NBC Channel 4 in LA is going to run a special on "How Safe is Baja" tomorrow evening(6-18) at 8pm I believe. Check for the exact time if your
interested. Should be interesting.baja Steve - 6-18-2008 at 12:40 AM
We are in Oregon so would you let us outside LA know how it was?LancairDriver - 6-18-2008 at 07:42 AM
I am in Oregon also but get NBC west on Direct TV satellite channel 383. I plan on watching so will let you know.Woooosh - 6-18-2008 at 09:52 AM
Should be interesting. The San Diego stations all steer clear of reporting anything negative about Mexico- the backlash just too dangerous.JaraHurd - 6-18-2008 at 06:34 PM
I just saw a trailer for the news tonight for Channel 4 (NBC) in Los Angeles. That segment will be carried on the 11:00 pm news. The teaser went
something like this, "Mexico used to be a cheap vacation alternative, right? But it's not the money that is keeping Californians away. Special report
at eleven." ...BajaSerg - 6-19-2008 at 09:53 AM
I'm in Los Angeles looking forward to seeing it..thanks for the infoJaraHurd - 6-19-2008 at 02:53 PM
I don't stay up that late but I taped it. Here is the gist of the segment:
People are starting to think twice about travel to Mexico, even Mexico's President described "it" as a "war zone." (They really did not clarify but it
is presumed they meant Tijuana)
But just how dangerous is Baja becoming?
The piece then goes from referring to Mexico (they probably meant Tijuana) then Baja (again the later focus was exclusively Tijuana and nearby areas)
to a street called Avenida De La Revolucion (which is in Tijuana). Even the locals will tell you..."you'd better watch your back..."
They interviewed Victor Clark who is a professor of Latin American Studies at SDSU and lives in the "heart" of Tijuana. He said, "We are in a war
against the organized crime." The piece said that the murders, rapes and kidnappings are getting worse. He said a lot of the victims are tortured.
The piece then cuts to Jorge Ramos, Mayor of Tijuana. He is shown as saying that this "situation" hurts the City. It says he was elected in December
of 2007 on a platform of public safety. He is quoted as saying, "I was born here. I think I I gotta make an effort to let the people, especially the
people from California, know that it is safe to be here."
For the past 15 years rival drug gangs from Sinaloa have cut into the Baja drug trade, raising the level of violence in and around Tijuana.
In Tijuana, 19 million visitors alone used to walk the streets, today the numbers are a mere fraction of that.
They then interview a tourist from LA (who appears to be Hispanic). She says the feel is different today from the past. She has family in Tijuana and
says the locals today are more rude than in the past. Her van was stolen a month ago while she was visiting family in Tijuana.
They interviewed a couple from Florida who appeared to be Causcasian. They were visiting Tijuana during the day time. They were aware of the travel
advisories but did not want to let that ruin their vacation plans. They were told by locals to visit only during the day and stick to Avenida
Revolucion.
The piece then shifts to tour buses, which continue to visit. The stops are less frequent and the buses less full. Some businesses are opening earlier
and closing earlier in an effort to capture the fleeting tourist dollar. The business onwers insist one one thing: they close before the sun sets.
Many businesses with For Rent signs were shown. They interviewed a store owner named Gabriel Diaz who says he lives better in Tijuana today than he
lived in LA a few years ago (he looks unsavory and, frankly, unbelievable...). He said that in LA he got challenged by gangmembers (probably because
he is/was one). He said that in Tijuana there is NO VIOLENCE.."no nothing..." Others, however, told the news crew that "no violence" is not true.
They then interviewed another storeowner, Flabio Garcia. He said, "Dangers is all over. Even in your country."
Crime within Tijuana itself grew so bad in the early part of 2008, Mexican President Felipe Calderon sent in federal troops to restore order. The
bordertown had been crippled as gun battles killed not only druglords but also police officers, wives and children. They then interviewed Deputy
Police Chief Ramirez. He said that federal support was a step that was needed to BEGIN to control violence on their own.
That was pretty much the gist of the almost 7 minute piece...fulano - 6-19-2008 at 05:19 PM
Estamos para serverleJaraHurd - 6-19-2008 at 05:24 PM
I guess being computer literate would have saved me some time! Thanx...Capt. George - 6-20-2008 at 04:42 AM
jara
thanks from the East Coast Nomad (s)Cypress - 6-20-2008 at 01:26 PM
Baja is safe.ELINVESTIG8R - 6-20-2008 at 01:28 PM
Viva La Baja...Ken Cooke - 6-20-2008 at 10:46 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by ELINVESTI8
Viva La Baja...
I have nothing but good to say about Baja. I'll always love the people and the region.
Here is a scene from last weekend in Rosarito Beach.
ELINVESTIG8R - 6-21-2008 at 04:39 AM
Ken someone commented on that photo by saying something to the effect that it looked like a pileup on and interstate freeway. Looks like everyone had
lots of fun.
