Posted on 05/25/2006 7:28:53 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
LOS ANGELES - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa warned Thursday that federal plans to use more troops and barriers to tighten security on the nation's southern border could hurt the city's attempts to increase trade and tourism with Mexico.
"There's no question that putting up a wall, assigning the National Guard, could have a chilling effect on tourism, the relationship between the two countries, economic ties," the mayor told reporters on the eve of his meeting with Mexican President Vicente Fox.
"Our economies are much more intertwined than most people really understand," the mayor said. "The benefits to both countries are great."
Villaraigosa's concern with potential economic fallout came on the day the Senate authorized 370 miles of new, triple-layered fencing and 500 miles of vehicle barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border as part of a sweeping immigration bill. The vote opens the way for negotiations with the House.
President Bush, meanwhile, has announced plans to dispatch up to 6,000 National Guard members to states bordering Mexico to support the Border Patrol and help stem the flow of illegal immigrants.
The mayor stressed the importance of the region's economic ties with its southern neighbor. He said he intended to discuss trade and tourism with Fox on Friday and avoid the contentious immigration debate, which is a federal issue.
At the same time, he acknowledged a federal border crackdown involving thousands of uniformed troops and new barriers could hinder, rather than help, his attempts to expand business with the city's southern trading partner.
Mexico sends more tourists to Los Angeles than any other country an estimated 1.5 million in 2005. Trade between Mexico and the Los Angeles region totaled $25 billion last year, which supported an estimated 42,000 jobs in Los Angeles County, the mayor said.
"We gain more by embracing the world, rather than turning our backs on it," the mayor said. "By working toward the mutual benefits of increased trade and foreign investment, we've taken steps beyond enforcing laws and building walls to address the flow of immigrants."
Improved business ties, he said, "will ultimately work to reduce the underlying economic factors that push people away from Mexico and toward the United States."
As mayor of an ethnically diverse city and the son of a Mexican immigrant Villaraigosa has spoken sympathetically of those "who clean hotel rooms, who sweep the floors, who watch our children." At the same time, he has also called for secure borders and the enforcement of immigration law.
As he has in the past, he urged Congress to forge a compromise that "holds people accountable for breaking the law, but also provides a pathway for citizenship for the 12 million people who are currently living and working here."
Fox has faced criticism for a U.S. visit that overlapped with the congressional debate. But the mayor said the timing was not inappropriate.
"Any time that two neighbors can come and visit and have discussions, that's a good thing," he said.
Oh, no! Not another "chilling effect." At least we are protected by global warming.
Just what Los Angeles needs:
More "TOURISTS" from Mexico.
Sure they're tourists....SURE THEY ARE!!!! NOT
When you put lipstick on a pig- it is still a pig. He can call it anything he wants, but I don't remember much of an ad campaign for "tourists" from Mexico when I lived there for 29 years.
Illegal aliens are now immigrants and anchor babies are now the son of a Mexican immigrant.
Webster can't produce new versions of the Lexicon of American English fast enough to keep up with the liberal press.
tourists, undocumented, "people concerned about their status"...
Anything but honestly calling them "illegals".
oh sooooooo we're not calling the illegals "undocumented" any more...their "tourists!" ROFLMAO
ya know these clowns in public office missed their calling...
they should be in "stand up!"
My mother is a Honduran immigrant who came to this country 50 years ago. She does not like Fox or Viaagrosa because she feels that they are responsible for the flood of illegal immigrants.
Anxious to spend their hard-earned pesos on Napa Valley wine and Disneyland?
Guess who doesn't care?
ME!!!
They can all go to Disneyland France!
Maybe they can go to the workers and health care paradises in Cuba and Venezuela.
Good riddance to bad rubbish. Adios!
Let me guess... He is really concerned about the possibility that the presence of the Guard will put a crimp into drug trafficking, huh... What a joke...
Tourism and trade crosses at border checkpoints.
Perhaps he's referring to the sex and drug trade.
Omigawd! This could drive up drug prices and give Libertarians DTs!!!
I won't go to Mexico again and arming the border has nothing to do with it.
Everyone should boycot Mexico.
It's hard to boycot goods from Mexico, almost everything from auto parts to electronics and a thousand other items are labeled Hecho en Mexico, a lot of them necessary items.
Tough Sh*t! If the Mexicans won't come to LA, move LA to Mexico.
If I took her to Orange or Santa Ana today she wouldn't recognize the place. Too many cars parked on the lawns.
The last politician she believed in was her cousin and he had to resign the presidency in disgrace. It broke her heart.
"Maybe they can go to the workers and health care paradises in Cuba"
Mexico has been in bed with Cuba ever since Castro too power.
"40% of LA's work force is off the books in cash."
But those employers fund his campaign!
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