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Residents-only lane gets little support from chamber

Blaine chamber of commerce president Terrie LaPorte was invited to a roundtable with Whatcom County mayors and U.S. Senator Patty Murray, but she never made it. While Murray and the mayors discussed the economic impact of increased border security March 25 in Blaine, LaPorte was living it, stuck in line at the Peace Arch border crossing for over two hours.

“If we don’t get NEXUS until the fall we can kiss the summer goodbye,” said LaPorte as she caught up with Murray on her way out of Blaine city hall. “This is strangling our community.”

LaPorte’s example of the strain border delays put on local lives hit home with Murray. “You are here and the point is well taken,” she said. “This point helps me make my point, and I will make the case for you. Let’s talk to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and see if we can do something so you won’t lose your season.”

LaPorte’s proposal for Point Roberts, a lane allowing residents to cut in at the front of the line for inspection, met with little enthusiasm from the INS or fellow chamber members.

“It probably wouldn’t be something we’d consider,” said INS district deputy director Bob Okin. “If it slows down drastically we’ll revisit the issue but it doesn’t seem appropriate. There’s a danger in having residents sneak into line. You upset travelers.”

At the March 28 chamber of commerce meeting, county executive Pete Kremen said the proposed resident’s lane with keyed gates allowing access could take as long to get in place as NEXUS. “Given the short period of time it doesn’t make sense,” he said. “I don’t want to put a wet blanket on this idea but here’s the chamber saying non-residents don’t get easy access. If you’re going to have events imagine you’re one of those people in line and you see residents getting preferential treatment.”

“My number one priority is getting my customers down here,” said Brewsters owner Joan Roberts.

Parks board member David Niles suggested Point Roberts residents, promised the first spots in line when NEXUS enrollment opens, could use the PACE lane and show their cards to the inspector until the radio frequency reader and computer equipment get installed in Point Roberts. “I feel it’s a repugnant idea for a community based on tourism to have a lane for residents,” said Delta architect Brian Hart. “This is a good idea.”
While the proposal met with far more support from chamber members, Okin was still dubious. “I think there’s a requirement to do more than a visual inspection,” he said.

In other border news, two members of the National Guard who were assigned to Point Roberts in mid-March have been moved to other Whatcom County ports. “My sense is we couldn’t keep them busy enough,” Okin said. “We moved them so they could be more fully utilized.”..

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