing today’s increasingly larger and longer vessels more space to safely maneuver and turn around. The current basins are narrow, creating delays and operational inefficiencies.
Oakland Port Commission President Stephanie Dominguez Walton called the agreement a historic milestone that will support thousands of jobs.
“Today marks a historic occasion for the Port as we sign the inaugural Design Agreement for the Turning Basin Widening Project, which will keep Oakland competitive,” said Walton.
The agreement advances the project into its preconstruction engineering and design phase following years of planning and collaboration.
Lt. Col. Virginia Brickner, commander of the USACE San Francisco District, said the signing represented tangible progress toward construction.
“We are moving forward. We are showing progress,” Brickner said.
Major General Jason Kelly, USACE Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, said dredging is critical for maritime dominance, supply chains, and economic competitiveness.
“Dredging sustains our national economic infrastructure,” he said. “The future demands more, the taxpayer deserves more, and together we’re going to deliver.”
For U.S. Representative Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), the Port project will support jobs beyond its completion. “This will impact workers and businesses, and every shipping container represents multiple jobs.”
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee described Oakland as a gateway to international markets and spoke on earlier efforts to deepen Oakland’s shipping channel to 50 feet. While serving in the California Legislature, Lee helped bring together labor, business, environmental advocates and Port officials to resolve disputes surrounding dredging and environmental protections.
“We want the Port to remain competitive economically,” Lee said, excited about both protecting the environment and generating sustainable jobs in the region. “We want to make sure that we create good-paying union jobs, and that the Port continues to not just survive, but thrive.”
Port of Oakland Executive Director Kristi McKenney said economic growth is dependent on investments in the Oakland Harbor’s infrastructure.
“This investment and staying competitive will fuel our economy for years to come,” said McKenney.
The Port of Oakland, with its partners, supports more than 98,000 regional jobs and $174 billion in annual economic activity. The Port oversees the Oakland Seaport, the Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK), and nearly 20 miles of waterfront, including Jack London Square.
Business
Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton Blasts California New Tire Rules; Newsom Hits Back
Newsom defended the regulations Aug. 19, citing the commission’s projected savings for consumers. “I think it was a good choice,” said Newsom. “Save a billion dollars a year in fuel. Talk about an affordability agenda, that makes sense to me.”
Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton is criticizing California’s new replacement-tire efficiency standards, arguing they will limit consumer choice and increase costs for drivers.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, however, says the regulations will save consumers money.
Hilton protested the standards Aug. 20 outside the California Energy Commission in Sacramento, where he and supporters chanted, “Hands off our tires.” The commission unanimously approved the regulations Aug. 17, making California the first state to adopt energy-efficiency standards for replacement tires.
“We are done with these bureaucrats and these politicians in our state, making everything so insanely expensive,” Hilton said at the protest.
Hilton said that, if elected governor, he would eliminate or defund the Energy Commission. His opposition to the tire standards is part of his broader criticism of California’s high cost of living.
Newsom defended the regulations Aug. 19, citing the commission’s projected savings for consumers.
“I think it was a good choice,” said Newsom. “Save a billion dollars a year in fuel. Talk about an affordability agenda, that makes sense to me.”
The Replacement Tire Efficiency Program sets limits on rolling resistance, which measures how much energy a tire requires to move along a road. Tires with lower rolling resistance can improve a gasoline-powered vehicle’s fuel economy or extend an electric vehicle’s driving range.
The first phase will take effect in 2029, setting a maximum rolling resistance of 9.1 newtons per kilonewton. A stricter limit of 7.2 newtons per kilonewton will take effect in 2033.
The Energy Commission says the standards will ensure that replacement tires are, on average, at least as energy efficient as those installed on new vehicles. The agency estimates the regulations will save Californians nearly $1 billion annually in gasoline and electricity costs while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by two million metric tons a year.
Some tire manufacturers, however, have raised concerns about the effect on prices and product availability. Goodyear estimates that about 70% of replacement tires currently sold in California would not meet the 2033 standard and argues that the regulations could increase costs for consumers.
The Energy Commission estimates the standards will add about $1.50 to the cost of each tire during the first phase and $6.50 per tire beginning in 2033. The commission projects that a driver with a gasoline-powered vehicle could save about $179 in fuel costs over the life of a set of tires meeting the 2033 standard.
The regulations exempt several specialty products, including competition, winter, used, retreaded, motorcycle and certain off-road tires.
Business
Frontier Airlines’ Return to Oakland Airport Brings Flights, Jobs and Opportunity
The inaugural celebration brought together elected officials, airport executives and Frontier Airlines leadership. Participants included U.S. Representative Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, Port of Oakland Board President Stephanie Dominguez Walton, Port of Oakland Executive Director Kristi McKenney and Frontier Airlines Vice President of Public and Consumer Affairs Tyri Squyres.
Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport welcomed Frontier Airlines back on Aug. 20, with a ribbon-cutting celebration marking the launch of new nonstop service between Oakland and Las Vegas.
The celebration, held in Terminal 1, highlighted Frontier’s return to the East Bay airport after last serving OAK in 2023.
The airline’s new Las Vegas service expands travel choices for Bay Area passengers headed to one of the airport’s most popular destinations.
The new route is scheduled to operate 11 times weekly, including daily service, strengthening connections between Oakland and Las Vegas for both leisure and business travelers.
The inaugural celebration brought together elected officials, airport executives and Frontier Airlines leadership. Participants included U.S. Representative Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, Port of Oakland Board President Stephanie Dominguez Walton, Port of Oakland Executive Director Kristi McKenney and Frontier Airlines Vice President of Public and Consumer Affairs Tyri Squyres.
“We’re excited to restart our service in Oakland,” said Squyres. “The early reaction and response have been great.”
“I’m so glad to have Frontier back,” said McKenney. “I appreciate the partnership we have. We work on it every day with our airlines, community, and our leadership. As your public agency, that’s what we’re here for; to create jobs and opportunities for our community.”
Dominguez Walton also chimed in.
“Today we are celebrating the inaugural flight from OAK to Las Vegas on Frontier Airlines. Oakland is the best way to and from the Bay,” she said.
Squyres highlighted the economic impact.
“Oakland is a critical gateway for the Bay Area moving nearly 10 million travelers each year. OAK is driving local and regional growth keeping the City of Oakland moving forward, moving ahead and also competitive,” she said. “Expanding travel opportunities means not only more options for residents but also opening more high-quality jobs. And when travelers arrive through OAK, they directly support our neighborhoods, businesses, hotels, restaurants, and our cultural attractions.”
Simon broke down what the airline’s reopening means to Oaklanders.
“It’s the grandmother heading to the family reunion at a price she can afford. It’s the small business owner who gets to go to the industry tradeshow and be back by dinner. And it’s the family being able to come from Nevada to get excellent cancer care at our Children’s Hospital at a price they can afford,” she said.
Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport serves as the primary airport for much of the East Bay and provides connections to the region through highways and BART. Operated by the Port of Oakland, the airport is part of a broader transportation and economic network that also includes the Oakland seaport and approximately 20 miles of East Bay waterfront.
According to the Port of Oakland, its operations and business partners support nearly 100,000 regional jobs and generates nearly $175 billion in economic impact.
Simon also emphasized the flights’ potential to create well-paying jobs in the local community.
“More flights means more work for real people in the community, in East Oakland. We know aviation work is steady, and it pays well. It’s work that brings in good labor jobs and prevailing wages.”
-
Commentary2 weeks ago
Standoff for Justice: Our Homes Are Worth Fighting For
-
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Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton Blasts California New Tire Rules; Newsom Hits Back
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