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bajabound2005
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Donated lifeguard towers stuck at border
Sixteen donated lifeguard towers are stranded in a storage yard near the Otay Mesa border crossing until they can clear Mexican customs. John R.
McCutchen / Union-Tribune
After lifeguard agencies in San Diego County decided to donate 16 lifeguard towers to their Baja California counterparts, simply moving the
2,500-pound structures presented a daunting challenge.
But that is turning out to be the easy part. The biggest hurdle has been getting approval from Mexican customs. Two weeks after they were set to cross
the border, the structures remain locked in an Otay Mesa storage yard.
“These are key to saving lives,” said Aaron Quintanar, an Imperial Beach lifeguard who has been a link between Southern California agencies donating
the towers and the Mexican lifeguards preparing to receive them in Tijuana, Rosarito Beach, Ensenada and Punta Abreojos in Baja California Sur.
Saying the proper paperwork was missing, Mexican customs authorities refused to allow the towers to cross the border May 29, the day the donors had
lined up volunteers, forklifts and tractor-trailers needed to move the structures.
“The issue we're having is their size,” said Michael Kieley, a liaison officer with the Tijuana Fire Department, which is the designated Mexican
recipient of the towers.
Although transporting lifeguard towers across the border presents unusual logistical and legal challenges, U.S. groups for years have struggled with
sending donated items to Mexico under government rules designed to prevent contraband.
“The error people commit is assuming there is no procedure,” said Carlos Ramírez Escoto, Mexico's federal customs administrator for Tijuana. “We
understand the work that these people do, but they must help us help them.”
Many nonprofit groups at the border say the process can be cumbersome. When Carlos Torres, a federal congressman from Tijuana, saw groups struggling
with the complexity of cross-border donations, he began asking questions.
“Many rules that we have in Mexico are defined 3,000 kilometers away in Mexico City, and here at the border we have a far different dynamic,” Torres
said in an interview.
Torres worked closely with customs officials in Mexico City to streamline the process of cross-border donations through a new procedure known as the
firma electronica, or electronic signature.
The new form cuts the steps only for those U.S donors whose recipient in Mexico has been certified by the federal government to receive donations.
Pedro Cruz, director of the Fundación Castro Limón, a Tijuana organization that pays for children's cancer treatment, has much praise for the new
procedure.
Donations that once might be stuck for months at the border now can cross in a matter of hours, Cruz said. But other items that require a second level
of authorization by separate Mexican agencies – such as the health or agriculture ministries – still can face lengthy delays, he said.
“I'd like to see this as a first step,” Cruz said of the electronic signature.
The lifeguard towers were donated through SDALERT, a coalition of San Diego County lifeguard agencies.
They look like tiny cottages, 9 feet tall and measuring 12 feet by 12 feet. Purchased new, the fiberglass towers would cost $14,000 to $16,000 apiece.
But now more than 10 years old, with their steel supports showing rust, they would normally be headed for a landfill. The disposal cost for all 16
units was estimated at $20,000, said Quintanar, the Imperial Beach lifeguard.
He said the towers “just need a little TLC.”
The rusting steel supports have been cut off, and the Mexicans will have to build their own support structures. The towers need painting and repairs,
but Tijuana's lifeguards are looking forward to getting them.
“They're in really good condition for us,” said Juan Hernandez, head of aquatic rescues for the Tijuana Fire Department.
Tijuana's towers are so deteriorated and dirty that “lifeguards prefer not to climb onto them,” Hernandez said.
Concerned about the difficulty of transporting the towers across the border, Tijuana Mayor Jorge Ramos' administration now has become directly
involved, meeting with customs officials and making sure the necessary paperwork is submitted.
The towers' crossing date has not yet been set, Quintanar said last week. He is sure they will be put to good use by Mexican lifeguards once they
arrive: “You want your front-line people in a high, comfortable place where you can have a great view.”
[This is part of the article:
MEXICO DONATION FACTS The donor must be a foreign resident.
Donated items must go to recipients in Mexico authorized by federal tax authorities to accept donations. Permitted items include fire engines, tow
trucks, computer equipment, wheelchairs, books, musical instruments and new clothes and shoes.
Prohibited items include used clothing and shoes, canned food that has expired and medication that will expire within a year.
Online: To read the International Community Foundation's guide to making donations in Mexico, go to www.uniontrib.com/more/ donationguide
Online: For information in Spanish about donations, go to the Mexican customs agency,
www.uniontrib.com/more/ mexicancustoms]
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | [Purchased new, the fiberglass towers would cost $14,000 to $16,000 apiece. But now more than 10 years old, with their steel supports showing rust,
they would normally be headed for a landfill. The disposal cost for all 16 units was estimated at $20,000, said Quintanar, the Imperial Beach
lifeguard.
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And San Diego wonders why they're having budget problems. It's easier to spend than it is to maintain.
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Woooosh
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I saw several weeks ago in the UnionTrib that these towers were coming down. How come no one worked with Mexico in advance so the paperwork would be
ready? They were turned away, along with all the voluneteers. Maybe Mexico didn't really want to deal with them (the towers, that is).
All I can see these towers used for in Rosarito is doing drugs, as public restrooms (there are none on Rosarito Beach) and for prostitution at night.
Maybe that's why Mexico isn't so excited about getting them. They don't station lifeguards in towers here- they patrol in quads. They had towers
years ago- but never manned them or moved them when the winter water came up. They are gone and no one missed them.
I once tried to donate money for lifeguard equipment (floats, etc) because they had absolutely nothing in their ready room- but the lifeguards
honeslty told me to save my money- because the Bomberos woud just keep it and they would still have no equipment.
I can only speak for Rosarito Beach. I have lived within eyesight of the existing lifeguard tower (a coverted house on cement stilts) for six years.
The Lifeguards here are part of the Bomberos division. The lifeguard jobs are assigned by the fire department to their kids and their kids friends-
there are no try-outs or qualificatons for swiming, CPR classes, etc.. The lifeguard "baywatch culture" that is need to run an effective program
simple doesn't exist here. At CA beaches they train hard daily and even the junior lifeguards train their little hearts out in hopes of landing a
lifeguard job one day. They run and swim miles per day- truly. It's not about the money. The job pays nearly minimum wage- even in the USA. I have
a friend who was a permanent summer guard at Bolsa Chica in the OC for many years (winters he taught skiing with me in Colorado). For him and his
department- training and lifeguarding were a very serious thing and no one took returning to their position the next year for granted- every year they
worked hard to keep it.
The local lifeguards need leadership and training first. In six years I have never seen ONE out swimmng. Not one- Seriously. They race up in quads
(usually with a girl or friend riding shotgun on the back) and chase anyone over chest deep out of the water. When an 18 year old friend of my family
went missing in the water here two years ago, the lifeguards searched on jetskis for 20 minutes and then told the family the body would proabably wash
back up in a few days. Not one dove to the bottom to look for him. Yup- true, and yes- it did wash back up.
What the lifeguards WOULD be excited about, and I have talked with a few- is the training part. They want to train and be real lifeguards but there
is no one to teach them. Maybe set up some simple training exchanges with nearby Imperial Beach guards and then ramp it up until it becomes a
training culture. But maybe they should start the training culture in the Police or Bomberos first- then the lifeguards. JMObservations
[Edited on 6-14-2009 by Woooosh]
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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DianaT
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Aaron has worked, or I should say volunteered, in Baja for many years. He is very experienced and while I know he planned on having those towers down
there by now, he will not give up. He has lots of experience with how things work. I am just sorry they are being delayed.
Aaron and his group have done lots of lifeguard training in Baja and also have worked a lot with environmental groups from Tijuana to Cabo.
This year, for the first time, a few of the Bahia Asuncion people are being organized to participate in the lifeguard training in Abreojos, and if all
goes well, they will be in Bahia Asuncion next year.
These are not just people who donate items, they are very hands-on with their assistance and work very closely with several groups in Baja.
So, I will keep a positive thought that they get through the paperwork soon.
Diane
[Edited on 6-14-2009 by jdtrotter]
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Hook
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajabound2005
Saying the proper paperwork was missing, Mexican customs authorities refused to allow the towers to cross the border May 29, the day the donors had
lined up volunteers, forklifts and tractor-trailers needed to move the structures. |
Yeah, the proper paperwork happens to be green. 
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Woooosh
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Hook
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajabound2005
Saying the proper paperwork was missing, Mexican customs authorities refused to allow the towers to cross the border May 29, the day the donors had
lined up volunteers, forklifts and tractor-trailers needed to move the structures. |
Yeah, the proper paperwork happens to be green. |
You aren't alone in that thinking. This Letter to the Editor was published in todays Union Trib:
"Lifeguard tower solution Your lead article in “Our Region” June 14 enumerated the problems local lifeguards are having trying to donate used
lifeguard towers to their counterpoints in Baja California. The main problem, according to the Mexican government spokesperson, is “paperwork
problems.” In Spanish, it’s spelled m-o-r-d-i-d-a. The lifeguards apparently don’t realize that they’re dealing with a Third World country, where
everything runs on bribes. All the people on this side of the border need do is grease a few more palms with more money and all the “paperwork
problems” will suddenly be solved.
ROBERT EVANS Jamul
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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bajabound2005
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Lifeguard towers clear hold in Mexican customs
TIJUANA: Sixteen used lifeguard towers donated by Southern California lifeguards to their Mexican counterparts are now in Baja California after a
17-day delay at the border caused by paperwork demands of Mexican customs authorities.
The towers, which crossed Wednesday evening, are destined for Tijuana, Rosarito Beach, Ensenada, Puerto Peñasco in Sonora and Punta Abreojos in Baja
California Sur. They were donated through SDALERT, a coalition of San Diego lifeguard agencies; they are more than 10 years old and were scheduled to
be replaced.
Lorena Flores, assistant director of international affairs for Tijuana, said the delay was primarily because the city hadn't been properly registered
with Mexican federal tax authorities to receive such donations.
The size of the towers, which weigh between 2,500 to 3,000 pounds each, was another factor in the delay, said Michael Kieley, a liaison officer for
the Tijuana Fire Department.
Rosarito Beach, with more than six miles of coastline, will receive six towers. The city now has one lifeguard tower, Fire Chief Hector Castelán
Medina said. –S.D.
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajabound2005
Lifeguard towers clear hold in Mexican customs
TIJUANA: Sixteen used lifeguard towers donated by Southern California lifeguards to their Mexican counterparts are now in Baja California after a
17-day delay at the border caused by paperwork demands of Mexican customs authorities.
The towers, which crossed Wednesday evening, are destined for Tijuana, Rosarito Beach, Ensenada, Puerto Peñasco in Sonora and Punta Abreojos in Baja
California Sur. They were donated through SDALERT, a coalition of San Diego lifeguard agencies; they are more than 10 years old and were scheduled to
be replaced.
Lorena Flores, assistant director of international affairs for Tijuana, said the delay was primarily because the city hadn't been properly registered
with Mexican federal tax authorities to receive such donations.
The size of the towers, which weigh between 2,500 to 3,000 pounds each, was another factor in the delay, said Michael Kieley, a liaison officer for
the Tijuana Fire Department.
Rosarito Beach, with more than six miles of coastline, will receive six towers. The city now has one lifeguard tower, Fire Chief Hector Castelán
Medina said. –S.D. |
Great News----they are a great bunch doing a lot of really positive work!
Diane
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Woooosh
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I'm glad they made it across. Five to Rosarito Beach? I hope they have locking doors to keep the troublemakers out at night. I also hope they get
them back up on stilts. Otherwise they will cut holes in the floor and they wil become Rosarito's first five public restrooms.
But seriously, this is good news. I'm hopeful this will spark a new wave of safety and professionalism among the Rosarito lifeguards.
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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Von
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Thats really cool, there be some awesome life towers now on some mexican beaches.........
READY SET.....................
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Woooosh
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Fair is fair- so here's the reply from the "Lifeguard Tower Donation Director" to the previous Union Tribune letter. Apparently you need to create a
fancy job title for yourself so the Mexican officials can relate. Of course I will closely watch the arrival of the five new towers in Rosarito and
will post photos of their arrirval and use.
"Guard tower shipment finally reaches Mexico
On June 14 the Union-Tribune ran an article on local lifeguard efforts to donate 16 retired lifeguard towers to Baja California agencies. Sandra
Dibble’s piece did an excellent job of highlighting the problems we encountered securing an import permit from Mexican Customs of?cials. The import
permit has been issued and the towers have been transported to lifeguard agencies in Tijuana, Rosarito, and Ensenada.
Days after the original article appeared, the U-T published “Lifeguard tower solution” in the Letters section. I would like to thank the author of the
letter for the support but I could not disagree more regarding the bribe allegation. The donation team was never asked for, nor encouraged to pay a
bribe in order to resolve the “paperwork problems.” The import permit was obtained thanks to the hard work of donation team members in partnership
with Tijuana officials.
The permit was issued, the towers have been transported, and soon they will be helping save lives.
AARON QUINTANAR
Lifeguard Tower Donation Director San Diego"
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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CaboRon
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Woooosh
I'm glad they made it across. Five to Rosarito Beach? I hope they have locking doors to keep the troublemakers out at night. I also hope they get
them back up on stilts. Otherwise they will cut holes in the floor and they wil become Rosarito's first five public restrooms.
But seriously, this is good news. I'm hopeful this will spark a new wave of safety and professionalism among the Rosarito lifeguards.
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They will be very popular as housing units
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CaboRon
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UPDATE: Stuck in TJ
Donated Lifeguard Towers Need Rescuing from Tijuana Parking Lot
.By Amy Isackson
Friday, June 26, 2009
At least five of the lifeguard towers a San Diego group donated to Mexico need some rescuing. As KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson explains, the towers are
stuck in a parking lot blocks from the beach.
Tijuana lifeguards international liaison, Michael Kieley says they?re searching for the more than 32-hundred dollars it will cost to install the
towers on the beach.
About a month ago, the Imperial Beach Lifeguard Association saved the 16 towers from the landfill on the U-S side of the border.
They'd reached the end of their lifespan on beaches around San Diego County.
The association organized the towers' donation to Mexican beach cities, instead of paying approximately 20-thousand dollars to dump them.
The towers were stranded at the Otay Mesa border crossing for a few weeks while groups on both sides of the U-S Mexico border negotiated with Mexican
customs.
Kieley says Tijuana lifeguards are hoping businesses and charitable organizations can help cover the costs of building new metal bases for the towers.
Each tower needs a base in order to be installed on the beach.
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Woooosh
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So they dumped them in Mexico instead of spending the $20K to dispose of them stateside? If they save $20K by "donating" them, why didn't they donate
the $3K to make them usable. How generous to dump their trash- hoping Mexico would find the money to recycle it to makje them usable.
This isn't quite the act of generosity we were led to believe it was. It looks like we are throwing them crumbs and telling them to make bread
pudding on their own.
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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CaboRon
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Woooosh
So they dumped them in Mexico instead of spending the $20K to dispose of them stateside? If they save $20K by "donating" them, why didn't they donate
the $3K to make them usable. How generous to dump their trash- hoping Mexico would find the money to recycle it to makje them usable.
This isn't quite the act of generosity we were led to believe it was. It looks like we are throwing them crumbs and telling them to make bread
pudding on their own. |
The same thing happens with fire trucks and pharmacy products.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by CaboRon
The same thing happens with fire trucks and pharmacy products. |
I've seen a lot of fire fighting equipment from the states given to Baja communities and NONE of it was trash. They're well maintained and equiped.
Most, not all of it goes back to wasteful spending by local governments in the states.
I agree...trash should be recycled. Not gifted, and I'm willing to bet, with proper attention, these towers could have served the public in San
Diego well for years to come.
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Von
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Its probably the fuel and the cost of the truck drivers hrs and time it will cost someone to install them. I would imagine someone needs to get a
truck driver and tie them down on a truck bed thats not free in Mexico?
$3000 dllrs for all of them I wish i had the money id donate it so i can see them in TJ and Rosarito. As long as there in Mexico by now some how and
someone eventually will put them where they belong.........
READY SET.....................
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Woooosh
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by CaboRon
The same thing happens with fire trucks and pharmacy products. |
I've seen a lot of fire fighting equipment from the states given to Baja communities and NONE of it was trash. They're well maintained and equiped.
Most, not all of it goes back to wasteful spending by local governments in the states.
I agree...trash should be recycled. Not gifted, and I'm willing to bet, with proper attention, these towers could have served the public in San
Diego well for years to come. |
I've never met a fireman who didn't respect and maintain perfectly every piece of equipment they touched. Their lives depend on it. Even the oldest
equipment is polished - ready for a fire or the Smithsonian.
Metal and salt water don't mix and I'm sure the towers need new legs. The legs should have been part of the "donation" or they shouldn't have made it
a huge feel-good story. The "lifeguard tower donations co-ordinator" should be tarred and feathered for not finishing the job.
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Von
Its probably the fuel and the cost of the truck drivers hrs and time it will cost someone to install them. |
It was my understanding that they have a wide base, twenty feet or something like that, which would make them a "Permit Load" on both sides of the
border. Lots of manpower...lots of equipment.
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longlegsinlapaz
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Woooosh
Metal and salt water don't mix and I'm sure the towers need new legs. The legs should have been part of the "donation" or they shouldn't have made it
a huge feel-good story. The "lifeguard tower donations co-ordinator" should be tarred and feathered for not finishing the job.
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I disagree! I understand your thoughts, but look at it from a different perspective....several Mexican beaches will be safer for
kids & adults alike due to the increased visibility because of the height. It's better than someone attempting to watch from ground level! And
the largest part of the cost was donated in the cost of the towers themselves. Mexicans are pretty ingenious people & they'll find a way to come
up with what else is needed to get the towers safe & functional & start saving lives!
Do you honestly feel they'd have been better off without having the towers donated in the first place? 
I'm guessing it was the newspapers that made it "a huge feel-good story", not the "lifeguard tower donations co-ordinator", so please turn off the
heat under your tar bucket & stuff those feathers back in your pillow before your wife finds out what you did with them! 
I believe the term is don't look a gift-horse in the mouth! 
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