Authorities claim they do not have the budget to cover the police quota. Photo: Courtesy.
Héctor Ruiz Mejía: Jocotepec City Hall will request support from neighboring municipalities to strengthen security operations for the January celebrations because it is short f public security staff.
According to Felipe Aguilar, Director of Social Communication for Jocotepec, as of December 15 the municipality had only 44 police officers distributed in two shifts, 22 officers for each shift.
The Institute of Statistical and Geographic Information of Jalisco (IIEG) reports that Jocotepec has 47,573 inhabitants (exclusive of weekend tourists), equivalent to one police officer for every 1,80 inhabitants or 92 per 100,000 population, , approximately 1/3 of the number recommended by the UN. The United States as 278 per 100,000 and the countries of the European Union have up to 250 police per 100,000 population.
Jocotepec’s shortage is part of a national problem. According to Excélsior, Mexico has a shortage of 96 thousand security personnel, putting it far under the UN standard.
Aguilar said that the municipality should have at least 100 officers meaning staffing is down 60 percent. Mayor José Miguel Gómez López blamed the shortage on the defections of officers to other security agencies in the Metropolitan Zone that have higher salaries.
«There were difficult moments in which we did not even have 38 policemen in the two shifts, because some of them got sick and others resigned to move to the Metropolitan Zone», said Mayor José Miguel, regarding the crisis of municipal police force.
Now, strengthening security is a priority on the eve of the nine days of celebrations commemorating Señor del Monte from January 4 to 17 in Jocotepec when thousands of people congregate in Jocotepe from many parts of the country and even from abroad.
«The Public Safety department has already anticipated the January festivities, so we are now thinking of requesting the support of other municipalities,» said Felipe.
However, the municipal commander of Chapala informed Semanario Laguna that so far he has not received any official letter or request from the municipality of Jocotepec to request police support.
Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan
Hector Ruiz Mejia.- The iconic Christmas market in Jocotepec, taking place on December 23, 24 and 25, has a history of more than 40 years.
According to José Luis Carreño y Carreño, Director of Registration and Licensing and Regulations, as of December 8 there were roughly 60 confirmed merchants, of the 300 anticipated merchants, that will make up the Christmas tianguis.
The only requirement for registration, said Carreño, is to provide proof of last year’s paid permit and to pay the sum of 120 pesos per meter of display space. Vendors with seniority will be granted display space of up to five or six meters, with newer vendors limited to three or four meters of space.
Because of complaints of intrusion into public space, Jocotepec’s Christmas market will be held on the streets adjacent to the main square for the third consecutive year. «Some citizens requested that the space be free of street vending,» explained Carreño.
Carreño was also emphatic that the municipality’s only prohibition is the sale of gunpowder and rockets and explosives. But he explained that with a permit issued by SEDENA (Secretary of National Defense) certain merchants are allowed to sell up to ten kilos of pyrotechnics. Some of these permits result in abuse, he continued, because after the merchant runs out of their allotted 10 kilos, they continue to replenish their stock and sell over and above the allotted 10 kilos. “The City Council does not authorize the sale of explosives, but some merchants bring their SEDENA permit and therefore, we have no power to do anything about it,» said the official.
According to the Registration and Licensing and Regulations authorities, as well as the Municipal Clinic, each entrance to the tianguis will include health filters, and the traders will be monitored to ensure proper disinfection measures are taken. Visitors are asked to respect the health measures, but that «it is up to one’s conscience,» said the doctor.
Translated by MaryAnne Marble
Rescue of an owl
Héctor Ruiz Mejía – Firefighters rescued a majestic Barn owl in the municipality of Jocotepec. After being captured by the fire department of Jocotepec, it was transferred to the Animal Health and Collection Department of the municipality of Tlajomulco de Zúñiga to be treated for an injured wing.
Translated by Nita Rudy
The inauguration of the ‘Alegria en Chapala’ holiday security operation took place on one of the islets of the malecon.
All elements of security, civil protection and medical services will work full time during the operation.
Jazmín Stengel. – Chapala kicked off the holiday safety operation «Alegria en Chapala» or “Joy in Chapala” with participating members Red Cross, Civil Protection and Firefighters, Harbormaster, Mobility, and the Municipal Clinic. The holiday safety operation will run from December 15 to January 6.
We seek to «reinforce the security of the municipality and strengthen the integrity of those who visit us, creating a climate of well-being and tranquility in all neighborhoods, barrios and towns,» stated the municipal president, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel, minutes before the start of the operation.
The president also explained that a «synergy between society and authorities is fundamental, which is why we will work with business members from different sectors and service providers» to achieve the security that the municipality demands, he continued.
«The safety of Chapala residents and visitors has been a priority since the beginning of this administration and a hallmark of the work of our government,» said Aguirre Curiel before asking the public for prudence and responsibility during the holidays.
Two of the three new units, at a cost of $1,700,000 pesos, were delivered to the Municipal Public Safety Department during the start-up of the operation.
The third unit was delivered to the Fire Department and Civil Protection. Civil Protection will also remain open during the vacation period, with all personnel they have available, in addition to the volunteers who always respond to the first emergency call.
The 10 Public Safety officers will patrol the streets of the municipality full time and with the sections they have available. The commissioner, Sergio Conzuelo Ramirez suspended staff vacations during the operation, which will be made up later in a staggered manner after the holiday period.
The Mobility Department is additionally ready to use all available personnel and units in the vehicle fleet to cover the operation.
The Municipal Courts and the Municipal Regulations Department will be on duty to attend to any anomalies that may occur during the festivities. Likewise, the Tourism Department will work to maintain a constant service to visitors during their vacations.
Translated by Sydney Metrick
J.Vicente Negrete School, located in El Molino. Photo: Courtesy
Héctor Ruiz Mejía – During the year 2021, three schools were victims of burglaries in the municipality of Jocotepec, one going without electricity for 90 days.
Alfonso Enrique Oliva Mojica, coordinator of Primary Education Development, said the Ministry of Education of Jalisco (SE) approved a total of approximately 377,590 pesos to restore the services of the affected schools in El Molino, Chantepec and in the municipal seat of Jocotepec.
The school that so far received the most support was Francisco I. Madero, located in the municipal seat, with a budget of approximately 189,000 pesos for its restoration due to the damages.
For the J. Encarnación Rosas school, located in Chantepec, the amount of 188,570 pesos was approved; while for the J. Vicente Negrete elementary school, located in El Molino, 20,000 pesos was granted, the latter of which was a bipartite fund, between the Secretariat and the municipality.
«We as the Secretariat, supported the school with materials, electrical wiring and plumbing networks mostly, and the municipality collaborated with labor,» said the official, regarding the support of the elementary school in El Molino.
Due to the theft of more than 300 meters of electrical wiring, El Molino’s J. Vicente Negrete elementary school spent about 90 days without electricity.
Mojica acknowledged that, despite the support to reestablish the electricity service in the schools, the stolen electronic equipment, as in the case of the El Molino elementary school (around 160,000 pesos in equipment such as projectors and computers) has not been covered.
However, he said that a request has been sent to the Federal Government to obtain the replacement of the equipment and thus be able to provide better quality education.
Finally, the official was optimistic about the forecasts regarding the return to classes this coming January, «with one hundred percent attendance, we believe that incidences of school robberies will decrease to almost nothing», he assured.
However, with the international alarms of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 causing schools to consider the return to virtual attendance, schools may once again be in the sights of thieves.
Translated by Kerry Watson
Facilities of Jalisco’s Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office
Editor. – Since it began operating in Jalisco in 2018, the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Combating Corruption, or FECC, has received 58 complaints against former officials of the Municipality of Chapala.
At least 17 cases are in the initial investigation stage, 14 have been referred to other agencies, seven were sent to the temporary file and in three cases no criminal action was taken. In 17 cases, the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office has refrained from investigating.
The Specialized Prosecutor’s Office has not disclosed the names of ex-officials involved, nor the names of the complaintants or the circumstances under which the complaints were filed.
The Jalisco FECC is an institution with technical, managerial, administrative and operational autonomy that has public prosecutor’s agencies, areas and specialized administrative units in order to fulfill its purpose, which is to investigate, prevent and prosecute acts of corruption.
Translated by Mike Rogers
First Expo-Bazaar of women graduates of the program. Photo: Courtesy.
Héctor Ruiz Mejía – At least 22 women from the municipality of Jocotepec are benefitting from the Second Chance program of the United Nations, provided through Pro México San Juan Cosalá.
The program is designed to combat gender inequality faced by Mexican women. It currently operates in only three states: Puebla, Jalisco and the State of Mexico. Second Chance says that in 2019, only 45 percent of Mexican women were part of the labor force, while 77 of men were employed. This is one of the lowest figures of the member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
The UN also disclosed that of the 4.7 million Mexicans over 15 years of age who are illiterate, more than 61 percent are women.
Through Pro México, comprehensive support is being provided to women in the riverside municipality. They are taught topics such as personal finances and they gain new skills through a series of workshops. They also learn about becoming entrepreneurs using the skills they acquire, and they learn how to develop a life plan.
María Sara Alicia López Macías, a 60-year-old retired teacher, is a good example of a woman who received a Second Chance. After her retirement, the income she was earning decreased considerably. That and a lack of activities began to affect her state of mind.
“I had all the time in the world, but I didn’t know how to use it. Besides, before my retirement I was earning not as much as my pension, so I needed to find another source of income,” said Sara, a graduate of the program, one of the first two generations.
Thanks to the Second Chance program, Sara managed to consolidate her brand of dehydrated fruits such as lentils and poblano strips, seductive wines with different flavors of blueberry, grape, plum and tamarind, as well as different flavors of tizanas called “teas for the soul, because they evoke memories of my childhood,” she said. For her brand, she chose the name “Masali,” inspired by her own name.
“The Bazaar was a great success,” said Blanca Padilla, one of the people in charge of Pro México. “Approximately 300 people sold their products and offered their services.”
Padilla said the program represents an important tool for the women of the riverbanks. While some need to increase their income, other women are in situations of violence, and the program represents the only lifeline to leave their aggressors. One current program participant has a device called a life pulse, created to safeguard the integrity of women in a situation of domestic violence.
Blanca Padilla urged the community to support the association. She pointed to a lack of resources and said the idea is to be able to reach more women. To support the program, call 3333-2586-63 or email e.solidariapromexico@gmail.com.
Translated by Mike Rogers
Jalisco Prosecutor’s Office file.
Ismael «N,» accused of robbing a house in San Juan Cosalá, Jocotepec, will be held in jail for the duration of his trial.
Ismael “N” was allegedly trying to take hand tools on December 4th. The victim caught him in the act and called the municipal police, who managed to arrest him and take him into custody.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office then prepared an investigative file in which they proved the probable commission of the crime of aggravated robbery. The case is being prosecuted.
Translated by Colleen Beery
Two private vehicles were involved in the accident
On Tuesday, December 14, there was another collision on the Chapala-Jocotepec highway in Upper La Floresta. The incident involved two private vehicles.
A turquoise Notte hit a white Versa at the first traffic circle in La Floresta, one street away from El Torito, at the entrance to Ajijic. The collision caused a huge traffic jam, which cleared once the damaged vehicles were brought to the side of the road.
Translated by Colleen Beery
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