It appears that the impotent response of the government to control our borders has had another unintended consequence for Tombstone, AZ. The ongoing battle between the city and the government over repairs of their water lines that were damaged by a fire was probably caused by narcotics smugglers, human traffickers, or undocumented aliens. While the city’s fight has been ongoing since last year, the media is not giving it much coverage. This is surprising since the residents are “allowed” to make repairs using shovels and pick axes. Isn’t this what the president really meant by “shovel ready”?
David DeGerolamo
Obama administration obstructs Tombstone residents’ water line repairs after wildfires
The city of Tombstone (Ariz.) is struggling to repair water lines damaged in the 2011 Monument and Horseshoe 2 wildfires in Cochise County. City residents aren’t just struggling with a harsh physical environment. They’re also having to fight the federal government.
Investigations revealed the wildfire in Monument was caused by humans. A spokesperson for the Coronado National Memorial said:
“The general location of the suspected start of the fire is commonly used by narcotics smugglers, human traffickers, and undocumented aliens…A network of smuggling trails exists on the south side of the fence in Mexico that lead in the direction to where the fire started…”
The federal government’s inability to control taxpayer funded lands is well documented. Media rarely focus on environmental damage caused by illegal aliens connected to smuggling, drug cartels and human trafficking.
The federal government is obstructing the repairs because of a 1964 law prohibiting heavy equipment on federal lands. That law was enacted under the administration of Lyndon B. Johnson, a Democrat whose legacy created numerous fiscal and other problems we deal with today.
Townspeople have done some repairs by primitive means.
The Goldwater Institute is helping Tombstone fight for its existence. The Institute said:
“Tombstone City Manager George Barnes said he fears those temporary repairs may be washed away in the coming months…We’re trying to fix things before monsoons take away what little work we did. We could be back to square one a month from now…”
No media have mentioned whether heavy equipment is used by the Forest Service to fight fires or conduct controlled burns.
The Goldwater Institute noted:
“The water line, originating in the Huachuca Mountains, supplied 50 to 80 percent of the town’s water until it was damaged last year. It is currently supplying only a limited amount of water from three springs, where emergency repairs have been made with PVC pipes and sandbags.”
Forest Service employees recently saw a Mexican spotted owl in the area. That owl is a threatened, not an endangered, species.
