NEWPORT BEACH : City to Give Gear to Cabo San Lucas

For the first time since they became sister cities just over a year ago, Newport Beach will send surplus equipment to the city of Cabo San Lucas, at the tip of Baja California.

Newport Beach already donates surplus items to Ensenada, also in Baja California, but Councilwoman Ruthelyn Plummer suggested sending goods to Cabo San Lucas to build relations with the city’s newest sister municipality.

“We have given so much stuff to Ensenada,” Plummer said. “And the mayor of Cabo was very eager to get this. . . . It was a real nice arrangement.”

Newport Beach officials plan to send outdated Fire Department equipment, such as hoses and training devices, and an obsolete Fire Department radio system that Cabo San Lucas officials have said could be used for fire-related emergencies.

The city hopes to send the equipment in coming weeks, and a representative of Newport Beach’s sister city association hopes to arrange shipping of the gear through business people who may be traveling to the area.

Newport Beach officials said they will probably continue to send items to Ensenada but will determine whether to send specific items to Ensenada or Cabo San Lucas on a case-by-case basis based on need.