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Mayors suggest new drivers license for border crossing

By Sandra Dibble
8:28 p.m., July 8, 2011

TIJUANA — Mayors from both sides of the border on Friday called for an enhanced California driver’s license that could be used as a border-crossing document for people entering the United States from Mexico.

The issue was was one of numerous measures recommended during the seventh Binational Mayors Summit, which brought together some mayors from Southern California and Baja California. The twice-yearly forum seeks to strengthen cross-border ties by focusing on common issues such as public safety, infrastructure, tourism and economic development.

While the mayors can’t set policy on many of these matters, participants said the meetings allow them to come up with joint strategies. “We can draw federal and state attention on both sides,” said San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. “They can really see that this is a vibrant and important border.”

Tijuana Mayor Carlos Bustamante, who hosted the conference, said the sessions are useful because “ideas come out of here. It allows us to lobby for what is needed.”

Among the ideas that emerged:

•The need to share information on individuals who are deported from the United States to Mexico.

•Forming a cross-border block of chambers of commerce.

•Increasing cross-border collaboration among universities.

•Developing an inventory of regional water resources and projects such as a seawater desalination plant being studied in Rosarito Beach.

•Conserving ecological systems that span the border.

•Strengthening cultural and sports tourism on both sides of the border.

Speakers at the event included Baja California Gov. José Guadalupe Osuna Millán and Kevin McAleenan, assistant to the commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

McAleenan said that with aging infrastructure on the border and limited resources for rebuilding, it is important to segment travelers efficiently through systems such as the SENTRI program for prescreened crossers.

Some lamented that Southern California participation at the conference was low. Besides Sanders, the region’s mayors in attendance came from West Covina, South El Monte, Imperial Beach, Bell Gardens and Redondo Beach. Representing Chula Vista was vice-mayor Rudy Ramirez.

Ruben Smith, an attorney from Orange County who first proposed the binational mayors summit, said some California mayors did not come because “there’s still a misperception about whether or not it’s safe here.”

In their joint resolution Friday, the mayors stated: “The perception of insecurity ... is not supported by the statistics regarding public safety of visitors in Baja California.”


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