Blackwater, Duncan Hunter, San Diego and the money trail

Several months ago, it was learned that Congressman Duncan Hunter had pulled strings and prevailed upon the County Board of Supervisors to consider a mercenary training camp in San Diego's pristine east county area. This was done without any public scrutiny. Objections were raised and it was discovered that the area in question was not in Hunter's district at all, but in Congressman Bob Filner's.


Rep Bob Filner

When a public hearing was finally held, a heavily armed Sheriff's force, unprecedented in San Diego, showed up to "control" the ordinary citizens who came to this meeting. It appeared to many long time San Diego residents that a BLACKWATER audition w being held that day. Biceps bulging through rolled up sleeves, extra heavy bullets strung over the deputy's shoulders, and even San Diego city police got into the action to control access to the meeting.

Since then, thanks to the efforts of one Portrero planning member and local activists from many groups, including Veterans for Peace, the Peace Resource Center and Congressman Bob Filner, a strong coalition has developed. Environmental studies have been demanded and a recall against the Portrero planning board has begun.


The long march ----


The Outrage

Yesterday a rally was held and a march to the gates of the proposed location took place. This was the final event in a weekend long camp-out at the Portrero Community Park. There were workshops and power point presentations. It was great to see a melding of east county locals and others who live in the city come together in a common goal. We all love our county and for many reasons, feel that BLACKWATER is not a neighbor that we want.



Written by a friend-

K&R

in that BW may just have shiny, new place to shoot at each other for practice in SD or wonderful that our local activists, who amaze me, keep plugging away?

(I'll bet it's the latter)

Thank you for the kind words.

peace.

BW on the people of Potrero. Seeing that a coalition has mobilized is great!

Nice work!!

is a good guy -- he is very personable and seems to genuinely care -- Now, as for Duncan Hunter???? He is my very own, personal congressman.... I mean to say, I am in his district and it is a big problem here -- I still see, MANY "I support the president and our troops" and pro W stickers on the cars here... It is the nature of the beast -- I do a lot of screaming when I drive.

Do you know if that is true? Or what is going to happen now? Let us know up here in LA so we can help!

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070731-9999-1m31potrero.html

<snip>
Backlash over plans prompts recall vote

Potrero group had OK'd training center

By Anne Krueger
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
July 31, 2007
EAST COUNTY – Anger over the proposed Blackwater USA training facility in Potrero has led to the county's first recall election targeting planning group members.
Voters in the backcountry community will decide whether to remove five Potrero Community Planning Group members who voted last December in favor of Blackwater's plans to build a center to train law enforcement and military personnel.

The recall is the latest incident in the Blackwater controversy, which began last fall when the North Carolina-based government contractor submitted its proposal to build the center on a former chicken and cattle ranch.

The Registrar of Voters Office verified late last week that the required 132 recall petition signatures had been submitted. Gordon Hammers, chairman of the planning group, said the group will order the recall election at its Aug. 9 meeting.

Three other seats on the nine-member planning group were declared vacant when county officials determined that those members, who had served more than a year, had never been officially appointed by the county Board of Supervisors.

The recall election must be held within 125 days after the planning group orders the election. If it is successful, only one planning group member, Jan Hedlun, who took office in January and is the group's lone Blackwater opponent, would remain on the board.

The county would pay for the recall election; its cost has not yet been determined.
<snip>

It's great to see so many locals opposing this.

Issa also represents part of San Diego.

he is another gem.

He has stollen a couple of cars and the hearts of the people in N. County -

He is very pro-blackwater---- he said that any attack on Blackwater is an attack on Petraeus.

http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/14610-issa-attack-on-blackwater-is-attack-on-petraeus?play=1