Laredo border wall threatens Azteca neighborhood green space – KGNS

Report on the Conflict Between Border Wall Construction and Sustainable Development Goals in Laredo, Texas

Executive Summary

A federal proposal to construct a border wall in Laredo, Texas, poses a significant threat to local community well-being and undermines key principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The planned construction would sever the Azteca neighborhood from its sole adjacent green space, Las Palmas, directly conflicting with goals related to sustainable cities, health, and terrestrial ecosystems. In response, residents and political representatives are advocating for alternative solutions that align with sustainable development, emphasizing community-led restoration, green economic growth, and modern security technologies.

Impact on Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11)

Threat to Universal Access to Green and Public Spaces (Target 11.7)

The proposed border wall construction directly contravenes SDG 11, which aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Specifically, it jeopardizes Target 11.7: to provide universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible green and public spaces.

• The wall is planned to be built between the Azteca neighborhood and the Las Palmas green space, effectively eliminating the community’s only nearby access to a natural recreational area.
• Residents, such as lifetime local Jose Ortiz, report that this separation would disconnect them from the riverfront environment, impacting community identity and quality of life.

Community-Led Initiatives for Sustainable Urban Development

In opposition to the wall, residents are actively engaged in efforts that promote a sustainable urban vision for Laredo.

1. Restoration Efforts: Community members volunteer multiple times a week to restore the Las Palmas area, demonstrating a commitment to preserving their local environment.
2. Vision for Green Infrastructure: Proponents envision the Las Palmas project as a pilot for a larger, interconnected system of riverfront parks. This initiative aims to develop riverfront property into green spaces for all adjacent neighborhoods, fostering inclusive community development and economic growth, in line with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Implications for Health, Well-being, and Ecosystems

Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3)

Access to green spaces is critical for public health. The potential loss of Las Palmas presents a direct challenge to SDG 3, which seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all.

• The park serves as a vital resource for physical activity, mental relaxation, and social interaction for Azteca residents.
• Eliminating access would force residents to travel to other parts of the city, creating barriers to recreation and potentially leading to negative health outcomes.

Life on Land (SDG 15)

The construction project and the community’s response also relate to SDG 15, which focuses on protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

• The physical barrier of a wall threatens the local riverfront ecosystem.
• Conversely, the volunteer restoration of Las Palmas represents a grassroots effort to protect and enhance local biodiversity and natural habitats.

Governance, Security, and Partnerships (SDG 16 & 17)

Advocacy for Alternative and Effective Institutions (SDG 16)

The debate over the border wall highlights a call for more effective, accountable, and inclusive governance. Stakeholders are proposing alternative security measures that do not compromise community and environmental well-being.

1. Political Intervention: Congressman Henry Cuellar is pursuing exemptions for Las Palmas and other key Laredo areas, advocating for policy that reflects local realities and needs. He notes that Laredo’s low border crossing numbers are attributable to effective law enforcement, not physical barriers.
2. Technology-Based Solutions: Community advocates suggest that modern technology and existing Border Patrol operations are more effective and less destructive methods for ensuring border protection than a physical wall.

This multi-level dialogue between residents, local advocates, and federal representatives exemplifies a partnership approach (SDG 17) to finding sustainable solutions to complex security and development challenges.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The article focuses on the potential loss of access for the Azteca neighborhood to “their only nearby green space,” Las Palmas. This directly relates to the goal of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, particularly concerning the provision of public and green spaces for communities.

   SDG 15: Life on Land

   • The green space in question is a natural, riverfront area. The article mentions residents’ connection to the river (“we are river people”) and their volunteer efforts to restore Las Palmas. This connects to the goal of protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, as the border wall construction threatens to degrade this natural habitat.

   SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Access to green spaces is crucial for physical and mental well-being. The quote from resident Jose Ortiz, “We’re going to feel… cut away from the water, the beauty, the air,” implies that losing access to Las Palmas would negatively impact the community’s well-being and quality of life.

   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • The situation described involves a federal government decision impacting a local community. The article highlights the efforts of Congressman Henry Cuellar to negotiate “exemptions for Laredo areas” and the community’s opposition to the mandate. This reflects the goal of ensuring responsive, inclusive, and representative decision-making at all levels of government.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.7: “By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces…” The core issue of the article is the potential loss of access to the Las Palmas green space for the residents of the Azteca neighborhood, which directly challenges the achievement of this target for that community.

   SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.1: “By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services…” The article mentions that “Many Azteca residents have been volunteering three to four times a week to restore Las Palmas,” which is a direct action towards the restoration of a riverfront ecosystem. The proposed wall threatens this conservation effort.

   SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.4: “By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.” The article implies a connection between the green space and the community’s well-being. The potential feeling of being “cut away from the water, the beauty, the air” suggests that the loss of this space would be detrimental to the mental health of the residents, which this target aims to promote.

   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.7: “Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.” The article describes how residents are opposing the wall and how their elected representative, Congressman Cuellar, “is preparing for talks in Washington D.C. to discuss exemptions.” This process is a real-world example of a community and its representative engaging in decision-making processes to protect local interests.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   Indicator for Target 11.7

   • Continued physical access to the Las Palmas green space: The primary indicator is whether the “residents of the Azteca neighborhood” lose or retain access to their “only nearby green space.” The outcome of the wall construction plan will be a direct measure of this.

   Indicator for Target 15.1

   • Community participation in restoration activities: The article explicitly states that “Many Azteca residents have been volunteering three to four times a week to restore Las Palmas.” The frequency and number of volunteers involved in these restoration efforts serve as a direct indicator of community action towards ecosystem restoration.

   Indicator for Target 3.4

   • Residents’ perceived connection to nature and well-being: While not a quantitative metric, the statement from Jose Ortiz about feeling “cut away from the water, the beauty, the air” serves as a qualitative indicator of the importance of the green space to the community’s sense of well-being. Surveys or testimonials from residents could be used to measure this.

   Indicator for Target 16.7

   • Success in securing exemptions from federal plans: The article mentions that Congressman Cuellar “hopes to do the same for Laredo” after previously securing “wall exemptions for five different areas.” The outcome of his talks to secure exemptions for Las Palmas and other Laredo areas will serve as an indicator of how responsive the federal decision-making process is to local community and representative concerns.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities	11.7: Provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces.	The continued physical access of Azteca residents to the Las Palmas green space.
   SDG 15: Life on Land	15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems.	The community’s volunteer efforts (“three to four times a week”) to restore the Las Palmas riverfront area.
   SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	3.4: Promote mental health and well-being.	Residents’ qualitative statements on feeling connected to “the water, the beauty, the air,” implying the green space’s contribution to their well-being.
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.	The outcome of negotiations by Congressman Cuellar to secure exemptions from the border wall construction for community areas like Las Palmas.

Source: kgns.tv