Letter to Secretary Napolitano for the Reopening of Friendship Park

c/o 3758 30 th Street / San Diego, CA 92104
T: 619-692-0527 / F: 619-255-3640
www.friendshippark.org

July 7, 2009

Secretary Janet Napolitano
US Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528

Dear Secretary Napolitano:

We are writing to request that you act immediately to restore routine public access to Friendship Park, the historic venue overlooking the Pacific Ocean where for generations people have met to visit with friends and family at the U.S.-Mexico border fence.

We recognize that both nations face legitimate security concerns at the border, and we understand that U.S. Border Patrol agents cannot tolerate the smuggling of contraband and attempts at illegal entry to the United States at Friendship Park.

At the same time, Friendship Park is a unique venue of great historical significance to both Mexico and the United States, and has served as the centerpiece of California’s Border Field State Park since its inauguration by then-First Lady Pat Nixon in 1971. Our government should continue to embrace its regular public use to promote the kind of friendship on which the true security of both nations depends.

We are confident that your Department, by working in a spirit of genuine collaboration with community stakeholders from San Diego and Tijuana, can create a plan that will allow for Friendship Park to remain a safe location where the friendship between the peoples of the two nations is celebrated.

Specifically, we believe that security, safety and friendship can be ensured at Friendship Park through the following measures:

1) A careful allocation of staff which acknowledges that Friendship Park is a unique location warranting special accommodations;

2) Training in public relations, crowd control, Spanish language, cultural competency and constitutional rights for all staff who will be assigned to work the park;

3) Supervised access to the historic monument and the beach below during all daylight hours;

4) An appropriate ceremony at the earliest possible date to celebrate the park’s re-dedication to the cause of international friendship.

We have been encouraged in recent weeks as President Obama and countless administration officials have spoken enthusiastically about a new era of collaboration between the United States and Mexico. We request that you act with great urgency to see that routine public access to Friendship Park is restored as soon as possible, and that the park is returned to its rightful
place as a revered symbol of the unique friendship between the two nations.

Sincerely,

Friends of Friendship Park –

Cc:
Alan Bersin, Assistant Secretary for International Affairs
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528

Andrew S. Gordon, Counselor
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528

David A. Martin, Principal Deputy General Counsel
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528

James Howe, Deputy Assistant Secretary
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528

Esther Olavarria, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy
US Department of Homeland Security
Washington DC 20528

Ted Lovett, Associate Director
Office of Legislative Affairs, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528

Toni Morales, Special Assistant to the Assistant Commissioner/Legislative Affairs
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Washington, D.C. 20528

Mike Fisher
Chief Patrol Agent, San Diego Sector, U.S. Border Patrol
2411 Boswell Road
Chula Vista, California

Georgina (Mimi) Guernica, Deputy Associate Director for Policy Outreach, Council on
Environmental Quality
730 Jackson Place, NW
Washington, D.C. 20503

Nikki Buffa, Deputy Chief of Staff, Council on Environmental Quality
730 Jackson Place, NW
Washington, D.C. 20503

ELECTED OFFICIALS

Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr., California
Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, California
Congresswoman Susan Davis , U.S. House of Representatives, 53rd Congressional District
Congressman Bob Filner, U.S. House of Representatives, 51st Congressional District
State Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny, California State Senate, District 40
State Senator Christine Kehoe, California State Senate, District 39
Assemblymember Mary Salas, California State Assembly, 79th District
Speaker pro Tempore Lori Saldaña, California State Assembly, 76th District
Councilmember Marti Emerald, San Diego City Council, Seventh District
Councilmember Donna, Frye , San Diego City Council, Sixth District
Councilmember Todd Gloria, San Diego City Council, Third District
Council President Ben Hueso, San Diego City Council, Eighth District
Councilmember Tony Young, City of San Diego, Fourth District

INDIVIDUALS

Organizations listed for identification purposes only
Most Rev. Thomas Abel, Presiding Bishop, American Catholic Church Diocese of California, San
Diego, CA
Prof. William J. Aceves, California Western School of Law, San Diego, CA
Rev. Robert Joshin Althouse, Abbot, Zen Community of Chicago, Oak Park, IL
Beatriz Amberman, Hispanic Community Dialogue, Virgina Beach VA
Rev. Susan Myoyu Andersen, Abbot, Great Plains Zen Center, Barrington, IL
Artemio Arreola, Coalicion Mexicana, Chicago, IL
Rev. Lynne Austin, United Methodist Church, San Diego, CA
Dr. Sarah Azaransky, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of San Diego, San
Diego, CA
Dr. David Barrows, Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, CA
Larry Baza, Noel-Baza Fine Art, San Diego, CA
Dinah Bear, Esq., Attorney at Law, Washington, D.C.
Laurie J. Black, San Diego, CA
Max Branscomb, Professor of Journalism, Southwestern College, Chula Vista, CA
Cory J. Briggs, Esq., Briggs Law Corporation, San Diego, CA and Upland, CA
Jay J. Johnson-Castro, Sr., Border Ambassadors, Del Rio, TX
Rev. David Daishin Brighton, Teacher, Prajna Zendo, Lamy, NM
Rev. Pamela Anne Bro, Pastor, Living Waters Sanctuary, Virginia Beach, VA
Rev. Kevin Bucy, Senior Minister, Universal Spirit Center, San Diego, CA
Rev. John Daishin Buksbazen, Teacher, Zen Center of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Francine Busby, Francine Busby for Congress, Cardiff by the Sea, CA
Alejandra Cedillo, Esq., Duran & Cedillo, Los Angeles, CA
Prof. Justin Akers Chacón, Chicana/o Studies Department, San Diego City College, San Diego, CA
Dr. Gordon Clanton, Department of Sociology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
Wayne Cornelius, Distinguished Professor of Political Science, Emeritus, UCSD, San Diego, CA
Minh Dan Vuong, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Jeffrey Davidow, Former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, San Diego, CA
Armando de la Torre, Artist, San Diego, CA
Dr. Anne Donadey, Departments of European Studies and Women's Studies, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
Rev. Dr. David C. Downing, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)/ University Christian Church , San Diego, CA
Manuel Duran, Esq., Duran & Cedillo, Los Angeles, CA
Rev. John Fanestil, Executive Director, Foundation for Change, San Diego, CA
Maria Teresa Fernandez, photographer, San Diego, CA
Christine Forester, San Diego, CA
John Carlos Frey, Gatekeeper Productions, LLC, Los Angeles, CA
Rev. John Jiu Gage, Abbot, Vista Zen Center, Vista, CA
Murray Galinson, Esq. , San Diego, CA
Dr. Jamie Gates Point Loma Nazarene University’s Center for Justice and Reconciliation, San Diego, CA
Leni Gonzalez, LULAC Virginia, Arlington VA
Dr. Michael Gonzalez, Department of History, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA
Richard Griswold del Castillo, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
Rev. Paul Genki Hahn, President, Zen Peacemakers, Montague, MA
Rev. Sara Haldeman-Scarr, First Church of the Brethren of San Diego, San Diego, CA
Rev. Elizabeth Hamilton, Teacher, Zen Center San Diego, San Diego, CA
Rev. Bill Harman, The Center for Global Awareness, Encinitas, CA
Ana Lorena Hart, State Director, LULAC Arkansas Mark Heisey, Lancaster, PA
Gloria Hernandez, Lulac Coalition & Marcha Migrante, Labelle, Fl
Rev. April Herron, United Methodist Church, San Diego, CA
Steev Hise, Pan Left Productions, Tucson, AZ
Jill Holslin, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
Eric Alan Isaacson, Esq., Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman and Robbins LLP , San Diego, CA
Irwin Mark Jacobs, San Diego, CA
Carol Jahnkow, Executive Director, Peace Resource Center of San Diego, San Diego, CA
Dr. J. Craig Johnson, Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, CA
Rosemary Johnston, Board Member, Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights, San Francisco, CA
Lucy Killea, Former State Senator, San Diego, CA
Martha Kinkade, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
Marcy Campbell Krinsk, Foundation for Change, San Diego, CA
Jeffrey Krinsk, Esq., Finkelstein & Krinsk LLP, San Diego, CA
Rev. Maureen Knudsen Langdoc, Light and Life Free Methodist Church, Escondido, CA
Rev. Bryan Langdoc, Free Methodist Church, Escondido, CA
Dr. Irene Lara, Department of Women's Studies, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
Ira Lechner, Esq., San Diego, CA
Dr. Karma Lekshe Tsomo, Associate Professor, Department of Theology and Religious Studies,
University of San Diego, San Diego, CA
Rev. Canon Richard Lief, St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, San Diego, San Diego, CA
Chris Liu-Beers, North Carolina Council of Churches, Durham, NC
Dr. Juan Martínez Fuller Theological Seminary, Sunland, CA
Riley Merline, Resident Director, Earlham College Border Studies Program, Tucson, AZ
Dr. Jesse Mills Assistant Professor, Ethnic Studies, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA
Brian Monaghan, Esq., San Diego,CA
Enrique Morones, President, Border Angels, San Diego, CA
Rudy Murillo, Director, State Government Relations, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA
and former Acting Director, San Diego Immigration and Naturalization Service
Rev. Wendy Egyoku Nakao, Abbot , Zen Center of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Prof. William A. Nericcio, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
Joseph Nevins, Department of Earth Science and Geography, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY
Cheryl Nickel, Environmental Artist and Landscape Architect, San Diego, CA
Rev. Pat Enkyo O'Hara, Abbot, Village Zendo, New York, NY
Paul O'Sullivan, Chula Vista, CA
Adriana O’Sullivan-Comparán, Chula Vista, CA
Prof. Isidro D. Ortiz, Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister, First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego, San Diego, CA
Colin Parent, Esq., San Diego Chapter of the American Constitution Society, San Diego, CA
Steve Peace, Former State Senator, San Diego, CA
Dr. Keith Pedersen, Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, CA
Mercedes Pederson, San Diego, CA
Christian Ramirez, National Coordinator, American Friends Service Committee, San Diego, CA
Rev. A. Wayne Riggs, Plymouth Congregational Church, San Diego, CA
Rev. John Riingen, United Methodist Church, National City, CA
Rosa Maria Riojas Romero, Fuerza Comunitaria, Corpus Cristi, TX
Pedro Rios, Director, American Friends Service Committee, San Diego, CA
Dr. Marie A. Roch, Associate Professor, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
Alex W. Sachs, VP for Political Action, San Diego Democratic Club, San Diego, CA
Linda Sanchez-Aguirre, Linda Sanchez-Aguirre Family Day Care, San Diego, CA
Anne Seisen Saunders, Roshi, Sweetwater Zen Center, National City, CA
Patricia Schano Allen, M.Ed. , Long Beach, CA
Lynn Schenk, Former Congresswoman, San Diego, CA
Dr. David A. Shirk, Director, Trans Border Institute,University of San Diego, San Diego, CA
Eileen Silverman, San Diego, CA
Judge Deborah Smaller, State Administrative Law Judge, San Diego, CA
Marcus Stern, Pro Publica
Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister, First Unitarian Universalist Church, San Diego, CA
Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, Resident Bishop, Los Angeles Area , United Methodist Church, Pasadena, CA
Deborah Szekely, San Diego, CA
Giovanna Tabares, Association of Chicana Activists, San Diego, CA
Susan Lynne Taylor, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA
Lou Terrell, former Mayor, City of Del Mar, Del Mar, CA
Catherine Thiemann, Associate for Peace & Justice Ministries, St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, San Diego, CA
Rev. Canon Allisyn Thomas, Sub-Dean, St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, San Diego, CA
Rev. Tim Tiffany, San Diego, CA
Mario Torero, Artivist, San Diego, CA
Dr. Raul Trejo, Scripps Community Medicine Residency Program, San Diego, CA
Nathan Trotter, Sierra Club, San Diego Chapter, San Diego, CA
Rev. Lee Van Ham, Jubilee Economic Ministries and Presbyterian Church USA, Lemon Grove, CA
Carlos von Son, Ph.D. , Multicultural Studies, World Languages, Palomar College, San Marcos. CA
Kathleen A. Wagner, Educator/Author, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Dr. Victor A. Walsh, San Diego, CA
Rev. Sydney Musai Walter, Abbot , Prajna Zendo, Lamy, NM
Dan Watman, Principal Organizer, Border Encuentro/Meetup, San Diego, CA
Rick Zemlin, Bartimaeus Cooperative Ministries, San Diego, CA

ORGANIZATIONS

ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties, San Diego, CA
Activist San Diego, San Diego, CA
All Saints American Catholic Church, Vista, CA
American Friends Service Committee – US/Mexico Border Program, San Diego,CA
bkSOUL Performance Collective, San Diego, CA
Border Action Network, Tucson, AZ
Border Ambassadors Del Rio, TX
Border Angels, San Diego, CA
Border Encuentro, San Diego, CA
Buddhist Peace Fellowship, San Diego, CA
Casa Refugio Elvira Arellano Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
CBO: Consejo Binacional de Organizaciones Comunitarias Mexicanas USA, Lynwood, CA
Center for Social Advocacy, El Cajon, CA
Center on Policy Initiatives, San Diego, CA
Centro de Orientacion del Immigrante: CODI, Miami FL
Citizens Oversight Projects (COPS) , San Diego, CA
Colectivo Zapatista San Diego, San Diego, CA
Ecumenical Council of San Diego County, San Diego, CA
El Comite Latino del Valle de Coachella, Coachella, CA
Environmental Health Coalition, National City, CA and Tijuana, Mexico
Foundation for Change, San Diego, CA
Frontera de Cristo, Douglas, AZ/Agua Prieta, Sonora
Gente Unida, San Diego, CA
Green Party of San Diego County, San Diego, CA
Grupo Ecologista de Tijuana, A. C. , Tijuana, Baja California, México
Hermandad Mexicana Nacional, Valle de San Fernando, CA
Hermandad Mexicana Transnacional Las Vegas, NV & Sacramento, Oxnard, Los Angeles, CA
Hispanic Community Dialogue of Virginia
Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights, San Francisco, CA
International League of Conservation Photographers
International Museum of Human Rights at San Diego, San Diego, CA
Justice and Witness Ministries, United Church of Christ, Cleveland, OH
La Otra San Diego, San Diego, CA
Los Caminos del Rio, McAllen, TX
M.E.Ch.A, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA
Meadowlark Center, Newton, KS
Mexican Community Center of New York, CECOMEX, New York, NY
Migrant Rights Awareness from UCSD, La Jolla, CA
National Lawyers Guild, San Diego Chapter San Diego, CA
No Border Wall Coalition
No More Deaths, Tucson, AZ
Office for Social Ministry, Diocese of San Diego, San Diego CA
Operation for Hope Foundation, San Diego, CA
Organizacion Fuerza Comunitaria, Corpus Christi, Texas
Pilgrim United Church of Christ, Carlsbad, CA
Raza Rights Coalition-Project of Unión del Barrio, San Diego, CA
Religious Society of Friends, La Jolla, CA
Rio Grande International Study Center, Laredo Community College, Laredo, TX
San Diego Alliance for Marriage Equality: S.A.M.E. , San Diego, CA
San Diego Coalition for Peace & Justice, San Diego, CA
San Diego Democratic Club, San Diego, CA
San Diego Equality Campaign, San Diego, CA
San Diego Human Relations Commission, San Diego, CA
San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium, San Diego, CA
San Diego Maquiladora Workers' Solidarity Network, San Diego, CA
San Diego Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quaker) San Diego, CA
Save Our Heritage Organisation, San Diego, CA
Si Se Puede Immigrants Rights Organization, San Diego, CA
Sierra Club, San Diego Chapter, San Diego, CA
Sojourners, Washington, DC
Southwest Environmental Center, Las Cruces, NM
St. Mark's City Heights Episcopal Church, San Diego, CA
St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, San Diego, CA
Surfrider Foundation, San Diego Chapter , San Diego, CA
The Ecclesia Collective, San Diego, CA
The Peace Resource Center, San Diego, CA
Twoshirts.org, Carlsbad, CA
Valley Nature Center, Weslaco, TX
Western Lands Project, Seattle, WA
WiLDCOAST, San Diego, CA