Mexico truckin’ across the USA

So what are we going to do about illegal immigration?

Some of you may be saying “huh?! Aren’t you for illegal immigration?”

No, I’m not. Never have been.

But, I want the “reform” to be done right; at the right level — the Federal level. A fairly recent development provides a good reason why this needs to be something led by the federal government.

Back in May, the House of Representatives voted by a margin of 411 – 3 to pass the “Safe American Roads Act of 2007” (H.R. 1773) which they presumed would have stopped a demonstration project by the U.S. Department of Transportation allowing Mexican trucks to cross the border and haul anywhere in the U.S.

Right now, those trucks are only allowed a 20-mile radius inside the U.S. border to unload cargo, which is then loaded onto U.S. trucks to be shipped across the U.S.

A condition of the project is that U.S. trucks be able to long-haul into Mexico. Essentially opening the U.S.-Mexico border, as early as tomorrow (Sept 1).

The requirements for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Mexican Truck Demonstration Project have been met, and some 37 Mexican trucking companies have been approved to run their long-haul rigs through the U.S. starting as early as Sept. 1, according to a Mexican government report.

Apparently, though, it has been delayed until at least Thursday.

The Bush administration is pushing to start the experiment as soon as possible as a step toward a wider opening of the border to commercial traffic, as required in the North American Free Trade Agreement.

But, what effect will it have on the root of illegal immigration? My guess is that it will allow additional people to come across the border. And, that’s precisely the problem.

The issue is a federal one; one which the Bush administration is turning its back on. So long as we continue to push this issue onto state and local governments, while the federal government gives lip-service to its actions and creates loopholes to allow it to continue, the cause will not be resolved and thus the effects will remain — costs will overrun not simply because of added illegal immigrants, but because of enforcement of whatever laws and ordinances are enacted that will be required to be paid at the expense of the local taxpayer.

Finance Commission reviews improvements

Larissa Chinwah of the Daily Herald reported on last night’s meeting of the Audit and Finance Commission which was called particularly to review the $40 million capital improvements program, which President Sarto referred to in his State of the Village Address on Tuesday night.

We have embarked on the most aggressive plan of infrastructure improvements and
repairs ever witnessed in the history of Carpentersville.

Resurfacing and reconstruction projects this summer have included

• Navajo Drive from Sioux Avenue to Papoose Drive;
• Wren Road from Hazard to Sparrow Road;
• Cleveland Avenue from Wilmette Avenue to Carpenter Boulevard;
• Delaware Street from Helm Road to Sioux Avenue.

There is definitely more work to be done, though, and some may wonder when the fixes for their street are coming.

“Once a street has fallen apart, it costs 10 times more than resurfacing a street that is still in good condition,” [Village Engineer Scott] Marquardt said. “The costs are going to stay the same until we have the funds to get in there and reconstruct the street. The less streets we construct, the better for the village.”

This is the reason why maintenance is so important. Once these roads are reconstructed, it will be important not to neglect them, not to let them get to that point again.

Village President Bill Sarto said although streets and sidewalks have been neglected for years, officials are making steady progress in efforts to improve the village.

“We are rebuilding Carpentersville, that’s really how you have to look at it,” Sarto said.