BajaNomad

Economy in Cabo

Heather - 9-8-2010 at 09:28 AM

Talked to my step-son in Cabo San Lucas last night. He works at the new futbol stadium in Los Cangrejos (watchman/maintenance, etc.), so is an employee of the Municipalidad (the City). Well, he wasn't paid last month, and it looks like they aren't going to get paid this quincena (2 week payday) either. He's heard that the city is out of $$, people aren't paying their taxes, etc., so city has no money to pay their employees!

Tough times down south!

...is there an election coming up...sure that plays in too!

Osprey - 9-8-2010 at 10:08 AM

Heather, Los Cabos has a room tax that puts a staggering amount of cash in the coffers. We get part of that here in La Ribera but we are upside down by almost a mil dollars, so is Santiago, all the little towns around here. Hate to think it, hate to say it, but a lot of the tax income just disappeared. Down here, it is a sin to let money just sit in the bank when it comes to government business. Diane in BA says she and others are giving what they can to help out of work village employees there. I'm thinking that might be a good idea for gringos and others who can help to find a way to get food to those many, many fine Mexican families who don't deserve to just be cast aside now that times are tough.

gnukid - 9-8-2010 at 10:55 AM

Perhaps it's time to be a bit more realistic and less naive about the state of the economy in Cabo, La Paz and BCS. While this forum is hardly the place to become educated about the series of events which brought these dire times, it isn't hard to do research to understand exactly who and what caused these events. I suppose becoming informed and having an opinion is the responsibility of each individual, however, to suggest that visiting retirees will somehow assist to overcome the endemic hardship with gifts of groceries is like standing in front a breaking dam and hoping to help. You will drown in your own good intentions.

In any society, it is up to the people individually and at times en mass to resolve their concerns, those who support the problems and allow for a continuum are not helping, like giving money to a heroin addict, gifting is not a terrific solution, though certainly we can nudge along this problem, kicking the can down the road if that is a goal, I would disagree.

Unless, you are Soros the billionaire captain of the Open Society fund which manipulates societal change, retirees will simply be eaten up in the process of gifting to an economic black hole.

Instead, perhaps, an effective direction could be self-education about the specific events that cause economic failure, become familiar with the political skyline, know who was in power last, what events occurred, what is the budget, where is the money? Draw a map naming the names and chronological events, remedies exist for these failures of checks of balances. Teaching and sharing the values of criticism, self-sufficiency, conservation, re-use and recycling and investing in one-self and participation in society are tools toward solving this crisis which must get worse before it gets better.

While, good samaritans may be offended by the suggestion, sometimes one must leave people to truly hit rock bottom to solve their own problems before they become honest with themselves.

In light of this, it seems critical thinking is a key skill to learn and share, economic information, farming skills, sharing non-hybrid seeds, composting, recipes and natural drinks of herbs and tea, water filtration these are the tools needed now and forever to build back this broken society, destroyed by corruption, theft, and a lack of back bone by the people en masse wholy supported by a transient economic gringo engine that fuels this limping and sick beast.



Here's articles that mention a few issues

http://colectivopericu.wordpress.com/2010/09/07/entre-llanto...

http://peninsulardigital.com/?p=21813

http://peninsulardigital.com/?p=21875



[Edited on 9-8-2010 by gnukid]

BajaBlanca - 9-8-2010 at 11:02 AM

wow ... I shall have to investigate and see how things are being handled here. is this a direct sign of the times and the economy or do we really have cause to believe .. well .... that coffers are being dipped into ?????

mtgoat666 - 9-8-2010 at 11:04 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by gnukid
Perhaps it's time to be a bit more realistic and less naive about the state of the economy in Cabo, La Paz and BCS. While this forum is hardly the place to become educated about the series of events which brought these dire times, it isn't hard to do research to understand exactly who and what caused these events. I suppose becoming informed and having an opinion is the responsibility of each individual, however, to suggest that visiting retirees will somehow assist to overcome the endemic hardship with gifts of groceries is like standing in front a breaking dam and hoping to help. You will drown in your own good intentions.

In any society, it is up to the people individually and at times en mass to resolve their concerns, those who support the problems and allow for a continuum are not helping, like giving money to a heroin addict, gifting is not a terrific solution, though certainly we can nudge along this problem, kicking the can down the road if that is a goal, I would disagree.

Unless, you are Soros the billionaire captain of the Open Society fund which manipulates societal change, retirees will simply be eaten up in the process of gifting to an economic black hole.

Instead, perhaps, an effective direction could be self-education about the specific events that cause economic failure, become familiar with the political skyline, know who was in power last, what events occurred, what is the budget, where is the money? Draw a map naming the names and chronological events, remedies exist for these failures of checks of balances. Teaching and sharing the values of criticism, self-sufficiency, conservation, re-use and recycling and investing in one-self and participation in society are tools toward solving this crisis which must get worse before it gets better.

While, good samaritans may be offended by the suggestion, sometimes one must leave people to truly hit rock bottom to solve their own problems before they become honest with themselves.

In light of this, it seems critical thinking is a key skill to learn and share, economic information, farming skills, sharing non-hybrid seeds, composting, recipes and natural drinks of herbs and tea, water filtration these are the tools needed now and forever to build back this broken society, destroyed by corruption, theft, and a lack of back bone by the people en masse wholy supported by a transient economic gringo engine that fuels this limping and sick beast.


newkid,
we already know that it was George Bush's fault! :!:
you really are a weird variant of the birther teabag! :lol:

still, i think you are pretty whacky blaming ALL the worlds ills on people like george soros and other uber capitalist market puppet masters. :P

mtgoat666 - 9-8-2010 at 11:08 AM

new kiddo:
i do like your connection of these threads of ideas :bounce:
Quote:
Originally posted by gnukid
sometimes one must leave people to truly hit rock bottom to solve their own problems before they become honest with themselves.

In light of this, it seems critical thinking is a key skill to learn and share, economic information, farming skills, sharing non-hybrid seeds, composting, recipes and natural drinks of herbs and tea, water filtration these are the tools needed now and forever to build back this broken society, destroyed by corruption, theft, and a lack of back bone by the people en masse wholy supported by a transient economic gringo engine that fuels this limping and sick beast.


got any good tea recipes to fight the beast?

[Edited on 9-8-2010 by mtgoat666]

Osprey - 9-8-2010 at 11:32 AM

Not many Mexicans on this board so any advice about some kind of informed uprising is a little silly.

Kid, can't you see that some of us could help these little villages/villagers without being discouraged by your snobbish worldview about what the little people endure, deserve, are stuck with?

There was a time when you wanted to go door to door in La Paz to be your own kind of do - gooder for God only knows what causes you had in mind. What soured you so? What sobering end all hypothesis of yours now tells us to forget how we feel because, no matter what, it won't help anybody and you're the only one who knows that?

gnukid - 9-8-2010 at 11:35 AM

If you can think straight, you can solve your problems. Drink lots of fresh water and tea with natural honey and cinnamon.

In the morning start a tea with a few fresh items, whether you drink it or not, the smell fills the house with steam and aroma, after a cup of warm tea you can put the rest in the fridge for later in the afternoon over ice.


tamarindo or jamaica tea


http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/Recipes/Aguas-Frescas-653/Agua-...

http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/Recipes/Aguas-Frescas-653/Agua-...

Blanca consider that one can be naive and still be a critical thinker, inquisitive, make a chart of known issues, people, use a translator to help.

Goat, we don't need to attack each other or anyone else using ad hominem attacks in order to solve our own problems when we know the facts of the circumstances.

Use a search tool translator like this
http://www.google.com/language_tools?hl=en

gnukid - 9-8-2010 at 11:45 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Osprey


There was a time when you wanted to go door to door in La Paz to be your own kind of do - gooder for God only knows what causes you had in mind. What soured you so? What sobering end all hypothesis of yours now tells us to forget how we feel because, no matter what, it won't help anybody and you're the only one who knows that?


I'll be completely honest here, my neighborhood throughout Baja has strong bonds but weak back bone, we are working together daily, that's what I am doing here as this is my community, I believe a critical point is the naivete and ignorance of the gringo retiree-this is critical weak point, we do meet directly with the Cota Montanos and De la Rosas etc... both for fun and for discussion, we are all neighbors together rich, poor, and we try to have real conversations but you can see that the discussion must be far more critical, specific and there must be facts with checks and balances.

The facts are very clear about what happened long and short term. Do some research and come up with your own opinion and solutions, do not look to anyone but yourself to resolve it.



[Edited on 9-8-2010 by gnukid]

Bob and Susan - 9-8-2010 at 01:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by fishabductor
The best way to help out the locals in my opinion is to go fishing, keep the catch (including the jacks and skipjacks) and when you return give the fish to the locals, the fish WILL be used and enjoyed. You will make good friends, you will be part of the community. What many here view as a trash fish is a fine dinner for families in need.


"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.
Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

it's all about taxation
once mexico learns how to triple tax
like the states they will be ok

oxxo - 9-8-2010 at 01:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaBlanca
or do we really have cause to believe .. well .... that coffers are being dipped into ?????


I just had a chat with a Mexican friend of mine whose sister is running for mayor of Los Cabos on the PAN ticket. He claims that the current mayor and governor of BSC (both PRD) have drained the coffers. He said the treasury funds have just disappeared. I have no way of knowing if that is true but, yes, governement employees haven't been paid for almost 4 weeks now. The excuse is, there is no money left.

It will be interesting to see how the elections go next February.

Santiago - 9-8-2010 at 01:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by soulpatch
It must be extraordinarily difficult to effect change in a country that disallows non-citizens the right to participate politically.
In that case acting locally and effecting what you can may be the only course you can take.
The ripple effect can, at times, be significant.

Good point right there. Even more difficult if you have to do it while drinking tea.

sanquintinsince73 - 9-8-2010 at 01:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by gnukid
Perhaps it's time to be a bit more realistic and less naive about the state of the economy in Cabo, La Paz and BCS. While this forum is hardly the place to become educated about the series of events which brought these dire times, it isn't hard to do research to understand exactly who and what caused these events. I suppose becoming informed and having an opinion is the responsibility of each individual, however, to suggest that visiting retirees will somehow assist to overcome the endemic hardship with gifts of groceries is like standing in front a breaking dam and hoping to help. You will drown in your own good intentions.

In any society, it is up to the people individually and at times en mass to resolve their concerns, those who support the problems and allow for a continuum are not helping, like giving money to a heroin addict, gifting is not a terrific solution, though certainly we can nudge along this problem, kicking the can down the road if that is a goal, I would disagree.

Unless, you are Soros the billionaire captain of the Open Society fund which manipulates societal change, retirees will simply be eaten up in the process of gifting to an economic black hole.

Instead, perhaps, an effective direction could be self-education about the specific events that cause economic failure, become familiar with the political skyline, know who was in power last, what events occurred, what is the budget, where is the money? Draw a map naming the names and chronological events, remedies exist for these failures of checks of balances. Teaching and sharing the values of criticism, self-sufficiency, conservation, re-use and recycling and investing in one-self and participation in society are tools toward solving this crisis which must get worse before it gets better.

While, good samaritans may be offended by the suggestion, sometimes one must leave people to truly hit rock bottom to solve their own problems before they become honest with themselves.

In light of this, it seems critical thinking is a key skill to learn and share, economic information, farming skills, sharing non-hybrid seeds, composting, recipes and natural drinks of herbs and tea, water filtration these are the tools needed now and forever to build back this broken society, destroyed by corruption, theft, and a lack of back bone by the people en masse wholy supported by a transient economic gringo engine that fuels this limping and sick beast.



Here's articles that mention a few issues

http://colectivopericu.wordpress.com/2010/09/07/entre-llanto...

http://peninsulardigital.com/?p=21813

http://peninsulardigital.com/?p=21875



[Edited on 9-8-2010 by gnukid]

gnukid, you are naive. Not one politician of funcionario that I know are poor. They all dip into the coffers to enrich themselves. You want to know why bridges and roads have such a short lifespan in Mexico? When monies are allotted for new construction projects, money is always skimmed off of the top and lesser grade building materials are purchased. There is a saying in Mexico that goes "Polito pobre, pobre politico pendejo". Translate that. I applaud you nomads that care enough to help out your "hosts".

shari - 9-8-2010 at 01:58 PM

I think this forum is a fine place to become more educated about the economics of baja. When I moved here, I had alot to learn and only after a couple decades am I finally beginning to get it. To understand issues, one needs to look at the historical implications and how things were done in the last generation...to get an idea why things are how they are today....gain insight into why they do what they do.

Juan explained to me that not so long ago...within the last 10-20 years, things were done quite differently. The fishing cooperatives provided all a families needs like power, water, food, beer, ice and all you had to do was work every day and everything was looked after. Very little money was exchanged and everything was done on credit and discounted from your wage so it was basically cashless society...or nearly so.

So nobody was taught how to budget, or manage money...ya just went to the store and bought one diaper, a cigarette, a beer...whatever....and signed for it not realizing the price of things or how much more things cost if you bought them one at a time. Few people had food stashed in cupboards...they just go to the store and get what you needed that day and hardly anyone had a bank account.

Fast forward to the last few years...progress has brought a water line with water bills to pay, CFE now charges for power, phones, gas, internet and the dreaded cell phones all issue bills that have to be paid!!! Now with the highway, people all want cars too. People still sign the book for food and beer but they are finding that their wage which doesnt increase to reflect the rise in cost of living...will not cover all their stuff......soooo...at phone or power cut off date, people are trying to sell their stuff to pay their bills....sad but very true.

but the neat thing is the stuff gets bought and passed around or resold or traded for something else and someone will somehow give that person what they had to sell....for them to turn around and sell it again...it's a vicious circle. I found it really interesting how people spent sooo much money buying single items and ipulse buying...( being canadian, I was taught to be "frugal"...buy in bulk to save money etc...stay within a budget.)

Yes, the municipalities are suffering...less money coming from government....no money to operate the town services like police, garbage pick up, watering and street cleaners, secretaries etc....so the municiple office has been ordered to start collecting property taxes...well imagine having to pay a property tax...hey...if ya want garbage pick up...somebody has to pay for it!!! It's a hard concept but people are just going to have to see that changes need to be made for villages to be more self sufficient.

Not long ago, a local person could just go and put their name on a lot for a few hundred pesos and not pay any taxes or even pay off their lot. When lot sales started to increase...the catastro found that there were lots of delinquent lot payments out there not owned....but "reserved" by folks who had in many cases several lots here and there they hadnt paid for...so people were notified they would have to begin to pay their taxes and begin to make small payments to pay off their lots if they wanted to keep them. While the village is attempting to collect errant lot taxes, I never heard of anyone who had a home on a lot be forced to sell it or have it taken away from them....just those who owned several vacant lots are being asked to start paying for them little by little which I feel is entirely fair.

Desperate times call for desperate measures and things are changing, more cash is needed so locals are gonna have to get smarter and learn better budgeting. the entire world is changing, progressing, evolving and we all must adapt and learn how to cope...ourselves.

gnukid - 9-8-2010 at 02:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by sanquintinsince73

gnukid, you are naive. Not one politician of funcionario that I know are poor. They all dip into the coffers to enrich themselves. You want to know why bridges and roads have such a short lifespan in Mexico? When monies are allotted for new construction projects, money is always skimmed off of the top and lesser grade building materials are purchased. There is a saying in Mexico that goes "Polito pobre, pobre politico pendejo". Translate that. I applaud you nomads that care enough to help out your "hosts".


Excellent comments by Santiago and Shari, and to Sanquintinsince, when I said "rich, poor," I meant the rich meet the poor. I am in no way naive about who has the money.

Sanquintinsince why not speak to the issue more specifically? I guess no one is willing to, which is really the stumbling block, if we aren't talking clearly about accounting and holding the politicians responsible directly we are always going to be in cycle of blaming ourselves and each other, the victims.

Santiago - 9-8-2010 at 02:18 PM

Thanks Shari - that was enlightening and explains much of what I see but didn't understand. One thing I did't understand - doesn't the municipality (Santa Rosalita, I think, in your case) collect the property taxes and then return some of that to the township? When you said "municipal office" did you mean BA or SR?
Thanks

MitchMan - 9-8-2010 at 02:35 PM

I think that new kid is certainly on the right track.

National and world economics are very difficult to predict because of so many variables. Not even economists can agree.

Looking at the big picture, wouldn't it be nice of if the world could consist of a democratically based economic, financial, political and legal system that provides both capitalistic incentive for invention and efficiency while at the same time providing a true equity in distribution of wealth. I wonder if there were such a system in place, would there be the same amount of world poverty and disparity between the poor and the rich that exists today in every country?

Maybe such a system requires a more educated electorate with a good work ethic, sense of honesty and fair play, and a responsible informed and vigilant voting behavior than the majority of people are capable of. Maybe such people exist now, but there just aren't enough of them to rule the day.

I suppose if the utopia I described is forever unrealizable and unrealistic and humanly impossible, then what the world would have is what we have now in most all countries of the world, i.e., 1)vast disparity between rich and poor 2) great capacity or access to technology and resources 3)wildly disparate distribution of wealth.

Being charitable on an individual basis is fine and good. It does help the direct recipient in the moment - that is generally true - and that is a good thing, generally. It doesn't cure the overall problem - and that is generally true also. It is what it is.

Now, what is the true cure for the disparity between the haves and have nots?

[Edited on 9-8-2010 by MitchMan]

vandenberg - 9-8-2010 at 02:42 PM

Living within your means.:no::no:

What a concept.:biggrin::biggrin:

Who'd have thunk that would ever work.:biggrin:

Osprey - 9-8-2010 at 02:51 PM

Seems like I always get the best jobs. The kid will find a way to keep all the politicians from stealing money -- all I gotta do is put some canned goods in boxes, make sure they go to deserving folks. What a team!

Heather - 9-8-2010 at 03:03 PM

Hard to live within your means when your promised pay check doesn't arrive...

Thanks for the confirmation Oxxo...can't imagine what comes next for the people in Cabo. Step-son says they've been having meetings to explain what is going on, and says that those with seniority are getting paid...but he's been at his position only a few months.

I'm sure there is lots of blame to be placed, but I'm more concerned with the future and how the city is going to get out of the mess, and how the people are going to survive!

Shari, my husband grew up with the mentality that you described, and still tries to do his fair share of bartering state-side! Showed up with new tires on his truck the other day...don't know how he managed that! Luckily for him, there are a lot of fellow paisanos in Chula Vista area, so the trading can go on here!

Hard part for me is that now both of my boys in Cabo are enrolled in University, trying to get ahead, but it will be difficult with the current state of the union ...here as well as there...my hubby just got let-go from his job in the states...so the boys are on their own!

sanquintinsince73 - 9-8-2010 at 03:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by gnukid
Quote:
Originally posted by sanquintinsince73

gnukid, you are naive. Not one politician of funcionario that I know are poor. They all dip into the coffers to enrich themselves. You want to know why bridges and roads have such a short lifespan in Mexico? When monies are allotted for new construction projects, money is always skimmed off of the top and lesser grade building materials are purchased. There is a saying in Mexico that goes "Polito pobre, pobre politico pendejo". Translate that. I applaud you nomads that care enough to help out your "hosts".


Excellent comments by Santiago and Shari, and to Sanquintinsince, when I said "rich, poor," I meant the rich meet the poor. I am in no way naive about who has the money.

Sanquintinsince why not speak to the issue more specifically? I guess no one is willing to, which is really the stumbling block, if we aren't talking clearly about accounting and holding the politicians responsible directly we are always going to be in cycle of blaming ourselves and each other, the victims.

Thats just it, politicos are not held responsible. I remember Donaldo Colosio was assassinated in TJ because as part of his campaign he stated he was going to "clean house" with all of the corruption. It is no secret that Carlos Salinas de Gortari had him assassinated. Vicente Fox came in and aligned himself with the poor. Nothing changed except his net worth. Now Calderon is trying to rid the country of narcotraficantes but there is too much money in play. Who knows if he is sincere in his endeavor. This is a culture of corruption that starts at a very young age. Just about everyone is on the take or looking to make a fast buck. From the kid who shines your shoes to the guy serving you your drink at the cantina. We could sit back and analyze this and figure out why, maybe the poverty or maybe because everyone else does it. Didn't mean to offend you on my previous post, gnukid.

gnukid - 9-8-2010 at 03:25 PM

From reading the paper I understand that the looting of the coffers is part of a political game, consistent with the USA, with multiple goals, one is to accuse the prior and interim elected staff of theft while failing to prosecute anyone and leaving the mass stressed and without services, next they will force the sale of public lands which they have already done at fire sale prices, then they will usher in the next party as saviors, who in fact represent the very same interests. As it is, there are hundreds of family members who make up the government, many claiming (false) opposition to their brethren.

It's much like a two party US game, they play off one against the other (yet are related), you have a mostly poorly educated mass, fueled by splinter media types who divide with cutout figures spouting inflammatory characterizations, blaming the current party to usher in the (false) opposition while in fact the puppeteer corporate money changers (e.g. Goldman Sachs) remain the same.

To rise above the emotional level, one must take time to read and research at a deeper level while remaining clam and critical of shallow black and white representations.

Certainly, to end this debacle, the people must have some educated consensus regarding their goals, their beliefs and their methods. People get the government they demand.



[Edited on 9-9-2010 by gnukid]

shari - 9-8-2010 at 03:27 PM

things are tough all over baja sur...each municipality is suffering the same fate...when I talk about our municipal office I mean Asuncion...if someone buys a lot here...some of the money stays here to help pay the bills.

some great dialogue here...you hit the nail on the head gnukid about people not willing to speak to the issue...hard to change until a paradigm shift occurs and politicians and other officials are held accountable....cutural corruuption as mentioned starts with the very young and becomes the norm so is very hard to alter but not impossible...change occurs little by little ...one person at a time...starting with you...then your family, neighbours etc...chain effect....

I try to lightly address topics like these with our family & friends when and where it is appropriate to try to raise awareness to how other parts of the world function.

we often find ourselves helping out those struggling but are usually paid back in kind....everybody gets fish!!!!

windgrrl - 9-8-2010 at 03:36 PM

Aren't the big mining projects (Vistagold, Boleo Project) contributing to the tax base?

Boleo Project:
http://www.bajamining.com/

mcfez - 9-8-2010 at 07:08 PM

Smart thinking fishabductor. Very smart.

San Felipe has been hit very hard. Was there in May and it was a ghost town. More vacancies downtown that I have ever seen. And lots of folks looking for work.

Same in Sacramento BTW. It's scary to see whats happening out there. It's getting worst it seems. We are getting many phones calls per day from guys looking for work....many!
Quote:
Originally posted by
The best way to help out the locals in my opinion is to go fishing, keep the catch (including the jacks and skipjacks) and when you return give the fish to the locals, the fish WILL be used and enjoyed. You will make good friends, you will be part of the community. What many here view as a trash fish is a fine dinner for families in need.




[Edited on 9-9-2010 by mcfez]

C205Driver - 9-8-2010 at 09:14 PM

. . .Thank you Sharri & Nudekid for being at the head of the class with insight & intelligence (w/o being offensive & negative as are many of the "regulars" . . . GREAT viewpoints!!!

monoloco - 9-9-2010 at 06:57 AM

It is standard operating procedure for the politicos to drain whatever is left in the coffers on their way out the door. The incoming ones do nothing about it because they don't want to jeopardize their opportunity to do the same on their way out. The problem in Mexico as in the US is that most of the people in politics are not there because of their desire to help people or do their civic duty, but to feed their immense egos and enrich themselves and their patrons.

Osprey - 9-9-2010 at 07:26 AM

Sometimes it can be embarrassing -- One year our outgoing Gov took our license plate money ($300,000). In Mexico prisoners don't make plates - Mexico buys em from China. We went almost 3 years with paper plates -- anybody with metal ones got pulled over. Victimless crime? your call.

El Jefe - 9-9-2010 at 01:08 PM

Getting educated seems to be a theme in some of these posts. Here's what this retired couple does. We volunteer with LIGAMAC, a charitable organization that provides school supplies and uniforms assistance to worthy students in the San Jose del Cabo area. Many kids are forced to drop out of school when their parents can't afford the cost of keeping them enrolled, especially the older siblings in middle school or high school. That's were we step in with "vales" for uniforms and free backpacks loaded with supplies. We sponsor about 450 kids each year. Over 50 are now in university. So maybe these educated kids will start asking the right questions one of these days. I hope so. And I feel good for being there to help.

El Jefe - 9-9-2010 at 02:15 PM

Check us out on ligamac.com

That's me in the photos somewhere as Santa. Education is our main program, but we also help out members of the community with specialized medical emergencies and there is a food program that helps families with children for a limited period of time until they can get back on their feet.

Each year in March we throw a Jazz Festival which is our main source of revenue. With low overhead, the vast majority of funds go directly to those in need. And yes, I am proud to be associated with these fine, caring, generous people.

Juanita - 9-9-2010 at 03:55 PM

This thoughtful discussion prompted me to ask my housekeeper about the situation. For about two months some of the pueblo employees have gone unpaid. She told me that those employees who belong to the union (los sindicatos) are being paid. They go on strike if not paid. About half the employees are not in the union and their salaries are smaller. My estimate is that it would take about $4,000 dollars altogether to pay them one 15-day period (quincena).

The current elected officials go out in March 2011. She said the officials in office before, although they were of the same party (PRD), managed to meet the payrolls.

One factor contributing to dwindling tax revenue is a reaction to new taxes which were imposed late in 2009. I had been paying a 11% value added tax and a 3% hospitality tax on gross income (room rents). Two new taxes were imposed, taking 16.5% more off the gross. They were structured so that if you declared less gross than the prior year the tax was levied on your prior gross. The total tax thus reached an unrealistic level, while simultaneously expenses were rising and income falling. I think this may have injured the willingness to declare income and pay taxes which was slowly developing in Mexico and on which any tax system depends. With that extra tax income the government was able to stagger through last year, but now has hit the wall.

JESSE - 9-9-2010 at 04:32 PM

My only comment is, this is by far, the worst state and municipal goverment i have EVER seen in my entire life.

Bajahowodd - 9-9-2010 at 04:41 PM

Geez, Jesse, where have you been? I actually thought that this topic would be right in your wheelhouse.

San Felipe is...

mcfez - 9-9-2010 at 05:20 PM

Aside from the politics and all...
Things in SF are looking very bad. Part of a email I got today from the wify ..

"Those girls love it here. We hang out
at the beach every day and go to town, where we are the only tourists at
the moment. Yesterday the girls bought some T-shirts and the woman in the
store kissed the money and crossed herself. There is no business here.
It's dead, but the stores and restaurants are open. The new fancy Internet
cafe is the only busy place in town --

Wow :-(

gnukid - 9-9-2010 at 06:36 PM

The Mexican constitution basically states, that anyone can speak freely, foreigners may do so when they do so in a way which benefits the community, state and country, but when you say something that could be proven to be harmful to the state then one could be requested to sit in an interview and be questioned. In most cases nothing would happen, and there are very few cases where it was claimed that a foreigner who was in the country on a valid passport should leave.

That said, people in Mexico or anywhere seem very unwilling to speak to issues which concern the community. Notice how few speak against the wars, torture, rendition, nor the members of this board will speak directly to the issues affecting communities nor anyone else for that matter.

I asked a few people today about that, they said they are scared to be involved, so I would conclude fear is the primary obstacle.

I guess it is true that both countries have histories of reporters and others being murdered for speaking out critically about issues, such as Lincoln, MLK, JFK, Colosio, ad inifinitum.

bajabass - 9-9-2010 at 07:35 PM

It happens everywhere, look at Arnie and California. Budget, what budget? I have no money, who needs a budget? :?:

shari - 9-9-2010 at 08:20 PM

my first few years living in baja, I was vocal about injustices...or inconsistancies and tried to address some of them...help...improve the "system" etc...bad idea. One is branded a trouble maker and this stay with you a long long time and can make life difficult for you here...and one is not welcome in some circles after that.

things were made up about me...bad things that werent true...rumours were started and stories grew out of proportion...and I suffered alot but hung in there knowing in my heart I had done the right thing.

I have learned that it is not socially acceptable to discuss many issues...lots of taboos and one will be persecuted for telling the truth or exposing a wrong...particularly if it involves a government agency or wealthy business person....so yup...this is why many folks will just not speak to issues..not good for your health...mexican or gringo....sad but true.

mike odell - 9-9-2010 at 08:40 PM

Some inflections on Politics here bouts, I can vote in the elections, and I will,
how will my vote affect me and mine? Worst case senerio, put stickers all over you car and truck, you party looses, feel the wrath of the winning party, not good my friends, your guys win, your life is okie dokie, as is your business.
Will I vote for my ex wife. If she runs? You damn betcha!!
Politics is good, no matter, Change for the good of all. I love Mexico. and it's all good