Local Briefs

The South San Francisco Police Department is searching for two suspects that pushed a man to the ground and attempted to steal his wallet Tuesday morning.

According to police, the incident occurred at 7:57 a.m., in the parking lot of a business located in the 400 block of Eccles Avenue.

The suspects approached the victim as he exited his vehicle, forced him to the ground, placed an unknown object against his back and attempted to locate his wallet, police report.

A co-worker entered the parking lot and began honking her horn as she called 911 from her cell phone.

Both suspects, who fled on foot, are described as 20-year-old Caucasian men standing 5 feet 10 inches and weighing 200 pounds.

Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact the South San Francisco Police Department at 877-8900.

Port of Redwood City

sets tonnage record

A record 1,490,624 metric tons of cargo crossed the Port of Redwood City docks during the fiscal year 2003-2004, Port Commission Chairman Larry Aikins said.

The tonnage represents the third million-ton year in the port's history. The record surpasses its previous all-time high of 1,111,404 metric tons, set in the fiscal year 2002-03. Altogether 142 ships and barges used the Port during the period, up from 100 the year before.

The Port's success underscores the construction industry's reliance on the port to transport much-needed building materials, Aikens said. The record increases in imports of cement, construction sand and gypsum a strong demand for the export of scrap metal, according to Aikens.

Cement, aggregates and gypsum imported from China, Canada, and Mexico, are used in many significant infrastructure and building projects in Northern California. Each showed an increase in imports over last year, Aikens said.

For the past 10 years, the Port has contributed a portion of its net revenue to the city of Redwood City. The Port Commission recently agreed to contribute an additional $400,000 emergency contribution to the cash-strapped city's general fund, in equal installments from July 1, 2004 through July 1, 2005. Through annual contributions and the one-time donation, the Port is projected to donate $1.2 million to the city over the next two fiscal years.