Tower Update
August 1, 2007
Three months ago on April 23, I heard that the Department of Homeland Security was planning to erect a spy tower two miles south of Arivaca overlooking our town. I found this an instant threat to my/our Constitutional Right to Privacy. Since then other issues have also become involved: freedom of information and from undue surveillance, to name a couple.
Many people have joined in the protest of this tower, which was erected between May 21-24. The generator has been running since May 24, although it reportedly has not always been functioning due to software problems. To my knowledge it has not been finally approved by the US Congress.
We have gotten our message of disapproval out, and the forces of change are listening. We have had much media coverage, as I have reported in the past two issues of the Connection. We deluged ACLU with complaint letters and then scheduled a meeting with them on Wednesday, July 18, at the Community Center. Alessandra Soler Meetze, Executive Director of AZ ACLU from Phoenix, and Carolyn Trowbridge from the Tucson sector, informed us of what could be done. We presented them with a 3″ think loose leaf notebook containing our information, our actions and media coverage’s, the eight meetings and also enclosed with a 160+ page copy of the SBInet document which details Project 28 and the test towers.
On Friday, July 21, I had a call from Dan Pochoda, Legal Director of ACLU AZ in Phoenix, who informed me that he would be working with us to research and develop a legal action.
He asked me to announce to our people that we need to report anything that could be a negative impact on the community as a reaction to the operation of the Tower. IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT PLEASE CONTACT: C Hues 398-8231 or Ellen Dursema 398-2567 or Peter Ragan 203-5495; we will get you a Complaint Form to fill out, or you can write a letter, and mail it to ACLU AZ PO Box 17148 Phoenix, AZ 85011; or you can email Dan directly at dpochoda@acluaz.org. Be sure to mention the Arivaca Tower.
This is a serious issue. We are the guinea pigs, the only town in this nationwide test project. If we fail to react to Big Brother watching US, the US will spread across the whole country with spy towers making U.S. Citizens enemies of the government.
Boeing has illustrated contempt for our Rights since the 1st day, April 4, when it delivered the SBInet document to the Library and gave us virtually no opportunity to study it or comment on the proposed erection of the tower. Homeland Security has been asked at public meetings for answers to our questions; our questions are being stonewalled. The arrogance of these powerful entities has shown that they believe themselves to be above the Law, and that they do not need to honor taxpayers’ concerns.
A few Sundays ago, Patrick Leahy, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman, appeared on Meet the Press and stated, “We are in a Constitutional crisis.” I agree. If we do not stop this base level erosion of our Civil Rights, we will all end up prisoners in a Hitlerian nightmare.
I want to thank the people of Arivaca (and other friends also) for its enthusiastic support in making these latest developments happen. Many, Many people have contributed in unusual and creative ways. I love this community and I am sooo proud of all of us!
Copyright 2007 C. Hues
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