Block Blackwater before it's too late

Sign the letter to San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders

Blackwater has shocking new plans to build a base of operations in Otay Mesa, just three blocks from the Mexican border.

It's time for San Diego's elected officials to take a stand and kick Blackwater out of San Diego County for good.

The one man standing in the way of Blackwater is Mayor Jerry Sanders. He has the power -- under San Diego's "strong mayor" system -- to launch a full investigation into the false pretenses Blackwater used to obtain a "vocational trade school" permit for their facility in Otay Mesa.

Please sign the letter to Mayor Sanders no later than Tuesday at 9 AM, so we can present it to the Mayor later that day.

Dear Mayor Sanders,

We, the undersigned, request that you use your full array of powers as the Mayor of San Diego to launch an extensive investigation into the questionable process by which Blackwater obtained a permit to establish a "training facility" in Otay Mesa.

When the citizens of Potrero nixed Blackwater's plans to build a base in East County, we thought that Blackwater was out of San Diego for good. But now we've discovered that Blackwater obtained a permit under the "Raven Development Group" (a Blackwater subsidiary) to build a new base of operations just three blocks from the Mexican border. In addition, the name on design plans reviewed by the city was "Southwest Law Enforcement," not Blackwater USA.

The facility has been permitted as a "vocational training school," but Blackwater spokespeople admit that the facility won't be open to the public and will be used exclusively to train Navy personnel in military tactics. That's not a vocational school, and it calls into question every other aspect of this facility.

This isn't the first time that Blackwater has tried to hold itself above the law, and it probably won't be the last. As ABC News recently reported, "Blackwater has been accused of tax fraud, improper use of force, arms trafficking and overbilling connected to its work for the U.S. government in Iraq. A grand jury, federal prosecutors and congressional investigators are all currently probing allegations against the company."

This isn't how San Diego should operate. The people of Potrero spoke out loud and clear that San Diego County doesn't want Blackwater in our community. That's still true. While the City Council has taken steps to oppose Blackwater's latest attempt to force itself into San Diego, you must do your part and take a stand against Blackwater's continued attempts to skirt the law. Please review Blackwater's questionable permit before these dangerous mercenaries establish a presence on our border with Mexico.

San Diego's government has experienced its struggles in recent years, but you promised to turn things around. That means following the law and not allowing friends of the Bush Administration special privileges when they want to set up shop in America's Finest City.

Members of the City Council have spoken out and vowed to do what they can to shed light on this process, but it's ultimately up to you, Mayor Sanders. Please launch a full investigation into the false pretenses by which Blackwater obtained the permit to establish a base of operations in San Diego.

Sincerely,
Jess Durfee, Chair, San Diego County Democratic Party

And the undersigned,