SAN DIEGO.- Approximately 100 elected officers from both sides of the border traveled to Washington on Sunday to push forward border-related issues, one of them being the funds needed to finish the last two stages of the San Ysidro expansion project.

The delegation formed by the Mayor of Tijuana, Carlos Bustamante, and his equivalent from San Diego, Jerry Sanders, as well as officers from the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and others will be in the US capital until September 12 holding meetings with Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Pentagon, the Department of Commerce and White House officers.

"The DC trip is about informing federal officials and Congress leaders about the importance the issues affecting our region have," said the president of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, Rubén Barrales. "As a result from that, they will be better educated and will take better decisions about the priorities of the San Diego business community."

Despite the San Ysidro crossing port being under construction for the last two years, there has been a lot of talk about the lack of federal funding putting the last two stages (improving the pedestrian crossing point and setting up accesses from the freeway to the El Chaparral port in Mexico) at risk.

That is why the two mayors will make the journey and try to convince legislators about the economic risks that lack of crossing points could mean.

"As a voice of San Diego's businesses, the annual trip represents a unique opportunity for many companies and civic leaders to unite and support local, regional and state issues on a federal level," stated Jerry Sanders, San Diego Mayor.

Added to these, topics like transport, security and border efficiency, national security, education, employment, small businesses and many others will also be tackled.

Original Text : Alexandra.Mendoza@sandiegored.com

Translation: Karen.balderas@sandiegored.com