Storm clouds may be gathering around Blackwater, the now infamous private military contractor, but that hasn't stopped the company from plans to expand its growing empire to the West Coast. The uniquely wonderful blog Subtopia (an absolute must read for those of us into "military urbanism") has a good compilation of information about Blackwater's under-the-radar plans to open up a new training facility near San Diego:
The company has apparently been running roughshod over the political process of establishing a 824 acre training facility in a little rural community East of San Diego. This is being documented now by multiple media sources. One writer from the Daily Kos describes the secluded and obviously vulnerable Potrero, California by saying, “It's not exactly an urban metropolis, the population is only 978, and about a quarter of those people live below the poverty level.” Despite its pastoral surrounding landscape, “it could be anywhere in America really.”*
Using politicians on the inside to hasten a quick turnaround on an environmental review, Blackwater is pulling its usual shadowy tricks and has for the most part completely circumnavigated any real due public process. If you read the Daily Kos article, it quotes Don Bauder from the San Diego Reader (who has been watching this deal intently), he reports how the people of the county there are vehemently opposed to the facility, and that Blackwater got the County’s approval pretty much behind the scenes without any public meetings or additional hearings.*
Regardless of whether or not you agree with their view, just check out Subtopia's fascinating approach to the phenomenon of military sprawl.
Tomorrow, we'll have a guest blog from a reporter who was invited to visit a Blackwater training facility, so stay tuned....
