Citizen depositing their ballot. A total of 3,870 votes were collected in Chapala. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.
Jazmín Stengel (Chapala).- Ten percent of registered voters in Chapala participated in the recall initiative to revoke the mandate of the President of the Republic, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO).
Presidents of polling stations assured that the low turnout was due to misinformation among the community. In the democratic exercise held on Sunday, April 103, 870 Chapala residents participated out of the 38,306 registered on the National Electoral Institute’s (INE) nominal list, or 10.1 percent.
Of the total votes cast, 3,515 believed AMLO should continue to be the president of Mexico, while 303 wanted his mandate revoked due to loss of confidence and 52 canceled their vote, according to the figures of the Electoral and Citizen Participation Institute of Jalisco (IEPC).
A canceled vote may be a ballot that is marked unclearly but it also can be considered a null vote, a popular method to show dissatisfaction with either ballot choice.
Many interested in voting were unable to do so because no special polling place was installed in the entire municipality. The closest one was in the main plaza of Jocotepec, as it is the head of the 17 th electoral district. A special polling place is needed when people are outside of their normal polling area. With the election occurring during Easter week many voters were not in their voting districts.
The municipal seat of Chapala had five poll locations with two voting boxes each where 1,355 opinions were collected, of which 1,263 were in favor of the president remaining in office, 80 that he be recalled and 12 people annulled their vote.
The delegation of Ajijic obtained 91 votes in favor of the recall of the mandate. However, 859 preferred that Andres Manuel continue as president, and 19 people canceled their vote.
There were 908 participants in Atotonilquillo; 852 of them in favor of López Obrador continuing to govern, 43 against and 13 canceled their vote. Being the farthest delegation from the municipal capital, it only had two double-box polling places.
In San Antonio Tlayacapan, with one voting center at the Cuauhtémoc Federal Elementary School at the corner of the main plaza, a total of 405 votes were cast, 70 of them in favor of the recall and 330 for AMLO’s continuation; five canceled their vote.
In Santa Cruz de la Soledad, the total number was 232 participants, 18 in favor of the presidential recall and 211 against. San Nicolás de Ibarra did not have a polling center and was included in the polls that were installed in the neighboring town of Santa Cruz de la Soledad.
«Due to budget cuts», the number of polling places were reduced, and several sections were combined, explained Luis Orozco, general coordinator for the Movimiento de Regeneración Nacional (Morena). In addition, the precincts marked with the numbers 460, 461, 464, 465, 471 and 473 do not appear in the list of published results, as of the closing of this edition.
Translated by Nita Rudy
The president of Chapala, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel, and the secretary of tourism of Jalisco, Claudia Vanessa Pérez Lamas
The president of Chapala, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel, announced improvements for the Magic Town of Ajijic and the municipal capital to better accommodate tourists. The initiative is part of the project “Model of Magic Towns of Jalisco.”
Aguirre Curiel shared details of the improvements to infrastructure and tourism on social media. «The four elements of the project will create better conditions to receive visitors and show off the beauty of our Magic Town, Ajijic. The four areas are: study and improvement of circulation, creation of the position of tourist agent; study and improvement of the towns’ image; and waste management,» he said.
The president emphasized that the objective is to improve the quality of life both for people who are residents of the magic Town and for visitors. He states that «for Ajijic and for Chapala this news means a lot, because it strengthens economic and tourism growth, without losing the traditions and culture that identify us».
During the press conference held at Casa Jalisco on April 11, the first investment of 20 million pesos (about US$1 million) was announced for the start-up of the magic Towns Model in the nine magic towns of the state; during the year, for a total investment of 359.7 million pesos (about US$18 million).
Finally, Aguirre Curiel recognized the role of Governor Enrique Alfaro Ramírez in getting Ajijic designated a magic town, highlighting its traditions and excellent climate as some of its main attractions while acknowledging the influence of the residents of the expatriate community.
Translated by Elisabeth Shields
Abraham M., was recently arrested by the Investigative Police; he has already been sentenced to trial. Photo: Prosecutor’s Office.
Staff.- Abraham M., was indicted on charges of sexually abusing the minor daughter of his partner in the Sabinos subdivision in the municipality of Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos.
The subject allegedly threatened his victim so that she would not tell what happened, telling her that he would murder her mother. For this reason, the Public Prosecutor’s Office requested the official pre-trial detention against the individual, as a precautionary measure and for the victim’s protection. He was held for a year awaiting trial. The investigation began after a criminal complaint was filed on October 17, 2019.
The victim was assaulted at approximately10: 30PM when she was sleeping in the living room of her home in the municipality of Ixtlahuacán.
After assaulting the victim, Abraham M, who was the partner of the victim’s mother, warned her ot to tell what had happened, otherwise he would murder her mother. Out of fear, the minor kept silent for a while; however, she told her mother and they filed a criminal complaint.
The Regional Prosecutor’s Office of District V carried out the investigation as a gender crime and found enough evidence of criminal child sexual abuse that an arrest warrant was requested against Abraham M.
The subject was recently captured by members of the Investigation Police, who served the warrant and presented him before the Control Judge who, considering the evidence provided by the Public Prosecutor’s Office to be ample, sent him to trial.
Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan
María Hilda Robledo Vázquez, opened «Memo» Cenaduría when she was only 20 years old. Photo: Sofía Medeles.
Sofía Medeles(Ajijic).- «Memo’s» is one of the most long-lived and emblematic local businesses in Ajijic. At 72 years old, its founder, Mrs. María Hilda Robledo Vázquez, shared the trajectory of her 52-year business.
María Robledo, better known as Mari, opened the diner when she was only 20 years old. She says that she wanted to start a business, so she started with tacos, then added menudo, until she got to what she currently sells, which is a variety of typical Mexican food dishes.
«Before being located where the business is today, we moved from two other places. Before, we were known as «Los Deportes» because we were in a place that was a sports store. Later, my stepfather made a contract with a brewery to put up the billboard, and since his name was Memo, they put it in his name. They said they were going to change it, but in the end they didn’t, and that’s how it stayed’ that’s how we became known,» the Mari related.
Mari Robledo also said that she began to be recognized by the people of Guadalajara when she was visited by some godparents of one of her brothers about six years after starting her business. They told her that they would recommend her to people from Guadalajara, and people from Guadalajara have been coming to visit her ever since.
«Sometimes customers come and tell me, I remember when my parents used to bring me here, and you are still running the business after all this time,» added the founder of the restaurant.
«Memo» has approximately 30 years on Hidalgo Street #25, in the center of the town, where there have been hundreds of tourists both local and national, and even international.
Mari shared that she has learned that her clientele comes through word of mouth, and they always let her know that they were satisfied with her dishes, especially with the pozole, one of her best-selling preparations.
Since its founding, the business has remained very family-run. At the beginning, Mari worked with her sisters. Later on she worked with her children, Fernando, Laura, Virginia and Alejandrina, who supported her at some point. The last one helps her still.
In addition, her son-in-law Francisco Romero and her grandchildren Izbia, Alejandro, Romina and Fernanda have joined the team; besides, María Elena Martínez, Corazón de Jesús Cerna and Guadalupe Pulido, are her employees who help her in the kitchen.
Although she finds the cooking business exhausting, María Robledo Vázquez hopes that the restaurant will continue for many years to come.
«The business has always been a support to help my children get ahead and give them an education. My daughter Alejandrina already knows how to do things here, and she told me that she would like to continue. I hope she does.»
Finally, Mari thanked all her customers because they have always been unconditional and come back to the restaurant with pleasure.
Translated by Sydney Metrick
The mayor of Chapala (right) accompanied with the Jalisco Secretary of Tourism.
Editor.- Chapala Mayor Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel announced the projects to improve the Pueblo Mágico aspects of Ajijic and the tourist areas of Chapala in his presentation of the Model of Magic Towns of Jalisco.
Aguirre Curiel shared details of the project and the funds to improve infrastructure and tourism on social media.
«This project consists of four thrusts that will allow our Pueblo Mágico, Ajijic, to better receive visitors and show off its beauty: Analysis and improvement of mobility in the town; Establishing a Tourist Agent; Analysis and improvement of its visual presentation; and waste management».
The mayor emphasized that the objective is to improve the quality of life of the people who live in Ajijic and the people who visit it, so he considered this an important policy «for Ajijic and for Chapala this news means a lot, because it strengthens the economic and touristic growth of our municipality, without losing the traditions and culture that identify us».
During the press conference held at Casa Jalisco on April 11, a first investment of 20 million pesos was announced for the start-up of the Magical Towns Model in the nine towns of the state that have this distinction.
Finally, Alejandro Aguirre, recognized the influence of Governor Enrique Alfaro Ramírez in the designation of Ajijic a Pueblo Mágico, highlighting its traditions and excellent climate as some of its main attractions, without forgetting the influence of the retired residents of the Expat community.
Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan
By: Patrick O’Heffernan
I am so looking forward to this weekend’s celebration of the Passion of Christ. Although my wife and I bought our house in Ajijic over 5 years ago, we actually did not move in until almost 3 years ago. The preceding years we visited, managed a ranch, and stayed in various homes around Lakeside. We were never here during Semana Santa and Easter, so this will be my first. I experienced Christmas in Baja when I was in my 20’s, but I understand the two holidays and the attendant celebrations are nothing alike.
I am going to find out, for sure. The route of the Passion of Christ goes right by my house. My neighbors and I will be in a mirador that overlooks the pathway up to the Stations of the Cross in the tépalo, and the return procession will go down our street. Dale Hoyt Palfrey of the Guadalajara Reporter published an excellent photo essay of the Passion, from past years from the trial and flogging all the way up the mountain to the crucifixion; going through her photos made me realize the scale of the event.
I am not a Catholic, although my mother insisted I go to the local Catholic grammar school (supposedly “better” than the public school), so I am familiar with the story. But the focus was always on Easter, with Good Friday and Palm Sunday distant seconds. We did the stations of the Cross on Good Friday in the church attached to the school, but that was it. The idea of the entire story being reenacted with full costumes, supporting casts and a crucifixion is a mind-boggling reminder of the power of religion.
In retrospect, it shouldn’t be. In Indonesia I watched the procession of the Hindu festival Thaipusam where thousands of devotees followed long lines of entranced men and women who pierced their cheeks with spears and put hooks through their skin attached to ropes dragging weights behind them So, following an actor playing Christ carrying a cross up the trail through the hills is not surprising, but the scale of the event here in Lakeside is impressive.
I was always taught to respect people’s practice of their religion, as long as it did not harm anyone (apparently the people in Thaipusam felt no pain while in a trance and healed very quickly). I understand that the Passion may involve hardship and maybe pain for some of the actors, but that is their passion and it is to be respected, as is the whole celebration and the devotion of the people in it and following it, Expats and Mexicans.
Which makes me think a little about Santa Semana and tourism. I was out on the streets today in downtown Ajijic and they were very crowded. People were shopping, cruising the sidewalks with takeaway margaritas and beers, enjoying themselves, as they should be.
But various government officials in Lakeside’s municipalities have predicted as many as 2 million visitors will arrive in Chapala and 180,000 in Jocotepec. Seems high to me – that would be 25% of the population of Guadalajara arriving and spreading out through the towns of Chapala. In Jocotepec, that would be an increase in population greater than all of Lakeside. But that is what they said, so we reported it. And we will report on the actual numbers, if they are calculated.
While numbers like that may be good for business – assuming everyone can actually get here and find a place to park and a restaurant table – I worry that the sheer numbers of people on holiday may not encourage respect for the Passion. If you are here on a holiday weekend, you are having fun, and there is probably no way you are going to be one of the 2,000 people following the procession up to the crucifixion, so you might be tempted to ignore the solemn event taking place. But, like I said, this will be my first Good Friday celebration in Ajijic and I may be pleasantly surprised by the respect of the crowds. I hope so.
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