conquestkm
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Mood: "I could have been a Rhodes Scholar, except for my grades."
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July Article coming out in Mexico Living Magazine
COVER FEATURE
Get more info: www.mexicoliving.info - 13
COVER FEATURE
COVER STORY
It was among the most brutal homicides in
recent memory. On a sunny Sunday afternoon
last fall, two men jumped out of an SUV and
set Marcial Sanchez on fire. The 52-year-old
factory worker was engulfed in flames and
burned over 70% of his body. He died hours
later at a hospital. No one who saw Sanchez’s
killing reported it to police. [1]
If you were to read this, would you think
twice about planning a vacation to that city?
Unfortunately, these are the stories filling the
pages of newspapers across America.
It isn’t just in major cities in the U.S. that recent
spates of violence, often attributed to teens and
young adults, have sparked concern. A top official
has warned parents to find out whether their children
are carrying knives, after attacks killed 14 teens so
far this year, including an 18-year-old actor. There
have been at least 28 teen murders throughout the
country in 2008.
Does this sound like a country you would want to
take your teenagers to or a place you let them go for
Spring Break? Probably not. But what if you knew the
first headline refers to an event in East Los Angeles
and the second, to a trend in England?
Of course, anyone planning a vacation or
contemplating a move weighs many factors when
deciding where to go. Travelers want to feel safe.
How can anyone really know whether they will be
safe in another city or country?
Take the example of Mexico. There have been many
sensational headlines published about the murders
and kidnappings in Tijuana. It is true that there are
drug cartels in Mexico, known police corruption,
and a great deal of violence surrounding the drug
trade. However, confrontations tend to occur outside
of resort and tourist areas; even in places close to
Tijuana such as Rosarito, very rarely experience
violent crime. Many Mexicans, as well as Americans
living in Mexico, believe that the reports of violence
are over-stated, causing more fear among potential
travelers than is necessary.
“The recent media trend seems to be to link any
crime or police action to the entire country, which is
similar to having an incident in Los Angeles reflect
on the entire United States,” says Ron Raposa,
the international public relations representative for
Rosarito Beach. He adds, “The coverage varies some
from media outlet to media outlet. But in general, the
U.S. media in recent months has presented coverage
of Baja California and Mexico that lacks perspective,
balance and sometimes accuracy.”
IS MEXICO SAFER THAN USA?
The U.S. State Department put out a warning about
the violence in Mexico. The report states that 128
Americans were killed in Mexico between January
2005 and December 2007.
Looking more closely at the data, Rosarito Beach,
Ensenada, Mexicali, San Felipe, Tecate and Puerto
Peñasco (Rocky Point) only had 42 homicides in
the last three years combined. Those are the largest
tourist areas of Northwest Mexico, excluding Tijuana.
In Los Angeles County, there have been 103 murders
in the last six months. In 2007, there were 324
homicides in L.A. County. People in Los Angeles
would probably say that there are certain unsafe
areas to avoid. People living in Mexico would say the
same thing.
More detailed statistics indicate that he murder rate
per 100,000 people in Mexico is about 13. Recent
FBI statistics show the murder rate in Baltimore is
43.3, Washington DC is 29.1, and Detroit is 47.3.
Surprisingly, the murder rate per 100,000 in New York
is now 6.1 as crime diminished significantly during
By Anna Kaplan
the administrations of New York Mayors Rudolph
Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg.
The Mexican government, federal and local, looks
at crime and the drug trade seriously, and is taking
major steps to stop violence and end corruption.
President Felipe Calderon has sent federal troops
to help local and state police crack down on crime
and the drug cartels. Part of the problem is police
corruption, which Calderon has addressed head on.
Last year, all of the police officers in Tijuana had their
guns tested and federal troops patrolled the city.
After weapon testing and other screenings, such as
lie detector tests, the better police officers returned
to their jobs. The same type of screenings occurred
in Rosarito
In recent months,
in Sonora, Mexico,
two reporters were
abducted and
killed because of
investigations into the
cartel. On the day of
the second abduction,
the federal authorities
arrested 100
policemen suspected
of corruption
and working with
organized crime.
Bad press is having
a negative impact
on SCORE, Baja’s staple off-road racing series. Sal
Fish of SCORE International has been shopping for
Mexico races in the state of Sonora and Sonora is
pulling out all the stops to have off-road racing in its
state. Baja California racing is seriously on the ropes,
with racers bailing on the SCORE series and everincreasing
public reports of organized crime in Baja
California, Mexico.
Raposa explained,
Baja has brought some of the problems
on itself. Police extortion of motorists in
some areas went uncorrected for far too
long. Corrupt and corrupting criminal cartels
wielded pervasive influence along the drug
routes leading into the United States. But, now
Mexican federal, state and city governments
have joined together in a serious effort to end
that. This has led to shootouts that, while not
affecting visitors, U.S. media often links to
tourist safety. They are separate issues.
Rosarito Beach has done much to make tourists
safe. Raposa describes the first step in Mayor Hugo
Torres attempt to create a clean police force. After
extensive screening Rosarito has replaced 40 of its
150-member police force and has also created a
special tourist police force. Twenty of its best officers
are assigned to patrol tourist areas, offering both
protection and assistance. An ombudsman office
and tourist assistance office have been created. In
addition, 300 residents have volunteered for a citizenwatch
program in tourist areas. Raposa says,
Raposa has spent a lot of time in Rosarito, which
he recommends as a vacation destination. He says,
“I have been visiting here for 30 years and lived here
full-time for three, all crime-free. I would say it is
comparable to any major tourist area in the U.S. in
regards to the safety (of) visitors.”
He adds, “Use common sense and be alert as you
would in any area with which you were unfamiliar.
Avoid situations and
areas that seem to
present increased
risk. Both the state
and Rosarito tourism
offices have websites
with extensive safety
tips and other valuable
information.”
Tourism in Baja
during Spring Break
may have decreased
somewhat this year,
but it seems to be
improving. Says
Raposa, “There
has been a gradual rebound as people realize that
Rosarito is not a dangerous place to visit.” The main
affected cities of Rosarito, Tijuana and Ensenada are
working together on tourism and safety.
On the other side of Baja, San Felipe is trying
to deal successfully with the reports of violence
affecting tourism. Mayor Hazael Sierra says, “I
believe the bad image has been the cause of many
tourists not coming to visit us, but when they do, they
go home with a really good impression.” The Mayor
says his city is working on, “Cleanliness, security,
and organization of local events.” He adds, “I believe
that there is still a lot to do, but we are beginning and
I believe that this is all going to get better.”
Traveling South of the border is no different than
visiting other foreign destinations and tourists rarely
encounter dangers if they follow the law in Mexico.
Travelers to Baja needing help or advice are
encouraged to take advantage of the assistance
available. Dialing 078 from any phone in Mexico
will immediately connect the caller with the
Department of Tourism toll-free. You can also visit
the website for more information at: http://www.
discoverbajacalifornia.com
[1] Quote from Los Angeles Times, March
Conquestkm
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Woooosh
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Posts: 5240
Registered: 1-28-2007
Location: Rosarito Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: Luminescent Waves at Rosarito Beach
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You can't get a person (or country) to solve a problem it doesn't admit it has.
A letter in the Union Tribune today blamed the media- again. The nice lady from south of Ensenada wrote that she feels safer in Mexico than in San
Diego.
"Comparing crime stats in Mexico, U.S.
Regarding "A shared charge/ Mexico, U.S. must address drug issue together" (Editorial, June 24):
We are retired and live south of Ensenada - and very peacefully, I might add. We stay out of areas that are known to be problem areas, and we follow
the laws here (which are actually more strict than in the United States). I feel safer here than when we have to go to San Diego for doctors'
appointments, supplies, etc.
All of the negative publicity that U.S. newspapers, TV and radio have been putting forth lately have created big problems for this country as far as
tourism goes. We know of a number of businesses that are down at least 35 percent.
People are just scared to come to Mexico because of all the media hype.
When a shooting occurs in Tijuana, the media dig up all past events and make it sound like they just happened. Compare those events with the
shootings, kidnappings, carjackings, robberies, murders, etc. in San Diego or Los Angeles, and if you check statistics, you'll find the events in Baja
are very few compared with U.S. numbers.
The Mexican government is trying its best to combat the problem, but it is the drug cartels that are creating this havoc. They don't want to lose
their very lucrative business with the users in the States, which is where their biggest market is.
This is a great country to live in.
The people where we live are just that - good people who are trying to make a living, educate their children and live a good life.
DANA KERBY Baja California
[Edited on 6-26-2008 by Woooosh]
[Edited on 6-26-2008 by Woooosh]
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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Eugenio
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Posts: 206
Registered: 4-23-2008
Location: Navojoa, Son.
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I don't know where these stats come from - when people start throwing around cherry-picked numbers it usually means they want to make a point - and
it's weak.
I personally knew 3 people that have been murdered in Mexicali in the past year - so the the figure of 42 murders in the past 3 years in that list of
cities seems low to me.
More violent crime goes unreported in Mexico than it does in the US.
As a country you can traditionally figure that Mexico has 2 to 3 times more murders than the US - with the increase in drug murders in the past year
I'd expect the recent figure for Mexico to be a little higher still.
On the other hand if you go to cherry-picking the cities and stats you can come up with whatever you wish.
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Eugenio
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Registered: 4-23-2008
Location: Navojoa, Son.
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see: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=32047
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fulano
Banned
Posts: 496
Registered: 3-31-2008
Location: Ramona, CA
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Woooosh
The nice lady from south of Ensenada wrote that she feels safer in Mexico than in San Diego....
DANA KERBY Baja California |
Dana Kerby used to be associated with (and may still be for all I know) Baja Sportfishing, Inc. which runs fishing charters in Mexico. It sure is nice
to get an unbiased opinion from a disintrested third party with no financial interest in Mexico.
p.s That was sarcasm.
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
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