BajaNomad

Clocks will match on both sides of border

BajaNews - 12-28-2009 at 06:46 AM

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/dec/28/clocks-will-m...

Mexican law ends 1-hour difference

By Sandra Dibble
December 28, 2009

An hour�s difference between Tijuana and San Diego for four weeks out of the year has been confounding cross-border travelers since 2007. But that will no longer be the case, thanks to a law passed by Mexico�s Congress this month.

Communities along the U.S.-Mexico border will now be synchronized throughout the year under the measure sponsored by Gast�n Luken Garza, a freshman member of Mexico�s Chamber of Deputies from Tijuana.

�It makes sense for the community and anyone that goes across the border in any direction,� said Luken, a political independent elected this year to represent President Felipe Calder�n�s National Action Party. �It makes life easier for people who work, study, visit on any side of the border.�

The cross-border time difference dates to March 2007, when the United States and Canada switched to a new daylight-saving schedule as an energy conservation measure. Mexico did not, remaining on the traditional schedule and switching to daylight-saving time three weeks later.

The time difference replayed that November, when Mexico returned to standard time a week before the United States and Canada. In 2008 and again this year, Tijuana and San Diego remained an hour apart for four weeks of the year, wreaking havoc on many cross-border schedules.

�The fact that it�s now uniform helps us a lot,� said Javier Mart�nez Luna, president of the Tijuana Maquiladora Association. �We�re one community along the border; the commercial relationship is very strong.�

At St. John�s Episcopal School in Chula Vista, where more than 40 percent of the student body is from Tijuana, �it can�t help but help us,� said John Goddard, the head of the school. Students from Tijuana had to get up an hour earlier each spring in order to get to school on time.

In Mexico City, there was little controversy about making the change, which will only affect border communities. The measure passed Mexico�s Chamber of Deputies on Dec. 10 with support from all political parties; only two members, from the leftist Workers Party, opposed it. On Dec. 15, support in the Senate was unanimous.

Luken said the change will mean energy savings for Mexico. And the thousands who cross the border each day �will share the same time, no matter what month of the year we are.�

Woooosh - 12-28-2009 at 10:23 AM

"will only affect border communities" because one hour earlier or one hour later doesn't really matter to businesses within Mexico? What's an hour when you live in the land of manana...

:?:

[Edited on 12-28-2009 by Woooosh]

Bajahowodd - 12-28-2009 at 12:10 PM

Where will the line be drawn? Would Ensenada be an hour different than Tijuana?

DENNIS - 12-28-2009 at 12:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Where will the line be drawn? Would Ensenada be an hour different than Tijuana?


In Ensenada, one gets to choose whichever is most convenient at the time. At any given moment, one can be on time, early or late. Add this to "Ma�ana" and one has full control over his destiny. Mexico at it's finest.

Cluing in the Clueless

MrBillM - 12-28-2009 at 12:34 PM

The fact that so many people get so confused by time zones is a root indicator of how Clueless the masses are.

It's no wonder we're in the shape we are.

[Edited on 12-29-2009 by MrBillM]

Woooosh - 12-28-2009 at 12:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Where will the line be drawn? Would Ensenada be an hour different than Tijuana?


In Ensenada, one gets to choose whichever is most convenient at the time. At any given moment, one can be on time, early or late. Add this to "Ma�ana" and one has full control over his destiny. Mexico at it's finest.


I just call it "retirement" time... The exact time usually doesn't matter and you know it's Sunday only because the "big paper" is on your doorstep... Viva Mexico!

(and Yes, the Union Tribune willl deliver the Sunday paper to your door so the birdcages can be lined).

Bajahowodd - 12-28-2009 at 01:09 PM

Just seems to me that it would make more sense to cover the entire state. Oh. But this is Mexico.

Woooosh - 12-28-2009 at 01:24 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Just seems to me that it would make more sense to cover the entire state. Oh. But this is Mexico.


yup- the solution is worse than the problem...