SAN DIEGO -- Rep. Bob Filner, D-50th Dist., told 10News Wednesday that the Gov. Gray Davis needs to declare a state of emergency to help businesses along the U.S.-Mexico border.

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Filner Says State Of Emergency Should Be Declared

Filner said that since the Sept. 11 attacks, tight security and a weak economy have pushed businesses like those in the San Ysidro Factory Outlet Center to the brink.

In a desperate attempt to move items off the shelves, a number of businesses have dropped prices by as much as 50 percent.

Business owners in the San Ysidro complex told 10News that as much as 80 percent of their customers come from Mexico. Border waits upwards of three hours are discouraging people from crossing over, they said.

Sala Ahmed manages a family-owned store that is set to open for the first time Thursday.

"We had signed the lease before Sept. 11, so we had no way out," Ahmed said.

Now he faces the possibility of having a $200,000 investment go south on him as customers stay away.

Filner said that he had contacted both Davis and President Bush, in hopes of encouraging them to help all the communities along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Filner said that he supported increased security, "but we also need to make sure that these border communities survive."

The congressman said that the government should be willing to spend whatever it takes to cut down the border wait and reinvigorate border economies.

According to Filner, if 20 more border inspectors were added per shift, the wait could be cut to less than a half-hour, while still providing the same level of security.

Implementing that plan however, at just one border crossing, would cost an additional $5 million to $6 million a year.