San Diego, Tijuana: Divided by fences, united in vision

By U-T San Diego Editorial Board4:07 p.m.Nov. 18, 2014

Though their cities are separated by forbidding fences and other security that symbolize the divisions of American politics regarding our bilateral relationship with Mexico, the leaders of San Diego and Tijuana have nevertheless pushed for stronger ties for more than two decades. Mayors Kevin Faulconer and Jorge Astiazarn pushed the friendship further Tuesday, signing the first formal agreement between the two border cities since 1994.

The memorandum of understanding, signed at a ceremony featuring political and business leaders from both sides of the border at the San Diego Central Library, lays out a shared vision of issues that the two mayors agreed to pursue, including water and other infrastructure, border crossings, emergency services and economic development.

The hope here is that this agreement will be more than ceremonial flash with little substance. The issues highlighted in the agreement truly are areas where the two mayors can work together and make progress.

Despite the border fence, a strong argument can be made that San Diego and Tijuana have never been closer. Recent improvements at the San Ysidro border crossing and the scheduled opening next year of a pedestrian bridge linking San Diego with Tijuanas Rodrguez International Airport symbolize the growing connection. We congratulate Mayors Faulconer and Astiazarn on the new accord. And we urge them to vigorously pursue its implementation and its spirit of friendship.

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San Diego, Tijuana: Divided by fences, united in vision