Is There Hope for the Harbor’s Survival Next Year?

by Roger Gitlin

12/23/2025– Unquestionably, 2025 was a year of incredible turmoil, but also a year in which three new Board members joined the District and learned how to simply get along with one another. Handling the devastating loss in the Fashion Blacksmith lawsuit was overwhelming. Commissioners Dan Schmidt and Annie Nehmer’s growing alliance with Second District Supervisor Valerie Starkey was particularly vexing.

Starkey stepped outside her agency lane and encouraged Nehmer to involve herself in restructuring the agriculture loan taken out in 2012, which has been paid faithfully every year in the amount of $160,000. Nehmer’s unwanted intervention—without consultation with fellow commissioners—nearly derailed sensitive loan negotiations being handled by the Harbor’s appointed, contracted fiscal agent, Sandy Moreno. This prompted a pointed question from the Agriculture Department to Ms. Moreno: “Who is representing the Harbor—you, or Annie Nehmer?”

Such unwanted intervention by Harbor Commissioners often confuses and undermines negotiations between parties. For the Harbor to be successful, Annie Nehmer and her colleagues must fully understand their roles as Harbor Commissioners. On a five-member board, action requires three consenting votes.

Nehmer must understand her job—or the Harbor may fail.