BajaNomad

Tijuana is much safer than Chicago - The mexican city is 28% safer

Gypsy Jan - 2-16-2013 at 09:52 AM

From San Diego Red

by Brenda Colón Navar

"According to some new statistics for the year 2012, the city of Chicago is the city with the highest rate of homicides in the United States, 506 deaths to be exact. Comparing this data to what the authorities in Tijuana, Mexico, have revealed in their numbers. Tijuana had a total of 364 homicides for 2012.

The important thing here is to distinguish how Tijuana used to be a few years ago and how it is now.

Tijuana used to be considered as one of the most violent cities in the world, and this bad reputation is what the residents of this city have changed over the years.

Warnings from the U.S. government towards travelers have not helped either, and usually when the media releases these messages, people generally assume that traveling to any part of Mexico is dangerous and a place they should avoid.

Although the wave of violence is still present in Mexico, the incidents are more frequent further south into the country. This is something that is expected to change with General Alfonso Duarte Mujica, whose success in Tijuana is also expected to be reproduced nationwide. Duarte was one of the key figures in the Baja California and Tijuana to restore security in the region through the cooperation of military and police.

Meanwhile, the same media that has made these reports about Mexico, are now also reporting the terrible situation that the U.S. is going through regarding the violence with firearms. The recent shootings in Colorado and Connecticut have again put the use of firearms up for debate, where the U.S government is trying to respect the rights of U.S. citizens as dictated in the Second Amendment, and at the same time prevent future tragedies.

Currently, Mexico does not share the same type culture regarding gun control like that of the U.S., but the population has been appalled by what has also happened in the neighboring country. Although the Mexican government has not reached the point of issuing alerts to recommend not visiting the U.S. Fear is a common feeling on both sides of the border, and just how visitors from the United States are afraid of being kidnaped or killed in Mexico, Mexicans are also as equally afraid of going to the mall or school where a shooting might break out.

It's very common when speaking well of Mexico that the neighbors up north do not recognize the changes that have been made, and continue to make comments about "the great danger of visiting Mexico", but for those who have come and visit its cities, they know well that its nothing like "they" make it seem to be.

Out of 32 states that make up the entire Mexican territory, only 6 are considered to be regions with high criminal activity which are Jalisco, Nuevo Leon, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Guerrero and the state of Mexico. Now, is it really unsafe to travel to Mexico?

Comparing Tijuana and Chicago is only one example of how important is to look further into details before making your own judgments, and not just going by what everyone else thinks.

Tijuana and Mexico in general have a lot to offer, but it's only a matter of giving it a chance and finding out on your own. Just like that old saying "don't judge a book by its cover."

Brenda.Colon@sandiegored.com

Omar.Martinez@sandiegored.com

[Edited on 2-16-2013 by Gypsy Jan]

DavidE - 2-16-2013 at 11:57 AM

Too many disappear in Tijuana and elsewhere in Mexico and not a word is ever mentioned about it, certainly to the cops and media. The PGR estimates several hundred people at the least go missing annually. Crime reporting data is skewed so badly by the fact the public hates the cops...

(Translated)

"ˇHijo de La Gran Puta! I have been robbed!"

"Sshh! You'll bring the cops!"

For tourists, IMHO Tijuana is only dangerous at night and in poorer barrios. But it IS a city of several million inhabitants and I can virtually guarantee that like other cities of similar size not all its residents are Boy Scouts.

JMHO

Relative Importance

MrBillM - 2-16-2013 at 12:26 PM

The information might be significant to those who wish to visit or reside in either Tijuana or Chicago, but absolutely meaningless to those who have no intention or desire to do either.

[Edited on 2-16-2013 by MrBillM]

"Chicago, Tijuana...or?"

Pompano - 2-16-2013 at 12:57 PM

At 17, I was eager to explore a bit. So, leaving home after high school...I worked as an assistant-assistant to an underling-assistant in an office at CB&Q Railways in downtown Chicago. I learned a lot, Chicago makes the best pizza, and why many employers like to hire guys/gals from ND, and most important...how a college degree pays way, way more than a high school diploma.

The second week I was there, a co-worker told me that a murdered body was found in a dumpster behind his house. He seemed rather matter-of-fact about it.

I said, 'What, no photos?' Dead bodies in dumpsters were an extreme rarity in North Dakota then....and still are. Live ones on Sunday morning after Saturday Nite Town Hoots are a different matter, naturally.

Tijuana...I spent an eternity one night sleeping in the back of my Suburban at a tranny shop and trying to keep the junkyard dog from busting the window and eating my leg. Just saying, that may have soured my outlook on the area.

Given a choice between TJ and Chicago..."Chicago is... my kind of town"...But... thinking back, now...there's no place like home!

DENNIS - 2-16-2013 at 01:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Gypsy Jan
The important thing here is to distinguish how Tijuana used to be a few years ago and how it is now.




Yeah...right. It used to be a toilet...now it's a teacup.
These comparisons are worse than meaningless.

DENNIS - 2-16-2013 at 02:34 PM

Quote:

It's very common when speaking well of Mexico that the neighbors up north do not recognize the changes that have been made, and continue to make comments about "the great danger of visiting Mexico", but for those who have come and visit its cities, they know well that its nothing like "they" make it seem to be.



I wonder who "they" might be? Probably the media who has this bad habit of reporting news they get from Mexico news agencies.

DENNIS - 2-16-2013 at 03:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by ridge
Come on now, fellow gadflies; you left a fat one hanging right over the plate:
Quote:
Chicago is perfectly safe if you're not involved in gangs or drugs
:lol:



Where was this? I can't find it in the article.

sancho - 2-17-2013 at 01:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
absolutely meaningless to those who have no intention or desire to do either.






Never could figure out comparing 2 different locales,
I imagine Boise, Idaho is safer then Syria. Mex is
going to extremes to portray the country safe
for tourists

bajacalifornian - 2-17-2013 at 02:50 PM

Ah, I'd rather be in Tijuana any day or night, than Chicago . . .