BajaNomad - Mayor of Rosarito plays the blame game

Mayor of Rosarito plays the blame game

arrowhead - 6-27-2009 at 10:40 AM

http://afntijuana.info/blog/?p=11968

Hugo Torres fired off a letter to Mexican Secretary of Tourism, Rodolfo Elizondo Torres, and sent copies to President Calderon, Governor Millan and the Baja secretary of tourism. He said Rosarito has lost 90% of tis tourist traffic and there are more than 3,500 unsold condominiums.

He blames the entire problem on a negative campaign by the American press against Rosarito.

DENNIS - 6-27-2009 at 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by arrowhead

He blames the entire problem on a negative campaign by the American press against Rosarito.

He could be right and I hope the US press has that much clout but, that doesn't mean the US press is wrong. I think Rosarito has earned all of it's reputation.

Too Bad - So Sad

MrBillM - 6-27-2009 at 11:42 AM

That's Life.

Completely Corrupt Police Force.

Drug Gang Shootouts in the streets.

Somebody else at fault for reporting.

Right.

rpleger - 6-27-2009 at 08:06 PM

The truth hurts, sometimes

Duh!

Dave - 6-27-2009 at 08:45 PM

The mayor is correct. The American press is the reason why there are no tourists in Rosarito. If Americans didn't read/hear about all the corruption and drug related crime...

They would be here. :rolleyes:

toneart - 6-27-2009 at 08:58 PM

Is the Mayor correct? Is the U.S. Press to blame for reporting what is happening in Rosarito and T.J., thereby scaring away the tourists? Yes, it is a contributing factor. Is that wrong? No! People need to be armed with information in order to make correct decisions for themselves and their families.

Personally, I think that the press has an obligation to report the truth. Some have opined that the press has a vendetta or agenda against Mexico. Well, it is true, "if it bleeds it leads". But as far as I can tell, it is really bleeding there.

Woooosh - 6-27-2009 at 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by toneart
Is the Mayor correct? Is the U.S. Press to blame for reporting what is happening in Rosarito and T.J., thereby scaring away the tourists? Yes, it is a contributing factor. Is that wrong? No! People need to be armed with information in order to make correct decisions for themselves and their families.

Personally, I think that the press has an obligation to report the truth. Some have opined that the press has a vendetta or agenda against Mexico. Well, it is true, "if it bleeds it leads". But as far as I can tell, it is really bleeding there.

nice one. You need information to make decisions. Last year I wouldn't let my friends come down with their children. I didn't want the burden of responsibility for them (this was during the toll road carjackings). Since then things have gotten a lot safer and random acts of violence are down. Targeted acts of violence against specific victims is way up though- but rarely are the victims American.

What Torres fails to say is that Rosarito Beach never made itself very easy to love. The police never got their act together and security is very important for tourists. Plus you have to run the gauntlet through TJ to get here- which is a horrible driving experince at best for most tourists. On what basis does he ask the USA to declare the TJ-Rosarito Beach corridor is safe?

... isn't there an election a few weeks away? Looks like Torres friends needed some pumping so he did some huffing.

Those two factors plus no one has money to spend stateside rightnow is the perfect storm for tourist dollars taking a deep dive. And so close to the Titantic too...

I wish my house here had increased in value. I wish the workers would finish the three buildings around me. I wish the gazillion "For Rent" signs on houses and condos would find tenants who make the neighborhoods safer. But that's all five years away at least IMHO. Rosarito will float when the other boats do.

I still say the best thing for Rosarito wouldbe a western border crossing in Playas de Tijuana- bypassing TJ completely.

[Edited on 6-28-2009 by Woooosh]

From sublime to ridiculous

arrowhead - 6-28-2009 at 12:21 AM

Ok, follow this. On the same day that Mayor Torres of Rosarito fired off his letter complaining about the American press having a vendetta for Rosarito, this event occured -- which by the way is NOT reported in the US newspapers -- at least not yet.

The news article says that at 5PM Friday afternoon, three 15-passenger vans full of tourists pulled up and parked in front of the Mayor's Rosarito Beach Hotel and went inside to shop. They parked in the "secure zone" for tourists that the police chief has identified. When they came out of the hotel, two of the vans were broken into and the ignition switches jimmied!

Quote:

INTENTAN ROBAR DOS UNIDADES A TURISTAS
PLAYAS DE ROSARITO.

Es muy raro ver turistas y cuando hay los ladrones no pierden su tiempo así paso ayer por la tarde al filo de las 5:00 horas cuando llegaron tres camionetas tipo Van Pool Ford E 350 de color blanco con capacidad para 15 pasajeros modelo 2008.

Exactamente frente al Hotel Rosarito donde comienza la “zona blindada” donde señalo en secretario de seguridad publica, sin embargo pegaron los ladrones en los intereses del propio alcalde y en su principal factor para reactivar la economía en Rosarito.
Los turistas venían de Arizona y decidieron visitar las tiendas del Hotel Rosarito cuando salieron se llevaron una sorpresa, los ladrones de autos habían violado los seguros de las puertas, y el encendido de los volantes de las dos unidades con placas de circulación son 6CVW700 Y 6CPR899 del estado de California.
Indico el señor Gustafson Richard John de 59 años residente de California sin precisar la ciudad por lo que decidieron retirarse de Rosarito no sin antes presentarse ante las autoridades pertinentes y hacer su reporte de robo preciso Richard John.

http://rosaritoenlanoticia.blogspot.com/2009/06/intentan-rob...

[Edited on 6-28-2009 by arrowhead]

JESSE - 6-28-2009 at 01:18 AM

Its not Rosarito, its all of northern baja, an yes, mayor torres has done a good job at cleaning up the police force, but its going to take a lot of time to get the confidence back. The US media has hyped this way beyond reality, but this wouldnt have happened if the local and state goverment, had done their job.

Everybody is to blame and there is no quick fixes.

ArroyoTaxi - 6-28-2009 at 07:36 AM

We've had our truck broken into twice in Baja. Both times in Rosarito, nine years apart. Dealing with the police was worse than the actual theft.

Woooosh - 6-28-2009 at 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JESSE
Its not Rosarito, its all of northern baja, an yes, mayor torres has done a good job at cleaning up the police force, but its going to take a lot of time to get the confidence back. The US media has hyped this way beyond reality, but this wouldnt have happened if the local and state goverment, had done their job.

Everybody is to blame and there is no quick fixes.

Living here, I can honestly say there was no overhype by the media. Rosarito went through a horrible horrible period. I had a neighbor gunned down by an AK47 infront of me and the headless body of a policean was found not far from my house. Many distressing crimes and events were left alone by the media specifically because Americans weren't involved. It certainly could have been worse in my opinion. Does Rosarito deserve a break now that things have calmed down. Yes. But that doesn't make past truths a lie.

Mexicans are so self centered that everything that happens must be about or against them. Everything is caused by someone else and Mexico plays the perpetual victim. Iran just tried this approach- but it didn't work because you can't censor the news or the truth any more. It gets out- with video. And it won't work for Torres either. He needs to change his game, take his lumps and wait it out.

(I still haven't met a Rosarito Tourist Policeman who willingly speaks english, or bumped into any of the hundreds of security voluntees that were deputized)

bajajazz - 6-28-2009 at 08:04 AM

How typical it is of Mexicans to place the blame for their problems on any and every place except where it belongs. The refusal to grow up and take personal responsibility for their problems is built into the DNA of the Mexican culture and is the primary reason the country is and always will be dysfunctional and second-rate.

In fairness, I should add that we have this same element in the USA, those who in a total departure from reality deny the eistence of global warming and the potentially devastating effects of budget deficits. Cheney's statement that "Reagan proved that deficits don't matter," is exactly the kind of insanity I'm talking about.

Woooosh - 6-28-2009 at 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajajazz
How typical it is of Mexicans to place the blame for their problems on any and every place except where it belongs. The refusal to grow up and take personal responsibility for their problems is built into the DNA of the Mexican culture and is the primary reason the country is and always will be dysfunctional and second-rate.

In fairness, I should add that we have this same element in the USA, those who in a total departure from reality deny the eistence of global warming and the potentially devastating effects of budget deficits. Cheney's statement that "Reagan proved that deficits don't matter," is exactly the kind of insanity I'm talking about.

Exactly. The Union Trib reports on today's front page that San Diego's drop in hotel revenue (31%) is the 2nd-worst in the whole USA. How could Baja Norte expect a better result?

San Diego could just as easily blame Baja Norte for it's tragic tourist decline. I guess the swine flu boy statue and the "narco tours" kept people away from San Diego too.

RD55 - 6-28-2009 at 09:53 AM

It's only fair to say that the Mexican readers of that article seem to disagree with the Mayor. Out of 12 reader comments below the article as of now, 12 disagree with the mayor for blaming the American press for Rosarito's problems.

CaboRon - 6-28-2009 at 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave
The mayor is correct. The American press is the reason why there are no tourists in Rosarito. If Americans didn't read/hear about all the corruption and drug related crime...

They would be here. :rolleyes:

woody with a view - 6-28-2009 at 02:10 PM

Quote:

In fairness, I should add that we have this same element in the USA, those who in a total departure from reality deny the eistence of global warming and the potentially devastating effects of budget deficits.

that same element includes +/- 50 million first generation mexicans along with the entire legislature of the state of mexifornia, led by a steriod pumping governator.

the shi-ite is nearing the fan.....

The Gull - 6-28-2009 at 03:02 PM

In an interview done by El Mexicano newspaper, this month, Ronald Kramer, head of the US Consulate in Tijuana, said that some coverage of Mexico's war against drug cartels had falsely created the impression in the US that the area is unsafe for visitors.

Woooosh - 6-28-2009 at 03:14 PM

In his letter, Torres specifically asks the US Gov't to reverse it's travel warnings for this area. If the warnings weren't current or official, Torres woldn't be pressing for it. The Media accurately reported what the state department position is and Torres felt that media coverage was unfair. Tough cookies, move on.

If TJ want to be a good neighbor and get really good press- it could step up and help stop the tragedy of teen drunk driving by raising the drinking age in the tourist zone (TJ and Rosarito) to 21.

JESSE - 6-28-2009 at 03:25 PM

Quote:

No, its not typical, and i feel offended by your comment. This has nothing to do with DNA and all to do with culture and history. Let me remind you, that ALL cultures, including your own, lived and acted at one time or another, in very poor ways according to todays standars. Cultures change, just like people change, and just like a bunch of barbarian tribes developed into what we now call Germany, Mexican and all other cultures will develop into something totally new in the future.

Back to the topic. You are also wrong. Most Mexicans know very well that authorities are to blame for this, not any media. Wich makes your comment about typical Mexican thinking wrong again. Has the american media hyped things? Off course it has, but not because of something to do with Mexicans, but because the american media is currently going tru a period of sensationalism, where anything, real or not, important or not, is way overhyped if it means biggers ratings.

JESSE - 6-28-2009 at 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
In his letter, Torres specifically asks the US Gov't to reverse it's travel warnings for this area. If the warnings weren't current or official, Torres woldn't be pressing for it. The Media accurately reported what the state department position is and Torres felt that media coverage was unfair. Tough cookies, move on.

If TJ want to be a good neighbor and get really good press- it could step up and help stop the tragedy of teen drunk driving by raising the drinking age in the tourist zone (TJ and Rosarito) to 21.

Torres is trying to protect his investments, but he is also wrong. The area still needs a lot of cleanup, and he has to understand that it took years to get into this, and it will take way more than the elimination of a travel warning to get things back on track.

The Gull - 6-28-2009 at 03:33 PM

Jesse has said it very clearly and I agree with him.

Whoosh, your idea on raising the drinking age is a super idea for a gesture of being a good neighbor. While I don't think it will increase the tourism in the area and it won't find any favorable enforcement, why don't you go meet with Hugo and see if you can convince him to take that stance with other politicians? You may not like the fact that Hugo is your mayor, but he is in fact in the position of most influence. Or you could stay hiding in your home, silent and happy that you have plenty to crab about.

I don't disagree with your comments but...

Dave - 6-28-2009 at 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JESSE
Back to the topic. You are also wrong. Most Mexicans know very well that authorities are to blame for this, not any media.

Aren't the authorities also Mexican? And aren't they either hired or elected by other Mexicans?

JESSE - 6-28-2009 at 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave

Quote:

Originally posted by JESSE
Back to the topic. You are also wrong. Most Mexicans know very well that authorities are to blame for this, not any media.

Aren't the authorities also Mexican? And aren't they either hired or elected by other Mexicans?

True, but honestly, most Mexicans are still figuring out how this new democracy thing works. Its been only 8 years since we have free elections and my opinion is that most of us don´t understand how to work the process.

Now that we have free elections, we need to figure out a way to develop means to prevent the Hank Rhons of Mexico, to even come close to be able to consider running for office.

I think Mexicans are ready for better goverment, but the political parties are holding everybody back. Usually you punish them with your vote, but here, all parties are bad and full of bad politicians, so your vote regardless of the choice, will go to a bad party. This is a remmant of the past that needs to be adressed and changed.

I personally don´t think Mexicans politicians reflect the current situation and views of the Mexican people.

toneart - 6-28-2009 at 06:36 PM

I think Mexicans are ready for better goverment, but the political parties are holding everybody back. Usually you punish them with your vote, but here, all parties are bad and full of bad politicians, so your vote regardless of the choice, will go to a bad party. This is a remmant of the past that needs to be adressed and changed.

Jesse,

This is not unique to Mexico. We have the same problem in The United States. We are certainly hungry for better government, both federal and state (California). Our lobbyist system ensures that the politicians are bought and paid for by special interests. And the polarized ideologies create stalemates, and nothing gets done.
I write letters and vote but I sure don't feel represented.

Woooosh - 6-28-2009 at 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Gull
Jesse has said it very clearly and I agree with him.

Whoosh, your idea on raising the drinking age is a super idea for a gesture of being a good neighbor. While I don't think it will increase the tourism in the area and it won't find any favorable enforcement, why don't you go meet with Hugo and see if you can convince him to take that stance with other politicians? You may not like the fact that Hugo is your mayor, but he is in fact in the position of most influence. Or you could stay hiding in your home, silent and happy that you have plenty to crab about.

Thanks Jesse. I'll take the second option. I'm already on his list of registerd expats- I wouldn't want him to put a face with the name

In Mexico your title gives you status and position- in the USA your actions while you hold the title do.

DENNIS - 6-28-2009 at 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JESSE
Has the american media hyped things? Off course it has

Ok....I'm not trying to argue with Jesse but, show me just one instance where the US media has overblown a report. Where and when did the press over-react?
Everybody screams "Media Over-reaction" but, show me just one case. Please.

Terry28 - 6-28-2009 at 07:37 PM

YK2000

DENNIS - 6-28-2009 at 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Terry28
YK2000

Baja?

Terry28 - 6-28-2009 at 07:45 PM

no, but that was all I could think of....Maybe I'll stop drinking now.....maybe not..

DENNIS - 6-28-2009 at 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Terry28
no, but that was all I could think of....Maybe I'll stop drinking now.....maybe not..

Don't be a quitter.

[Edited on 6-29-2009 by DENNIS]

JESSE - 6-28-2009 at 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by JESSE
Has the american media hyped things? Off course it has

Just last May, the Swine flu thing. We had 0 cases, but they made it look like all of Mexico was contaminated. Days and weeks of bad press. Or look at many political races in the US, destroyed by stories that where later known to be untrue.

The Gull - 6-28-2009 at 10:29 PM

Jesse has responded and shut down the detractor - the Mennis.

Cruise lines canceled trips to Ensenada and went to San Diego instead, where there were actually more cases of swine flu.

Do you have a wise-ass remark now, Mennis?

arrowhead - 6-28-2009 at 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Gull
While I don't think it will increase the tourism in the area and it won't find any favorable enforcement, why don't you go meet with Hugo and see if you can convince him to take that stance with other politicians?

Speaking of the good Senor Torres Chabert, he is catching some heat from his carnales. Rosarito has a city occupany tax that the hotels pay into. The funds are supposed to be used to market Rosarito as a tourist destination. It seems that Hugo has been taking junkets to Las Vegas with the money. There has been no accounting for the money and the other hotel owners think they have been ripped off.

Woooosh - 6-29-2009 at 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JESSE

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by JESSE
Has the american media hyped things? Off course it has

hindsight is 20/20. If Mexico hadn't claimed the swine flu as their own and built a bronze statue in it's honor- the media might have gone easier. No cases in Baja? There are over a million swine flu cases now- baja didnt escape- it just refused to acknowledge it was here.

As one comedian says... You can't fix stupid. The media loves stupid. Did you miss the protests in the area of the flu origin by residents unhappy with the lack of information and response? I saw and heard that and the media certainly picked up on it. When everyone is scared and in a panic- the media fills in the blanks, for right or wrong. Mexico waited too long.

You can go back now, after the facts and events are clearer and reconstruct the flu event and even make Mexico look better in hindsight- but at the time of the event there was clearly panic in that area and why wouldn't the media feed on that? If Mexico had found flu origin sooner- it would have been worse actually because sealing it off from the world would have worked to contain it. But they waited too long, it got out of the area and containment wasn't an option. It doesn't mean Mexico wasn't initially to blame- it just meant it was too late to contain it at that point.

Do you have a better example?

[Edited on 6-29-2009 by Woooosh]

Has this been reported in the San Diego Onion?

k-rico - 6-29-2009 at 07:41 AM

"Ronald Kramer said that publicity about Mexico’s war against drug cartels had falsely created the impression in the United States that the area is unsafe for visitors.

Kramer is Consul General of the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana, which serves all of Baja California."

http://www.mexidata.info/id2303.html

My theory is that only bad news is reported because it makes people feel good to know that others are in more dire straits than themselves. Therefore more newspapers are sold. People take pleasurre in some strange way seeing others suffer.

Some guy wakes up in San Diego worried about his job, stressing over his $3000 a month mortgage payment, just feeling bad, reads about murders in Baja, and feels better.

[Edited on 6-29-2009 by k-rico]

Woooosh - 6-29-2009 at 07:53 AM

The other side of this discussion is the overly positive spin Mexico puts on everything. It's not credible either. When people see them blow smoke all the time, they figure the truth is somewhere in the middle.

For example- the above article on Kramer was released by.... drum roll... the office of Mayor Torres of Rosarito Beach, not the US consulate at all. "Press release, Office of the Mayor, Playas de Rosarito (Rosarito Beach), Baja California, June 9, 2009"

Kramer and the Consulate have not published the statement Torres published. In fact, the last "News" entry on the consulate site mentions the closing of all schools in Mexico and the limiting of services at the consulate for precautionary measures.

"latest consulate news

Consulate Takes Precautionary Measures Related to Influenza Outbreak

Tijuana, B. C., April 27, 2009. On April 27, the Government of Mexico announced that as a precautionary measure, all schools in Mexico from kindergarten through university level will remain closed until May 6.

In accordance with measures announced by the Government of Mexico to limit the congregation of large crowds, the U.S. Consulate General in Tijuana has decided to suspend processing of non-immigrant visa appointments scheduled Tuesday, April 28 through Tuesday, May 5.

In addition, our services to American citizens will be limited to citizenship requests (passports and consular reports of birth abroad, or CRBA) and emergency assistance only. Notarial and other routine services will not be available; those holding passport or CRBA appointments are encouraged to reschedule for a later date.

These are precautionary measures only, taken to best assure the well-being of our clients and staff. "

[Edited on 6-29-2009 by Woooosh]

[Edited on 6-29-2009 by Woooosh]

Living In Rosarito!!!

jerryjust - 6-29-2009 at 01:48 PM

I have lived in Rosarito since 1995, and can remember leaving my home and not locking the door, now you have Alarms,Iron gates, Clubs on your steering wheel of your car,will not walk the dog alone, drugs are not the problem now it is kidnaping, a 16 yr old student from a private school was taken and held 3 weeks,a guard was shot and killed and nothing appeared in any news or radio,paper. I will soon move my family further south, maybe Mulege,when they improve there schools.

Jerryjust

JESSE - 6-29-2009 at 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh

Quote:

Originally posted by JESSE

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by JESSE
Has the american media hyped things? Off course it has

Mexico didnt claim the flu as its own. And if you look closely, the statue was built by one stupid governor, a month AFTER the feeding frenzy stopped. During the initial 3 weeks of constant and relentless reporting, baja had 0 cases. San Diego and New York had more than our whole state.

As for your last question, its simple:

MICHAEL JACKSON

Woooosh - 6-29-2009 at 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JESSE

MICHAEL JACKSON

we agree on something.

TBcountry - 6-30-2009 at 09:33 AM

I have been going to Rosarito for the past 4 years and have never had a problem. My wife and I bought in one of the high rise condo buildings south of Rosarito ( Las Olas Grand ) and took possession about 14-15 months ago. Yes I admit we are one of the lucky ones who's places were finished. We go down every other week or so and love it today as much as ever. Just got back last night I am asked constantly why we go and told we better be careful with all the violence there when they have never been there themselves. My response is...Of course we are careful, I don't go to Watts at 2am so what makes you think I'll go to Tijuana in middle of night? In my opinion the media HAS cause alot of the problems. The economy sure has caused alot of it too. But if people weren't so scared off by news reports maybe they could have a nice CHEAPER vacation on the beach in the Rosarito area. Where on the California coast line can you get a nice 2-3 bdrm condo for 1-2 hundred dollars a night??? NO WHERE
Its sad to go there and see so many restaurants nearly empty, so many shops closed up and just not alot of tourists around. I am one guy who hopes and prays this all turns around because I plan on going there for many many more years.
Tom

Woooosh - 6-30-2009 at 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TBcountry if people weren't so scared off by news reports maybe they could have a nice CHEAPER vacation on the beach in the Rosarito area. Where on the California coast line can you get a nice 2-3 bdrm condo for 1-2 hundred dollars a night??? NO WHERE
Tom

Try VRBO.com, homeaway.com and any other website by owners. where you can find condo deals much better than that in CA and FL, and the carribean. Mexico does everything is can to complain about tourist numbers being down- but hasn't made baja a financial bargain comparatively. They offer ways to cross the border faster, but not cheaper with deep discounts. That goes for sales as well as rentals. Torres complains there are 3500 unsold condos- but at what inflated price?

Exactly

Dave - 6-30-2009 at 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TBcountry
I don't go to Watts at 2am so what makes you think I'll go to Tijuana in middle of night?

It makes you wonder why, unlike Tijuana, the people of Watts aren't complaining. :rolleyes:

k-rico - 6-30-2009 at 10:01 AM

"Baja's proximity — the slim, 800-mile-long finger of land extends south from the California-Mexico border — also attracts Americans who are more fearful about venturing far in the post-Sept. 11 world, say real estate agents including Gustavo Torres, who works in Northern Baja's Rosarito Beach, a one-hour drive south of San Diego.

Torres says his firm, ReMax, sells 10-20 properties a week. "Sales here have quadrupled in the last two years," he says. Prices have risen 15%-20% a year. About one-quarter of the 55,000 residents in Rosarito today are Americans. He predicts the next hot area will be Ensenada, an hour's drive south down the coast. Loreto, about halfway down the peninsula, he adds, "is what the future is all about."

just a few short years ago

"When there's blood in the streets, buy real estate."

It will come back.

Woooosh - 7-1-2009 at 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by k-rico

"When there's blood in the streets, buy real estate."

It will come back.

Thanks for the blast from the economic past. If will come back- but it will come back for owner/occupants first- for specualtors and investors much later- maybe not for 10 years.

IMHO- the people who have money to risk in any real estate enterprise today are feeding on US forclosures right now, and will be for a few more years. It will take much longer to trickle down to baja. It's safer to speculate stateside where you have acccess to economic market data you can't get down here. Baja will still attract people for permanent retirement homes- but I don't think people will be buying two or three as investments as they did during the boom for a long time.

I posted beofre that Rosarito Beach never made itself easy to love. That goes from a real estate perspective too. There was adequate time during the boom to better regulate the real estate industry. Not doing that was a mistake they will long regret.

Mexico Under Siege !!

MrBillM - 7-1-2009 at 01:36 PM

That's the title of the L.A. Times series of Front-Page articles.

The latest one with THAT title was about the Drug-Smuggling problem in BRITISH COLUMBIA.

I thought that was funny.