Transboundary Issues and Solutions in the San Diego/Tijuana Border

Blurred Borders: Transboundary Impacts and Solutions in the San Diego-Tijuana Region Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary 4 2 Why Do We Need to Re-think the Border Now? 6 3. Re-Defining the Border 7 4. Trans-Border Residents 9 5. Trans-National Residents 12 6. San Diego-Tijuana’s Comparative Advantages and Challenges 15 7. Identifying San Diego-Tijuana's Shared Regional Assets 18 8. Trans-Boundary Issues •Regional Planning 20 •Education 23 •Health 26 •Human Services 29 •Environment 32 •Arts & Culture 35 8. Building a Common Future: Promoting Binational Civic Participation & Building Social Capital in the San Diego-Tijuana Region 38 9. Taking the First Step: A Collective Binational Call for Civic Action 42 10. San Diego-Tijuana At a Glance 43 11. Definitions 44 12. San Diego-Tijuana Regional Map Inside Back Cover Copyright 2004, International Community Foundation, All rights reserved International Community Foundation 3 Executive Summary Blurred Borders: Transboundary Impacts and Solutions in the San Diego-Tijuana Region Over the years, the border has divided the people of San Diego Blurred Borders highlights the similarities, the inter-connections County and the municipality of Tijuana over a wide range of differ- and the challenges that San Diego and Tijuana share, addressing ences attributed to language, culture, national security, public the wide range of community based issues in what has become the safety and a host of other cross border issues ranging from human largest binational metropolitan area in North America. Of particu- migration to the environment. The ‘us’ versus ‘them’ mentality has lar interest is how the proximity of the border impacts the lives and become more pervasive following the tragedy of September 11, livelihoods of poor and under-served communities in both San 2001 with San Diegans focusing greater attention on terrorism and Diego County and the municipality of Tijuana as well as what can homeland security and the need to re-think immigration policy in be done to address their growing needs. the United States as a means of fortifying the international border. Irrespective of how "secure" the border ulti- Validating the growing importance of the bor- mately does become, the fact remains that the "…terrorism and homeland der to both San Diego and Tijuana, Blurred border between San Diego County and Tijuana Borders presents the findings of an unprece- is increasingly becoming blurred as the security remain very high dented binational, bilingual survey of San Diego impacts of globalization and human migration and Tijuana residents undertaken by Cross obscure political boundaries. Across the San on the list of concerns Border Business Associates (CBA) demonstrat- Diego-Tijuana border region, the trans-bound- ing the many shared and common interests that ary impacts and inter-connections of these two among San Diegans but are exist between residents of both communities. fast growing communities are ever present. viewed as unimportant by In particular, the survey found San Diegans and Tijuanenses have a lot in common, as residents The ties that bind this binational sister city Tijuanenses relative to other of both communities are generally transitory region in the areas of cross-border trade, com- with the majority being non-native. The two merce, and tourism are indisputable, and their issues, such as public safety, communities share a common challenge in combined comparative advantages have con- developing a sense of local pride amongst tributed to job creation and economic opportu- in spite of the direct impact their respective citizenry. Among residents of nity as well as increased cultural and ethnic both San Diego and Tijuana, the three top diversity for the people and businesses on both that increased security issues of importance were education & sides of the border. But the inter-dependen- schools, health care, and jobs & the economy. cies go beyond trade, commerce, tourism and measures at the border In spite of these shared public sentiments, few recreation. Throughout the San Diego-Tijuana collaborative programs exist in the area of edu- will have on cross-border border region there are growing inter-depend- cation and economic development/job cre- encies in the areas of health, human services, commerce, trade ation, and more can be done jointly to address education, the environment as well as arts and common trans-boundary health issues that culture that requires pro-active binational solu- and commuting delays." impact residents on both sides of the border. tions, greater investment and expanded cross- border civic participation by the private, public While the CBA study highlighted areas of com- and non-profit sectors. San Diego and Tijuana are also inextricably mon interest, it also pointed to areas where there is a greater need tied through inter-personal and family ties with a growing number for consensus and cross-border dialogue. In particular, terrorism of San Diegans now living south of the border due to the high cost and homeland security remain very high on the list of concerns of housing in San Diego County. among San Diegans but are viewed as unimportant by 4 International Community Foundation Tijuanenses relative to other issues, such as public safety, in spite economic segregation and concentrated urban and rural poverty. of the direct impact that increased security measures at the border In San Diego County, urban poverty is on the rise. In fact, accord- will have on cross-border commerce, trade and commuting delays. ing to a recent Brookings Institution report, San Diego now ranks Urban sprawl was universally seen as the least important issue of 6th in the country in terms of metropolitan areas that have seen concern among San Diegans and Tijuanenses even though sprawl is marked increases in poverty among census tracts in their respec- negatively impacting the quality of live of residents on both sides of tive regions.2 A review of data from the Mexican Consulate--San the border. Diego reveals a direct correlation between those areas experienc- ing increases in poverty with those that have high concentrations While San Diegans and Tijuanenses did not universally agree on all of Mexican migrant workers.3 issues, there was consensus that the border matters. According to CBA’s findings, 69% of San Diego residents (English and Spanish In Tijuana, urban poverty is also rising in disturbing proportions speaking) and 68% of Tijuana residents felt that with half of all new residents living in the border had a positive impact on their com- Left unattended, …[income] squatter communities without adequate munity. Less than 15% of San Diego residents infrastructure, limited or no clean water, and only 11% of Tijuana residents felt that the disparities and the region’s and the prevalence of water borne infec- border had a negative impact on their communi- tious disease and other health risks. Left ty. Complementing a recent survey undertaken growing pockets of poverty unattended, the consequences of these by KPBS/Competitive Edge, CBA’s found that disparities and the region’s growing pock- those San Diegans of Mexican descent had a pose a threat to the quality ets of poverty pose a threat to the quality more positive perception of the border than of life, economic prosperity and long-term other residents. The study also found that of life, economic prosperity competitiveness of the San Diego-Tijuana among those Tijuanenses surveyed, over 40% region vis-à-vis other metropolitan areas had family and relatives in the United States. In and long-term competitive- of North America. this sense, the border is increasingly becoming ness of the San Diego- blurred with a growing number of trans-border Finally, in spite of the divisions and chal- and trans-national communities in the San Tijuana region vis-à-vis lenges facing the San Diego-Tijuana border Diego-Tijuana region that are truly binational. region, Blurred Borders illustrates the other metropolitan areas tremendous progress being made to build According to the US Census, over 26.7% of San and strengthen the shared social capital Diego County’s population was of Hispanic ori- of North America. that exist between our two communities. gin in 2000, with 22% speaking Spanish at home. The report also highlights the shared assets As Hispanics are expected to be the majority in in the San Diego-Tijuana region that are far the County by the year 2040,1 the ties between San Diego and too often overlooked. Tijuana will grow even stronger over time, irrespective of the pre- vailing public opinion and perceptions by San Diego County’s While binational collaboration in the region needs to be expanded, English only speaking population. there are a number of committed non-profit organizations from both San Diego and Tijuana working together and forging partner- In spite of San Diego’s growing Hispanic population, Blurred ships on a wide range of issues of importance to the entire bina- Borders highlights the present indifference in both San Diego and tional region including: affordable housing; health education, par- Tijuana to the region’s emerging challenges due to the growing ticularly in the areas of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and other prevent- economic disparities that exist not only between these two sister able diseases; migrant youth and parental education; drug and cities but between the affluent and the poor within their respective alcohol prevention; trans-boundary environmental impacts to communities. These disparities are further exacerbated by four shared air and water, and cultural enrichment. If the San Diego- interlocking problems impacting the San Diego-Tijuana border Tijuana Region is to be successful in strengthening its social capi- region, namely urban sprawl, human migration, racial and socio- tal, such binational collaboration needs to be further expanded. 1Maria Puente and Martin Kasindorf, "Blended races making true melting pot." USA Today, September 7, 1999.

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