National politics and policy paint the U.S.-Mexican border as a place of high crime, danger and in need of a wall and more boots on the ground.
For those who live and work along the border, it's a different scenario. From high officials to regular citizens, it's seen as a region with economics, public policy and even cultural issues in common.
Arizona Week Friday explores the commonalities, from Douglas and Agua Prieta in the southeastern corner of the state to what is known as "Ambos Nogales," or the two Nogaleses.
On the program:
- Amanda Stone, Arizona Office of Border and Environmental Protection, and Luis Carlos Salazar, manager of the Sonoran Department of the Environment, discussing how officials from Arizona and Sonora work together to keep water and air clean, including the northward flowing Santa Cruz River.
- John Francis Doyle, mayor of Nogales, Ariz., and David Cuatemoc Galindo, mayor of Nogales, Sonora, discussing how they work together on important municipal issues, including "dropping in" on one another unannounced and using the "WhatsApp" cell phone tool to communicate.
- Mario Novoa, Douglas fire chief, and Luis Rendón, Agua Prieta fire chief, discussing how both their departments have crossed the border to help put out big fires and how joint training keeps both departments at the ready.
- A peak at this spring's cross-border music festival in Douglas and Agua Prieta.
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