BajaNomad - Ensenada mayor says visa "frozen" by U.S. over Sempra

Ensenada mayor says visa "frozen" by U.S. over Sempra

BajaNews - 7-15-2011 at 09:21 PM

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jul/15/ensenada-mayo...

By Sandra Dibble
July 15, 2011

Ensenada Mayor Enrique Pelayo Torres on Friday publicly accused U.S. authorities of delaying action on his visa renewal application in retaliation for Pelayo’s demands for payment by San Diego-based Sempra Energy.

The mayor’s accusation comes four months after his unsuccessful effort to shut down the U.S. company’s Costa Azul natural gas import terminal outside Ensenada. Pelayo said the facility’s permits were not properly issued and that it posed a danger to the city’s residents.

Pelayo’s efforts were quickly rebuffed by Mexican state and federal authorities, and Mexican soldiers were sent to safeguard the billion-dollar facility.

A recording of Pelayo’s statements Friday to Ensenada reporters was obtained by the San Diego Union-Tribune. On the recording, Pelayo stated that an officer of the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana told him that his application was “frozen concretely because of the Sempra case…They say that I am extorting Sempra, and that it’s not right.”

Pelayo denied extorting the company, and said he told the officer, “I don’t permit you to say this to me…It’s not extortion when I am telling them that they have to participate with resources for the municipality due to the high risk that we face here.”

When a reporter asked whether Sempra holds influence over the U.S. government, Pelayo said, “that is very clear.”

Joseph Crook, a spokesman for the U.S. Consulate said he could not comment. “We’re prohibited from discussing any individual visa applicant status because of the Privacy Act,” he said.

JESSE - 7-15-2011 at 09:38 PM

I actually believe him.

Believing has got nothing to do with it

Dave - 7-15-2011 at 10:04 PM

The sooner Mayor Pelayo realizes he's not the boss of anything, the better. He may be the mayor but compared to the U.S. or Mexican government and Sempra he's as worthless as teats on a boar hog. The powers that be are gonna do what they want. Regardless of him being right, wrong or whatever.

JESSE - 7-15-2011 at 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave
The sooner Mayor Pelayo realizes he's not the boss of anything, the better. He may be the mayor but compared to the U.S. or Mexican government and Sempra he's as worthless as teats on a boar hog. The powers that be are gonna do what they want. Regardless of him being right, wrong or whatever.

Sempra is cozy with PAN, but in 1 1/2 years the PAN is out, and Pelayo is a close friend of Peña Nieto, who most likely will be our new president. Trust me, Sempra is going to end up making a lot of concessions to Pelayo at the end.

Is that what they call it now !

CaboRon - 7-16-2011 at 07:15 AM

I found this description of extortion to be quite interesting ...

"It’s not extortion when I am telling them that they have to participate with resources for the municipality due to the high risk that we face here.”

A Rose of any other name is still a Rose ... or, in this case a pile of shis.

DENNIS - 7-16-2011 at 07:49 AM

Amazing, what it has come to. The "Right or Wrong" of an issue is completely absent from a discussion when "Power" comes into play.

"Just wait til my big brother gets here. He'll kick your butt."

wessongroup - 7-16-2011 at 08:01 AM

Would imagine the revenue losses must really be putting a strain on State and local government... big time..

Like the "old road" between Rosarito and km 44... have seen it in about 6 months.. but can only imagine how bad it must be from others reports on fatalities from swerving to avoid "pot holes" which might just take a wheel off.. a truck...

Times are very tough in Baja.. and the other states along the border... due to the heavy influx of deporteee's at the crossing... with no money, no friends, and no place to go... very hard times for the Mexican people again...

But, if anyone can take the Mexican people can.. they have most of their lives...

Tough, hard working, God fearing and family oriented folks... who I would so like to see get a break... from their Government... for once...

Via Bento Juarez ..... "“Respect for the rights of others means peace.”

DENNIS - 7-16-2011 at 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wessongroup
..... "“Respect for the rights of others means peace.”

Even if you have to kill a half million people to get it.

Yep....kill kill kill and the world will respect you.

Now...don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that killing is a good thing. It probably isn't.....a good thing, that is. But if you want a peaceful world, you're gonna have to kill a lot of people to get it.

"Peace and Respect at any cost." More death = More peace.

In fact, if you were to kill 6,949,354,295 people [minus one....you] the world would be a very peaceful place.....indeed.

Von - 7-16-2011 at 09:41 AM

Teats on a boar hog LOl! :lol:

kill 6,949,354,295 people minus 1 lol! :lol:

To funny!!! love my bajanomads :spingrin:

Bajahowodd - 7-16-2011 at 03:58 PM

Fundamentally, Jesse has it correct. There IS going to be a major shift in political power with the next national election.

As I am nowhere near a scholar on such things, I would ask Jesse if he believes that the party (PRI) that held the Mexican people in indentured servitude for many decades, has actually changed for the better?

Seems to me that throughout Latin America, there has been a shift toward a more socialist form of government recently. Some it it just may be psuh back against Uncle Sam. But the bottom line, as PAN has so deftly demonstrated, unbridled capitalism comes with a bunch of nasty side effects.

DENNIS - 7-16-2011 at 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Fundamentally, Jesse has it correct.

Fundamentally, you and Jesse are both full of crap.
It isn't the party, nor is it the candidate with blue sky promises....it's the system. It's built on greed and power. That is the backbone of politics in Mexico. [the US as well, in a different way. I'll say that so all you apologists can save your ink]
One can't function within this system without understanding and complying with this axiom.

One man will change nothing.

Mexico's advent into democracy hasn't allowed for a thorough cleansing. It has adjusted itself to history because power corrupts and is not what powerful people want to give up.

Although the book won't change, the cover will. Try to look a bit more deep for answers.

You owe it to yourself.

BajaDove - 7-16-2011 at 05:07 PM

Dennis Kill all those minus one you will not have peace in the world You'd be arguing with yourself about whether you did the right thing.

woody with a view - 7-16-2011 at 05:13 PM

Quote:

There IS going to be a major shift in political power with the next national election.

and here i am thinking anyone but NoBama! silly me.....

[Edited on 7-17-2011 by woody with a view]

Bajahowodd - 7-16-2011 at 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Fundamentally, Jesse has it correct.

What do I know???

But, it just seems to me that the system that you speak of is fundamentally what PRI engrained into Mexican society for most of a century.

As I have noted before, I am no scholar of Mexican politics. But, didn't the so called socialist PRD almost win that last presidential election?

On some level, wouldn't be really interesting to see what the PRD would accomplish in Mexico during a presidential term?

After all, if they screw it up, there would be no more questions.

I personally do not think that PRI is the answer.

OK. So it's the system. But since PRD had never had a shot in the spotlight?.......

They get it they screw up, and I become your slave! :lol: