ENSENADA — A referendum on whether some of the most disenfranchised areas of Baja California should split off from Ensenada to form the state’s sixth
municipality drew voters to the polls on Sunday.
Supporters of the proposal to create the municipality of San Quintín say the measure is necessary to bring amenities such as paved roads, sewage
treatment, lighting and trash collection to residents of the southern part of Baja California.
“It is the most abandoned area of the state,” Fernando Figueroa Calderón, president of the Committee for the Municipalization of San Quintín, said in
an interview this month with the Tijuana newspaper Frontera.
But Ensenada’s mayor, Enrique Pelayo, and Ensenada’s dominant business organizations have been staunchly opposed, saying the measure will do nothing
to resolve the region’s problems.
“The solution is not to create a municipality, the solution is to bring more support to San Quintín,” said Rommel Arvizu, an attorney who owns an
Ensenada radio station.
Some 333,000 registered voters across Ensenada were eligible to vote in the plebiscite, conducted by Baja California’s Electoral and Citizen
Participation Institute at the request of the Baja California legislature.
During a news conference Sunday afternoon, Nancy Sánchez Arredondo, a state legislator, said that early turnout was heavy in the southern part of
Ensenada, which includes the farming community of San Quintín, but extremely light in the northern urban area around the port of Ensenada. Polls
opened at 8 a.m. and closed at 6 p.m., and results were not immediately announced Sunday evening.
Mexico’s 2010 census lists 467,000 residents in Ensenada, making it the state’s third-largest municipality, behind Tijuana and Mexicali. But by land
mass (it spreads over some 20,000 square miles), it is the largest municipality in Mexico.baronvonbob - 10-29-2012 at 09:23 AM
This should be interesting. Have been following the local buildup from the San Quintin side.bacquito - 10-29-2012 at 09:30 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by baronvonbob
This should be interesting. Have been following the local buildup from the San Quintin side.
Looks like it ain't going to happenbaronvonbob - 10-29-2012 at 10:23 AM
That is too bad. Politically wonder how the fallout will be?bajaguy - 10-29-2012 at 10:53 AM
I don't think the split at this time was a good idea..........The current Municipality of Ensenada is financially hanging on by a
shoestring.......doubt if San Quintin could financially support needed government infrastructure at this time or anytime in the near future without a
larger taxable base. The current agricultural operations in the proposed municipality can't do it by themselvesBajahowodd - 10-29-2012 at 04:04 PM
I dunno. Seems to me that the San Quintin area has an amazingly vibrant agriculture economy.rts551 - 10-29-2012 at 04:17 PM
given the tax structure, I suspect San Quintin is one of the cash cows, along with Guadalupe Valley.bajaguy - 10-29-2012 at 04:27 PM
I sincerely doubt that the tomatoes and strawberries will sustain a new municipality.
The San Quintin area has no manufacturing, no port facilities, no cruise ships, not much of a business base (compared to Ensenada).
[Edited on 10-29-2012 by bajaguy]thebajarunner - 10-29-2012 at 04:33 PM
How far south does the Ensenada municipal area go?
Seems to me I have seen it mentioned in El Rosario, possibly even LABay...David K - 10-29-2012 at 05:15 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by thebajarunner
How far south does the Ensenada municipal area go?
Seems to me I have seen it mentioned in El Rosario, possibly even LABay...
All the way to Baja Sur and over to the Gulf coast, just south of San Felipe... ie. MOST OF BAJA NORTE!
[Edited on 10-30-2012 by David K]
Ensenada Delegations
David K - 10-29-2012 at 05:20 PM
1.- La Misión 13.- Valle de la Trinidad.
2.- El Porvenir. 14.- Punta Colonet.
3.- Francisco Zarco. 15.- Camalú.
4.- Real del Castillo. 16.- Vicente Guerrero.
5.- El Sauzal. 17.- San Quintin.
6.- Ensenada. 18.- El Rosario.
7.- San Antonio de las Minas. 19.- Puertecitos.
8.- Chapultepec. 20.- El Marmol.
9.- Maneadero. 21.- Punta Prieta.
10.- Santo Tomas. 22.- Bahía de los Angeles.
11.- Eréndira. 23.- Calmallí (Villa Jesus Maria).
12.- San Vicente. 24.- Isla de Cedros.
