By Kilian Colin, Member of the Committee for Better Banks

The resolution recently proposed by District 9 Councilwoman Georgette Gomez calls the border area “among the most unique, diverse and beautiful regions in the world,” and the wall plans “offensive and damaging symbols of fear and division that will increase tensions with Mexico.” She also says the wall would damage the economy and disrupt joint tourism promotions between San Diego and Tijuana.

She also says the wall would damage the economy and disrupt joint tourism promotions between San Diego and Tijuana.

Gomez’s proposal calls for opposition to President Donald Trump’s executive order on the border wall and for San Diego’s City Council to express its intent to identify companies involved in designing, building or financing the structure, and its intent to divest from those companies.

A growing number of cities and states are standing up and refusing to do business with corporations that hurt our communities. As a former Wells Fargo Personal Banker, I’ve experienced firsthand what some corporations are willing to do to generate a profit. I’ve had health problems due to the stress of meeting the company’s sales goals and have seen the effects these goals have on consumers. In order to meet the bank’s sales goals, workers often have to target low to moderate income families with predatory loans and financial products that will only benefit the bank’s bottom line. As a member of the Committee for Better

In order to meet the bank’s sales goals, workers often have to target low- to moderate-income families with predatory loans and financial products that will only benefit the bank’s bottom line. Now, as a member of the Committee for Better Banks, I’m fighting back by encouraging the Los Angeles City Council to put parameters around who they will bank with — ensuring the safety and well-being of the people of Los Angeles. I am a part of the growing population of community members who refuse to accept banks making profits on the backs of workers, consumers, and poor communities.

Banks and investors will be eager to invest in President Trump’s plan to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border. Banks will likely provide loans to build this wall because this would deliver huge profits in interest rate swaps that our government and taxpayers would pay in interest fees for many years.

But we can stop the border wall in San Diego.

The resolution proposed by Councilwoman Georgette Gomez has my support. We will stop the wall by targeting all of the companies that choose to invest in it. We know this wall will hurt our community, and put our neighborhoods at risk of racial and economic division. We will not stand for it.

 

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Kilian Colin is a progressive grassroots activist from East San Diego county and a member of the Committee for Better Banks, a group of former and current bank workers that stood up to Wells Fargo’s shady practices and decided to be whistleblowers against that bank.