U.S. Government Waste, Fraud, and Abuse - New West Port of Entry

Ray William Askins, Jr. REPORT TWENTY-NINE

Post Office Box 1328

Calexico, CA 92232-1328

Telephone: 011-52-686-551-9064; Fax: 011-52-686-551-9097

E-mail Address: ras6057499@hotmail.com

September 26, 2008

Congressman Bob FilnerBob Filner

1101 Airport Road, Suite D

Imperial, CA 92251

Regarding: Department of Homeland Security – DHS

Subject: U.S. Government Waste, Fraud and Abuse - West POE

Attention: Congressman Bob Filner

Honorable Congressman

One of the most obvious wastes this year is the $600 Million dollars spent for a fortress type of U.S. Embassy in Bagdad, Iraq. 1 Billion 2 operating cost per year. It is a waste.

UNIFORMS

How many millions of dollars is spent every year providing new uniforms and weapons for the CBP, BP, ICE, VS, FDA, FWS, and others in the alphabet group? DHS replaced U.S. Customs [USCS]; Department of Agriculture [APHIS]; and Immigration & Naturalization Service [INS] inspectional uniforms and patches. Add it up over the last six years including the consolidation and reorganizing the Department of Homeland Security – 55 million dollars including new patches for the first year? Plus the cost for a formal uniform, some tell me they have never worn and besides it probably does not fit – another 25 million? Guns are extra for each officer upgrades twice and they are not cheap – another 15 million or more? New uniforms are a symbol of “One Face at the Border” and “the symbolization of Unification,” says DHS. Now the 50,000 DHS officers and agents are allowed a $1000 towards uniforms and patches per year. How many millions is that? 50,000 employees times $1,000 equal to $50 million per year? So far spent is $345 million. The best part of all of this, the uniforms are made in Mexico that saved the tax payer’s money. That is the same logic my wife uses on me, she spends $110, and tells me she saved me money.

EAST PORT OF ENTRY – POE

Ten years ago (1998) the East POE Calexico was built at a cost of $33 million with pedestrian lanes that no one uses - a waste. Plus 9 million was for the Commercial lanes.

WEST PORT OF ENTRY – POE

The new West POE will be built for $275 million with 16 lanes northbound, 3 lanes southbound including pedestrian lanes. The downtown POE was built 40 years ago (1970) plus add the time for planning, more planning, and construction time. This POE is so out of date for the demands made with today’s DHS requirements. It seems to me by the time the new port is built; it too will be out of date. There are only three lanes that can be used to enter Mexico. No change here backing up traffic to Mexico and no planning for the future. DHS does not want you in Mexico unless you are willing to pay the price of waiting in line. Another waste!

EXPAND THE PEDESTRIAN DOWNTOWN PORT OF ENTRY

What is wrong of expanding the downtown pedestrian POE? No building to build, use the present assets and INSIDE expand 16 lanes for the pedestrians with a public restroom. At a small cost of 2 million or less to make the necessary changes (see Report 1). I am sure a lot more money (12 million or more) will be spent at the West POE for pedestrian’s lanes. Pedestrians are not going to change their habits of crossing the border at any other location. See what happen to the East POE, all of that money was spent for pedestrian traffic and the pedestrians didn’t use it compared to the Downtown POE built in 1970. So what makes you think pedestrians are going to change their habits, walk over and start crossing at the new West POE? That requires using a bus for the elderly, the handicap and the disabled to reach the new port because of the distance to the Port and then another bus or walk over to the downtown Calexico retail stores. The commerce will not be located at the new port exit to the United States. How many millions are going to be spent for an idea that will not work? The big loser is Calexico’s commerce and the commuters. Called it another waste?

ADMINISTRATION BUILDING FOR THE WEST PORT

The new West POE has plans for a new administration building. How much will that cost - $55 million? What is wrong with the downtown administration building and the administration building at the East POE built in 1998? I have seen the Downtown POE inside upstairs, it was very nice and clean with a conference room; plenty of offices and clean restrooms upstairs. A waste to build another Administration building!

RESTROOMS – NEW PORT OF ENTRY – POE

In the new plan B design, General Service Administration - GSA has deleted the public restrooms. Remember this new POE is going to be further away from the Downtown POE with McDonalds next door or Jack in the Box across the street. For that matter it is away from any public restrooms for both vehicles and pedestrians. The city of Calexico needs to pick up slack for restrooms outside the new West POE. It can’t be the type of restrooms that were condemned by Environmental Health Services for Imperial County on or about July 31, 2008. Three city public restrooms were closed. The City of Calexico now has temporary potty boxes type restrooms at three locations; or walk over to the city hall and use their clean air conditioned restrooms with plenty soap, paper towels, butt cover paper, hygienic paper, trash dispensers for both women and men.

LANDMARK CUSTOMS BUILDING

Then the talk about tearing down the old Customs Building that has been deemed a National landmark built in 1932. A nice museum would be called for as appropriate.

GSA & NEW RIVER – A DEATH ZONE

“GSA is committed to reducing waste streams from all of its buildings and various renovation and construction projects in order to protect human health, natural resources and the environment …” touts U.S. General Services Administration.

The river on Federal land is an eye sore, a health hazard, and migrates have been known to drowned – July 26, 2001 (two bodies); July 29, 2001 (four bodies); August 22, 2006 (one body); and more. Then you have a smell like that of a sewer. Pollution alone kills off any fish. What is more disappointing GSA has an opportunity to clean up this situation and wants to do nothing. A sign could be posted at the new West POE:

Welcome to the United States,

Just close your nose, roll up your windows, don’t breath, don’t look, and it won’t bother you. The smell you smell is Mexico.

“It is an environmental embarrassment”, says the public.

Those that work everyday at the New POE will have the pleasure of smelling and breathing all of the exuding noxious gases and pollution in the air. In Washington GSA can’t smell New River? If their toilet smelled like this, do you think GSA would fix it? GSA says, “We have that problem fixed.” GSA wants everyone working at the POE to wear a gas mask. What does that cost? Everyone will have the same face like their uniforms. At home we just light a match to fix this problem of exuded noxious gases. The air now has that phosphorous odor. Is this what GSA has in mind by supplying matches that fix that problem?

High levels of coli form bacteria are indicators of the presence of bacterial and viral diseases, including typhoid fever. "It seems like a miracle to me that we haven't had an outbreak of something," says, Jose Angel of the California Water Quality Control Board. See below for other New River photos page 7.

If the Calexico Fire Department is involved in a rescue, “the victim is first hosed off before touching them after using a hook or a rescue rope.” The Imperial Valley Sheriff Dept. says “before touching any cadaver, the cadaver is hose off first when pulled from the new river.” As it stands today, the new river is a free ride to the United States. The U.S. Border Patrol will not go after any immigrates in this polluted New River. Undocumented immigrate just pays the coyote a $100 fee for training how to tread the water and things to do while in the water like:

· don’t drink the water;”

· Use of an inter tube;

· Plastic bag for dry clothes and shoes;

· Plastic bags for water wings;

· Plus a good free push down the New River.

GSA SOLUTIONS

“Have the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers build the cover for the New River” says Don Voll, Deputy Assistant Regional Administrator of GSA but “that maybe not the right solution,” the right solution is “build a sanitation plant for 80 million dollars;” and “besides it is not our job.”

“The community can contribute towards the cost of building the POE,” says Don Voll, BUT “needs to look at all of the terms.” A community of 100,000 divided 55 million comes to $5,500 per person. Is anyone ready to kick into the pot? A family of five needs to come up with $27,500 each or have the assessment tacked on the property tax bill. That will work? I don’t - think so.

IMPERIAL IRRIGATION DISTRICT - IID

IID Community Information Officer Kevin Kelly states “we don’t treat water,” “problem is too big for us to handle” and says “it is a State of California Water Resources Control Board; Federal; and International Boundary and Water commission (USIBWC), the Border Environment Cooperation Commission, the North America Development Bank problem.”

GOVERNOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

Governor Arnold SchwarzeneggerArnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill allowing the New River to be encased, but no State funding. Calexico Mayor Fuentes says, “If our own state agencies continue to think of Calexico and Imperial Valley as a back roads desert community at edge of California, then we will continue to be in serious trouble.”

WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT - 2007

Do you get the feeling that everyone is passing the buck, or just paying lip service? Where does it stop? Is relief in site? Passed HR 1495 is the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 - (WRDA) says, “(90) Imperial County, California - $10,000,000 for wastewater infrastructure, including is a wastewater disinfection facility and polishing system, to improve water quality in the vicinity of Calexico, California, on the southern New River, Imperial County, California”. “By the way there is matching fund requisite for this,” says Miguel Figueroa, Director of Calexico New River Committee, and “Now it is in the hands of U.S. Bureau of Land Management.”

USBLM has no idea what is going on. “What is a New River” when asked. The list goes on and on with no results. No one is stepping up to the plate to fix this problem with the New River. Just where’s the Beef?

LAW SUIT

Another solution to resolve this problem with the New River is a “Lawyer considers suit over the New River” according to the Imperial Valley Press on 9-25-08. “A San Diego lawyer offered what he said was a new approach to cleaning up the river. Instead of waiting for the federal or state government to act, attorney Dan Lawton said the courts could be used to hold American companies that operate polluting “maquilladoras” responsible.” This idea is supported by a lawsuit involving “Border Patrol Agents who sued after they had to enter the river while doing their jobs” (IV Press). My opinion this process could take even more years.

OPERATION GATEKEEPER

Review Report 28, page 7, first paragraph just released, part of the border crackdown known as Operation Gatekeeper, “has steered this flow of immigrants into the harshest, most unforgiving and most dangerous terrain on the California-Mexico border,” to deter undocumented immigration. The New River is another hazard in place like the desert, American Canal, ditches, mountains and the Rio Grand River that augments the Rabbit Fences. The DHS has no incentive to change this hazard, but just build around it or over it. Make whatever it is more dangerous to slow migration. That is the truth and the real reason for not spending money for a proper New POE.

It appears there is a sinister plan to cut down commerce in all of Baja California, namely by making longer lines waiting to get a cross to Mexico. How many billions of dollars does the DHS spend on building Rabbit Fences that don’t work? How many millions of dollars are wasted at the POE; with uniforms, guns, gas masks; matches; and new administration buildings? GSA can’t spend money to build a proper West POE for an extra $55 million?

I WANT IT TODAY!

Please don’t give me “Annie.” “Not tomorrow … but today!!!” says Lurita Alexis Doan, ex - Administrator - USGSA

Talk has been about to wait for the new POE to be built tomorrow, that won’t happen for another 6 years. What happens until then? We all suffer in the mean time with the longer and longer lines? Wait for Congress to approve funding in four years that is tomorrow? Good grief, how long will the thinker need? 12 years? How about today? Get the new vehicle lanes installed today at the West POE. Expand the Pedestrian lanes/booths with public restrooms at the Downtown POE today. Get the New River covered today. The U.S. Government owns the land. Everything else can follow like a new administration building, pedestrian lanes and so on at the West POE. Eliminate waste, create “efficiently and effectively to protect our nation’s security,” says Congressman Bob Filner. To Mr. James A. Williams – Acting Administrator, USGSA, - I want it today!!!

All of this was built in three years from the start to use. “Annie” does not work here.

It did not take that long to build this fortress type U.S. Embassy in Bagdad, Iraq. Cost the U.S. tax payers $600 million and what a huge waste!

The order of priority was not applied here. They fired the “thinker,” too.

Anything lost in this translation? Any comments feel free to call or email me.

Sincerely - Thank You/Gracias/Obrigado/Merci/Danke/Grazie/Shukriya

Ray W. Askins, Jr.

NOTE: For those that want to see all reports on the internet: http://www.2453.net/forum Click “Index”: then click Don Quixote de la Mancha, then choose which report you want to read. You can leave any comment that comes to your mind

NEW RIVER PHOTOS

It starts - Map of the New River - on Federal land crossing from Mexicali, Mexico to the USA

BORDER LIGHTS looking over the New River

Migrates contaminated on their way to work at McDonalds or Jack in the Box as food servers, says Miguel Figueroa, Executive Director, City of Calexico NEW RIVER Committee.

Is a gateway from hell? “The New River’s flow is composed of waste from agricultural and chemical runoff from the farm industry irrigation in the U.S. (18.4%) and Mexico (51.2%), sewage from Mexicali (29%), and manufacturing plants operating in Mexico (1.4%). By the time the New River crosses the U.S./Mexico border near Calexico, California, the channel contains a stew of about 100 contaminants: volatile organic compounds, heavy metals (including selenium, uranium, arsenic and mercury), and pesticides (including DDT) and PCBs. The waterway also holds the pathogens that cause tuberculosis, encephalitis, polio, cholera, hepatitis and typhoid; levels for many of these contaminants are in violation of United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Cal/EPA standards by several hundredfold.[2] Fecal coli form bacteria are at levels of 100,000 to 16 million colonies per milliliter at the border checkpoint (possibly more, as this is the measuring capacity threshold), far above the U.S.-Mexico treaty limit of 240 colonies,” says City of Calexico NEW RIVER Committee.