stop the triple fence | 02.03.2005 23:14

Here is some of the list traffic from  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/borderfencesolution/ and other emails today. It is unfortunate that everyone is so snowed about the need for a triple fence to stop terrorists. We have to get the Senate to say no to the bill that would exempt this fence from environmental laws.

Contact the County Supervisors and contact Boxer and Feinstein!

I just saw on the NBCSanDiego.com website that our county supervisors voted to support the extension of the triple border fence. The only supervisor to ask that environmental laws be followed was Greg Cox.

If you'd like ot fax, call or email the supervisors and let them know what you think of this vote, here is contact info:


COUNTY SUPERVISORS
County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego 92101,
Ph. (619) 531-5700, Fax (619) 557-4025 (same for all, apparently)

By district:

Dist. 1: Greg Cox, Ph. (619) 531-5511;
e-mail:  greg.cox@sdcounty.ca.gov

Dist. 2: Dianne Jacob, Ph. (619) 531-5522,
e-mail:  dianne.jacob@sdcounty.ca.gov

Dist. 3: Pam Slater Ph. (619) 531-5533;
e-mail:  pam.slater@sdcounty.ca.gov


Dist. 4 Ron Roberts, Ph. (619) 531-5544;
e-mail:  ron.roberts@sdcounty.ca.gov

Dist. 5: Bill Horn, Ph. (619) 531-5555;
e-mail:  bill.horn@sdcounty.ca.gov


FYI, attached is the background information regarding today's item on the
agenda, from the County's web site,
 http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/cnty/bos/agenda/backup/ag01t.pdf

Contact the Senate:

Sen. Barbara Boxer
 http://boxer.senate.gov/

Sen. Dianne Feinstein
 http://feinstein.senate.gov/


**********************************************************

Here is an article from the San Diego U-T. If you can, please write a letter to the Editor commenting on this. The more letters they receive, the more likely they are to print one.

Cox assumes that environmental laws will be waived, although this hasn't gone through the Senate. He asks for minimal environmental damage, which is possible, and which would have resulted if the fence backers would have listened to the Coastal Commission instead of taking it outside of the law.


ACTING RESPONSIBLY ON BORDER FENCE

By Greg Cox
March 1, 2005

The U.S. Senate will soon take up an issue that will play out literally in San Diego County's back yard - that of completing the fence that separates the United States and Mexico. Already approved in the House of Representatives, a bill authored by James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., seeks to enhance various security standards for immigration. It includes a provision that would waive any environmental regulations at all levels of government to finish the remaining segment of "triple fence," the westernmost 3.5 mile stretch that runs right through a nationally and internationally recognized wetland and nature preserve.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, all Americans have become aware of what we in San Diego County have known for a very long time, that our international borders are not secure. In an effort to beef up our borders, the Department of Homeland Security has nearly completed the construction of a strong physical barrier of repeated fences and a road system designed to deter illegal entry along our southern border.

With the heightened concerns about international terrorist activity, the federal government can and should make every effort to protect homeland security by strengthening border security as they see fit. The safety of our nation and all Americans cannot be compromised.

The enhanced border fencing currently stops 3.5 miles short of the ocean, a segment that runs directly through an environmentally sensitive area at the mouth of the Tijuana River. It is an area so significant to the plants, wildlife and habitat that flourish in this tiny southwest corner of the nation, that the estuary has been identified and protected as a National Estuarine Research Reserve, a state park and a county regional park.

More than half a billion in federal, state and local taxpayer dollars have been spent specifically for environmental protection, preservation and enhancement in the area, an investment that we locally cannot ignore.

That is why I am asking my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors to take action. First and foremost, to express our strong support for the mission of the Department of Homeland Security as our nation's highest priority and our strong support for the fence that national security experts say is essential to achieve that mission.

Second, with all environmental regulations most likely being waived, I am asking that the San Diego County Board of Supervisors fulfill our fiduciary responsibility to local taxpayers by emphasizing to federal officials the importance of using best engineering practices to minimize the negative effects of the triple fence in this environmentally sensitive area and to request the mitigation necessary to offset the unavoidable damage that will occur.

The natural resources in the Tijuana River Valley have been deemed a national treasure, one worthy of investing 570 million in public dollars over the past 20 years to protect and enhance. It would be nothing short of reckless and irresponsible for the federal government not to consider the environmental impact as civil engineers design and construct the remaining segment of the border fence.

I have great faith in American engineering and innovation. Our nation built the Panama Canal, the Hoover Dam and the Golden Gate Bridge. We've driven vehicles on Mars and built unmanned aircraft to fly over combat zones.

I know that a nation capable of these engineering feats can construct 3.5 miles of secure border fencing with minimal damage to the environment. I know it can respect decades of public investment by mitigating for the environmental damage that will be caused to the area.

The Tijuana River Valley is San Diego County's beautiful back-yard treasure. Waivers of environmental laws aside, the feds must act responsibly to build a smart fence at its final segment and to clean up the mess it makes. It is San Diego County's responsibility to hold them accountable.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cox represents the border region on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

Homepage:: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/borderfencesolution/

border fence 03.03.2005 22:13 si it realy to keep someone out? or is it a con job to keep us trapped ? look at the news ( what we're allowed to hear) non-lethal weapons - no weapon is non-lethal! cops using hollow point bullets. hollow point is just a samantic change from dum-dum. banned by the geneva convention. or are we just rats in the corporate cage? just put enough border patrol to check the people coming over, or would that take to much money from the presidents partys? karl roenfanz ( rosey ) e-mail:: k_rosey48@hotmail.com well.. 05.03.2005 07:14 They're puttin' it up to keep people from running away!... SxA Border fence 05.03.2005 10:02 .....And I can't help thinking that this fence is akin to the Berlin Wall. If the U.S. government and corporations would quit exploiting those who live south of the border and elsewhere, maybe we wouldn't need atrocities such as this wall. Manyhats On border fence-fiasco 09.03.2005 12:11 Supervisor Cox is another example of how many right-wing conservatives play on fear and resentment to get their public agendas approved. For him, it's not enough to have the most militarized international border in the world to allegedly stop the threat undocumented migrants pose to this country. He, along those who tag along his plan, keep blaming the mostly poor and helpless migrants for many of America's illness. The border is strongly secured enough, and "Operation Gatekeeper" is still adding more immigration agents. An environemtal catastrophe is yet to brew, thanks to shortsighted individuals like Cox and his partners in San Diego's Board of Supervisors. Enviromental studies conducted by researchers at UC San Diego conclude "the three-wall fence will damage irreversibly natural habitats for many wild species that claim the region their natural home." Individuals like Cox and his supporters should be voted out of office, and barred from holding any public administrative position. They are a diservice to California. Al e-mail:: alfredo68j@hotmail.com On border fence-fiasco 09.03.2005 12:11 Supervisor Cox is another example of how many right-wing conservatives play on fear and resentment to get their public agendas approved. For him, it's not enough to have the most militarized international border in the world to allegedly stop the threat undocumented migrants pose to this country. He, along those who tag along his plan, keep blaming the mostly poor and helpless migrants for many of America's illness. The border is strongly secured enough, and "Operation Gatekeeper" is still adding more immigration agents. An environemtal catastrophe is yet to brew, thanks to shortsighted individuals like Cox and his partners in San Diego's Board of Supervisors. Enviromental studies conducted by researchers at UC San Diego conclude "the three-wall fence will damage irreversibly natural habitats for many wild species that claim the region their natural home." Individuals like Cox and his supporters should be voted out of office, and barred from holding any public administrative position. They are a diservice to California. Al e-mail:: alfredo68j@hotmail.com Threat exagerated 20.03.2005 07:16 I think You guys are exagerating the threat made by the fence to wild life. Plus im sure this area is not so rare that its actually these animals only habitats. Plus in the grand scheme of things human live > animal life Oh and you guys who think this fence is to keep you in: A) you can still go to Canada B) there are trips to foriegn countires by plane for about 200 something. c) ships go all over the place and come to america, I'm sure you could get on them. Needless to say the thought that this fence is here to keep you in rather then keep Illegaels out is not just paranoid but abseoultly ludicrius. jack fenced in? 23.03.2005 19:43 Jack is right, why would we want to fence you in, i would hope you would just leave. Bob