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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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Chnlisle estimado señor...
Big sharks eat little sharks entiendes? What -could- happen is if the impossible should take place and enough tourists stop at the large markets,
stores and hotels and tell management (not some sleepy cash register jockey or el velador) that you refuse to stop and spend money in Constituction,
then these guys are going to start biting the smaller sharks. It is a matter of greed and cajones.
As far as corruption, Constituction is a joke as compared to Culiacan Sinaloa. A firecracker compared to an H-bomb. A few years ago a transito tried
to tell me that I had ran a red light. The semafora was not working. I spent a half hour with el commandante and he chewed the cop's ass out up one
side and down the other. An act? I doan theen so. The cop's face turned beet red, the veins on his neck stuck out and he sweated like a pig.
I wasn't joking when I advised victims to take the time, go to the police station and tell el commandante that the cop demanded an on-the-spot fine of
five hundred dollars. There is no better way to screw up a conspiracy than to turn one crook against a fellow crook.
But people will continue to weep and groan, they'll spend hours gossiping in forums, ranting and roaring....but then when red lights appear in their
rear view mirror, they'll continue to fork over the loot...
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Bajatripper
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3150
Registered: 3-20-2010
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| Quote: | Originally posted by chnlisle
There is something I just have to tell the BajaNomads who actually think they can do something about the problem in Ciudad Constitución. Give it up.
No way, Jose. You really have NO CLUE as to what is going on in Baja California Sur. |
You guys who feel that such efforts are totally useless may be right. Perhaps nothing will change.
But, as someone pointed out a while back, over the years similar things have happened in other parts of the peninsula (TJ during the 70s comes to
mind), and enough public outrage was raised to get the attention needed to put a stop to it.
And perhaps it is true that the Big Boys in the state have such a great racket going in the drug trade that they simply don't care. But won't the
noise that complaining tourists make bring an unwanted spotlight into the region that could cause harm to those interests? If that were to happen, I'm
guessing that those who could be harmed would want to squash the bugs that are responsible. Or maybe not.
While I find Dennis' proposed boycott appealing, I don't think it is practical. Too many of us live in the affected zone and we aren't in a position
to support such a boycott. The big tourist dollars fly in, anyway, so they aren't affected by what's going on in CC.
Call me clueless, but I think that the campaign to make public officials aware of it is our best bet. The mordida may be part of the Mexican culture,
but what's going on in CC isn't that--as someone else above stated much more eloquently. This situation is highway robbery of tourists, and that isn't
something that is usually tolerated in most parts of the world for very long. Will CC be the exception?
Just some thoughts from a clueless one.
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Osprey
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3694
Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Baja Ca. Sur
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Some years ago in La Paz a government official put the arm on everyone who had to get permisos, made a ton of pesos and forgot to share those pesos
with the other people in his office. They ratted him out, he was fired, fined and eventually jailled, made to give the money up. We never learned who
the money went to. What's your guess? Comitan probably can give us more inside dope on that one. Not sharing is not caring.
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4177
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
Mood: mellow
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She.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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Osprey
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3694
Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Baja Ca. Sur
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Okay, she. tell us all about it.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajatripper
While I find Dennis' proposed boycott appealing, I don't think it is practical.
Call me clueless, but I think that the campaign to make public officials aware of it is our best bet. |
There's impracticality in everything proposed for one reason or the other, so why don't we do both. If any new suggestions come up, do that too.
The only thing that's guaranteed not to work in our behalf is doing nothing.
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4177
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
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Mood: mellow
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Osprey
Thank god that problem is gone hopefully never to be mentioned again.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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Bajatripper
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3150
Registered: 3-20-2010
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| Quote: | Originally posted by irenemm
If you are on the Federal hwy the Local cop can not stop you only a Federal cop black and whites.
A federal cop can not pull you over on the city street.
Just for future reference in the County of Ensenada which by the way is goes to Guerrero Negro. You can only pay it in Ensenada. NO office out side
the City of Ensenada.
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Yes, it is Highway 1 that goes through CC. But, as you likely know, Irene, in most (if not all) cities in Mexico, Federal juristiction ends just
before one arrives in town and starts up right after town. It is usually announced by a sign posted where the transition in authority happens.
And if memory serves me correctly, Ensenada comprises Mexico's largest municipality.
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Alan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1627
Registered: 4-6-2005
Location: Yucaipa, CA/La Paz
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I think combination of all of the suggestions presented thus far WILL have an effect. This "combined campaign approach" demonstrated it's
effectiveness as recently as two years ago on the Rosarito gauntlet as I haven't heard reports of problems involving tourists in quite sometime. It
may take longer in CC because they don't have cartel battles to spotlight them but with enough pressure things will change.
If you always do things the same way, you will always get the same results.
In Memory of E-57
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4177
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
Mood: mellow
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Just a suggestion, don't drive in the center lanes drive in the side lanes where the Mexican's drive you won't be so conspicuous unless your driving a
40ft Class A MH.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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Bajatripper
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3150
Registered: 3-20-2010
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| Quote: |
If any new suggestions come up, do that too.
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I personally favor blowing the vermin away with Dirty Harry's weapon of choice. I guarantee that if two-three foreign-plated vehicles left a dead
crooked cop in their wake, their buddies would quit pulling us over. Where are all those armed Americans when you need them?
[Edited on 7-11-2010 by Bajatripper]
[Edited on 7-11-2010 by Bajatripper]
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Skeet/Loreto
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4709
Registered: 9-2-2003
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Marc:
The named was changed From Villa Constitution to Cuidad Constitution when it became big enough.
The Poster who was there and nobody around must of been when there was something going on elsewhere. When I was there Last year and a couple of Months
ago it was thiving , crowded and very Populated.
They had been moving a ,long with not too much increase until about 3 or 4 years ago when the price of Corn went up, then the Town Took Off.
For those of you who wonder, I think that if the PRI gets in control there will be some definite changes.
How many people driving through Constitution know What is the Reason for the Memorial located about 10 miles south of Constitution on the right side
of the Road. It is White in Color and quiet Large.
Skeet/Loreto
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Bajatripper
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3150
Registered: 3-20-2010
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaBlanca
When we were driving north from la paz recently, before reading this forum, we were amazed at how "empty" the streets on CC were. For sure - without a
shadow of a doubt, those businesses need people to spend pesos or they will NOT be in business for very long. There was not one person in the cafe we
stopped at for coffee .... not one person in the restaurant we stopped at for breakfast ... we were alone. |
Not that I'm an expert on CC. But I experienced a similar situation of abandoned streets/shops in La Paz recently. I'm wondering if you might remember
the day. If Mexico was participating in the World Cup still, that could have accounted for it, as it did here. It was a great time to be out taking
care of business, no lines anywhere.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
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My Post from a Similar Thread
I've posted on a number of the CC threads. Agree or not, it has been my belief that the corruption here is widespread and endemic. Just think about
it. Constitucion is NOT a tourist destination. A huge number of Baja travelers just pass through. I agree that there is quite a bit of economic
activity there, given the vast agriculture industry. But, the vast number of travelers, mostly gringos, are, in effect, traveling from the tourist
destination of Loreto to the tourist destinations of La Paz and Los Cabos. Most don't stop for anything. So, and call me crazy, conspiratorial, but
since the highway is, in effect, a pinch point for the travelers, it just makes a certain sense that the folks in CC can get their share of the
tourist dollar by busting the folks passing through. Maybe this idea flies in the face of the traditional idea of crooked cops trying to eek out a
living. But this has become so frequent as to become the norm. All that said, as someone posted above, given that federal jurisdiction of Mex 1 stops
at the city border, I recommend that the city erect a toll both just inside the city. Charge a toll for those who are clearly not local, and do away
with the annoying shakedown situation that exists today.
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Bajatripper
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3150
Registered: 3-20-2010
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Charge a toll for those who are clearly not local, and do away with the annoying shakedown situation that exists today. |
That's a great idea, Bajahowodd. In fact, Mexico already has just such a program instituted that they could use as a blueprint. I drove out to
Palenque last summer and had to pay at a toll booth across the national highway prior to being given access to the park itself, where I also had to
pay. And I did notice that it was aimed only at tourists. The reason given was to generate funds for the conservation of the region. I'd pay for
access to the Cape Region and not feel ripped off, but only if we did away with these pesky cops in CC.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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I would also point out that the Ciudad Constitucion area took a major hit from Hurricane Jimena last year. Massive infrastructure damage and huge
agricultural losses. This may be at least a small part of the motivation to garner additional revenue. Despite their relative proximity, neither La
Paz nor Loreto sustained anything close to the damage that was witnessed in CC.
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maspacifico
Nomad
Posts: 317
Registered: 4-22-2008
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Bajahowodd....couldn't agree more. I live on the East Cape and there is no reason to stop in Constitution other than to get gas, and that's in
Insurgentes. I've got nothing against it, or it's people, it doesn't fit into my timetable and a tourist destination is a stretch. I've never been
stopped there till the incredible, invisible, pedestrian scam came up. That's a doozy with the traffic going every which way. I almost believed it,
cause who could tell while dodging traffic running the stop signs? That was March and I did the "go to the station" thing and they told me to go away.
I would happily pay 500 pesos for a toll road that takes a left after the Sierra Giganticas and ends up at the junction between Los Barilles and Todos
Santos. Maybe a petition.........
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
This may be at least a small part of the motivation to garner additional revenue. Despite |
OhhhhPuleeeeze....don't be offering any justification or noble motivation for this larceny. It is what it is. Highway Robbery.
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bajarah
Newbie
Posts: 11
Registered: 6-28-2010
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Welcome to Mexico.
I will check with my brother in law who traels the length of the peninsula several times a month, and has been doing so for years, to see what he says
about the situation.
A well known website used by travelers and prospective travelrs of baja california would help a lot to get the word out, assuming that it could reach
a huge audience, including the businesses and people of baja california also.
I have relatives here right now from ensenada ... they brought their laptop computer and are in contacgt with the folks back home, so the viewing
public is there.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajarah
A well known website used by travelers and prospective travelrs of baja california would help a lot to get the word out, assuming that it could reach
a huge audience, including the businesses and people of baja california also.
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Are you suggesting a website in addition to BajaNomad or do you feel this one has sufficient coverage?
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