Merchants and public officials during the project presentation May 31.
Jazmín Stengel (Chapala). After some electrical fires in boardwalk commercial stalls, the City Council is looking to put the electrical lines underground. Additionally, they will reorganize the registration and permits of the stallholders.
The coordinator of Economic Development in Chapala, María de la Luz Mendoza Huerta, the director of Regulations, Sergio Armando Real Serrano, and the chief of staff, Joaquín Huerta Barrios, presented a document based on safety reports from the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and the Municipal Fire Department and Civil Protection.
Without legal representatives or CFE engineers present to explain the technical reasons, María de la Luz Mendoza only showed a couple of photographs as evidence of the report sent by the federal agency to the municipality after the fire on May 6, caused by an electrical overload in one of the commercial premises.
The safety report issued by the CFE urged the municipality to fix the electrical installation within a week, or the service would be cut off. The Municipality negotiated to have more time to carry out the work and to establish a dialogue with the merchants in the area.
The CFE’s recommendation dictates that the wiring of the electrical installations must be hidden and compliant. The Government of Chapala proposed that the merchants and the CFE-approved electrical engineers coordinate the work; the authorized engineer will evaluate the situation and the materials necessary to reinstall the upgraded electrical system and advise the merchants.
It is expected that the installation of the new power lines will be underground. Although the budget for the work has not been disclosed, the material will be paid for by the tenants, while City Hall will provide the labor from the Public Works Department.
The merchants asked for the area to be kept under surveillance since there have been robberies, even «they have stolen the cables from my shop», said one merchant present. In response, the reactivation of the small security booth located on the Chapala boardwalk was added to the proposals.
A letter of commitment will also be signed with the person in charge of the meter centers to avoid theft of electricity among neighbors. Many of the current connections are clandestine.
The director of Regulations, Sergio Real, said that while collecting electrical installation documents from the tenants, he will also update the merchant registration lists.
The goal is for all the merchants to have current permits, although the official did not specify exactly when. It is estimated that more than 300 vendors use the commercial area. The first registry from 2006 has only 132 merchants, plus a large number of street vendors, and more than 100 were granted permits during the 2018-2021 administration, many others work clandestinely.
Translated by Paul Weeks
Police seized a weapon from one of those arrested.
Editorial staff.- In separate incidents, two individuals were detained in Tizapán el Alto when they tried to evade police officers of the State Security Secretariat, who had approached them for a search. Drugs and a firearm were found on one of the suspects.
In the first incident, the state police officers driving along the intersection of Jalisco and Puebla Streets, in the Rinconada de Santa Anita neighborhood, noticed a man riding a motorcycle without a license plate and without a reflective vest or helmet. The suspect accelerated when he caught sight of the police officers.
The uniformed officers stopped the motorcyclist, identified as Santiago «N,» aged 36. After applying the security protocols, the officers found among the suspect’s belongings 11 small packages with granulated material resembling crystal meth, weighing 1.6 grams. The man also had a .357-caliber revolver with six live cartridges strapped to his waist.
The suspect in the second case, René «N,» aged 37, was apprehended at the intersection of Zaragoza Street and Guadalajara-Morelia Highway, in the Villa Emiliano Zapata neighborhood, in the same municipality.
The police officers were passing the location when they saw the man riding a motorcycle, also without license plates, so they asked him to stop to question him securely. Their search revealed 16 plastic bags with crystal meth, weighing 2.3 grams.
Translated by Mags Petela
The demonstrators blocking the road wore white t-shirts, and carried placards asking for the location of a man from the town.
In response to the forced disappearance of the Tuxcueca man, family, friends and neighbors took to the highway on the morning of May 29 to block the road to Mazamitla and Tizapán. The road is usually very busy on Sundays with tourist traffic so the blockade generated a long line of traffic. It was removed at noon.
The demonstrators wore white t-shirts and carried placards asking for the location of a man from the town who was taken by force by armed people while in San Luis Soyatlán, the second kidnapping in San Luis Soyatlán on that day.
Translated by Amy Esperanto
The Terranova High School cheerleading squad gave a lively welcome to the schools participating in the Terra Games on May 25 and 26.
Editor.- With a performance by the famed tapatío singers Zornoza and Marco León, the Terranova Institute of Ajijic celebrated the opening of the 2022 Terra Games.
Diana González Hermosillo Garibay, academic director of the Games’ host school, said that the approximate 700 students that ranged in age from elementary to high school from Chapala and Guadalajara participated in different sports competitions such as soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis and more.
During his welcome speech, José Andrés Blum, the general director of the Institute, highlighted values such as harmony, participation, a sense of self-improvement, and tenacity; values found in the arts and sports, and that should be part of the lives of students and human beings.
Prior to the cutting of the inaugural ribbon, the tapatío singers Zornoza and Marco León, actors in the series «Guerra de Vecinos,» performed two musical themes, highlighting the love song «Bonito.»
Translated by MaryAnne Marble
Enrique Cerda, doctor at the Health Center in San Juan Cosalá. Photo: Alma Serrano.
Alma Serrano (San Juan Cosalá).- For more than a year, the collective immunity of the population, together with preventive measures, have resulted in the absence of a single case of dengue infection, according to Enrique Cerda, physician at the San Juan Cosalá Health Center.
Preventive actions such as the cleaning of garbage dumps and water chlorination have significantly reduced the incidence of dengue cases in the last two years, which led Dr. Enrique Cerda to conclude that immunity in combination with preventive measures has prevented contagions since May 2021.
«These are positive and expected results,» stated the doctor. “In addition, the simplicity of the treatment in mild cases represents a viable option for people who self-medicate, since paracetamol and coconut water have been proven to reduce symptoms (some experts dispute this pointing out that coconut water has no curative properties but does increase needed hydration). We also need to take into account that dengue can be asymptomatic.»
There have been no cases this year, although this is not unusual during the dry season. In 2019 more than 300 cases of dengue were reported, of which 25 to 50 cases needed medical care due to their severity. As of May 2021, approximately 50 cases had been reported, all mild.
Cerda concluded by saying that there is a digital application called «Sin Dengue» (“Dengue-Free”) in which the user answers some questions and makes a home diagnosis, according to the symptoms of the disease.
Translated by Sandy Britton
El Lago de Chapala. Foto: Héctor Ruiz.
Por: Daniel Jiménez Carranza
El desenlace partidista del pasado domingo electoral, nos arroja un resultado digno de dar pena, en donde un partido político va conduciendo al país hacia un gobierno unipartidista, como nos sucedió con el extinto pri mor, que nos mantuvo maniatados y sometidos a través de sus laboratorios electorales, compra de votos y tantos otros artificios indignos de mencionarse, sin embargo, ello no ha sido resultado de la casualidad, sino que la disímbola coalición de partidos de oposición, agrupados en un absurdo lema de “Va por México”, no logró presentar un coherente y estructurado programa político que movilizara a la población, particularmente porque ninguno de ellos ni en su conjunto logró ofrecer una plataforma clara y enriquecida con la aportación del ideario político de cada uno de ellos de tal forma que haya capitalizado el interés de los ciudadanos, simplemente porque no la hubo, lo que ha predominado nuevamente ha sido la voracidad deleznable por hacerse con un puesto público y lucrar, lo que manifiesta claramente una falta de cohesión en ideales políticos en beneficio de los electores, ausencia de un panorama que rescate al país de las corruptelas que lo ahogan.
Estas condiciones han arrojado un resultado que ha favorecido al partido de morena, y ello, tampoco porque este partido enarbole ideales que representen un giro radical en el desarrollo del país, o hayan logrado una movilización de masas, sino que la condición de la titularidad del ejecutivo, creador de este partido, mediante su permanente comunicación con la población, ha sido el catalizador que decantó su victoria; todo ello nos habla de la importancia que representa el contacto con la ciudadanía, pues a pesar de errores en la conducción política del país, y no presentar suficientes logros respecto las promesas de campaña, como es la seguridad, la población continúa brindando apoyo a su política y a su forma de gobernar.
De todo ello, podemos obtener importantes conclusiones respecto de la función que cubren los partidos políticos en la sociedad, los cuales necesariamente deben de dotarse de un ideario político que identifique con claridad sus principios y objetivos que pretenden alcanzar, estrechar el contacto con la ciudadanía que les permita formular un plan de acción realista que ofrezca solución a sus demandas y sus necesidades, planteando en esta forma, alternativas políticas válidas que obedezcan a la pluralidad de los diferentes enfoques en base a sus postulados partidistas, con lo que se verá enriquecida la participación democrática y la vida del país.
Geolocation devices on display
Jazmín Stengel (Chapala).- While waiting for the implementation of a full ALE program of security devices and cameras, the municipality is distributing 10 geolocation devices in the form of necklaces bracelets that women can use to summon help.The ALE Strategy which Chapala intends to implement locally is theJalisco state program to provide women who have been victims of recurring domestic violence with signaling devices and security cameras that can summon police to their location if they are attacked.
The Women’s Institute obtained more than half a million pesos for the purchase of the ten geolocation devices and two electronic tablets that will serve as monitors, to obtain the immediate location of victims under protection of gender or domestic violence.
The interim geolocation devices will be given to victims of high or recurrent levels of violence. When wearing the geolocator, a victim of gender or intra-family violence will only have to press the device to activate its location on an Institute monitor and alert the nearest patrol which should respond immediately.
The Institute’s budget also includes the salary for adding a second psychologist to the Institute’s staff, a purchasing purple patrol car, which will supplement the two patrol cars and central office already existing in the municipality, and uniforms for its patrol officers.
So far, the emergency system for protected persons (those with restraining orders or a history of domestic violence) responds to 27 to 35 people per week throughout the municipality, according to the report of Public Safety in Chapala. When Public Security receives a report of an assault, they go to the scene, neutralize the situation and accompany the victim to file an official complaint with the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
In cases where the victim foresees further issues with the aggressor, regular visits are made to the victim for the next 60 days. At the end of this period, if the circumstances of the situation do not improve, the service may be renewed.
Although the Women’s Institute and Municipal Public Security will be in charge of the geolocation devices, the Regional Public Prosecutor of Chapala determines which women should receive them. The municipal trustee, Gamaliel de Jesús Soto Pérez, also can decide on the need for a device in certain circumstances, explained legal advisor Diego Muñoz.
Protection and emergency services are available in case of gender or domestic violence to women, men and the LGBTTQ+ community, since the Women’s Institute, working directly with the Jalisco Secretariat for Substantive Equality between Men and Women to protect all citizens from domestic violence.
Translated by Christalle Dalsted
The pickup ended up impacting a tree.
A collision between two vehicles took place during the afternoon of May 31 on the Ajijic-Chapala highway. Two people were injured in the accident, but their injuries were not life-threatening.
The accident involved a black Ford double cab pickup truck and a gray Honda wagon. The pickup ended up crashing into a tree, while the Honda had damage to the front only.
Emergency Services arrived at the point, near the Chapala Civil Protection and Fire Department station, while the area was heavily loaded with traffic due to the collision.
Translated by Sandy Britton
Cofepris withdraws products such as Cheetos, Doritos and Oreo cookies, but does not act against illegal pesticides.
The Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks, Cofepris, is acting effectively and quickly to remove products from stores that do not comply with labeling requirements, but has failed to remove illegal pesticides that are still being sold in self-service stores, according to Luis Eduardo Gonzalez Cepeda, president of the Mexican Union of Manufacturers and Formulators of Agrochemicals, A.C., or UMFFAAC.
The UMFFAAC president recalled that in May the public was informed about the health risk of the sale of illegal BOOM! and Max Control brand pesticides in self-service stores such as Home Depot, HEB, Soriana, ACE Hardware, Mercado Libre and Walmart. But Cofepris has taken no action to remove them from the market.
González Cepeda also said that last April 14, Cofepris announced withdrawal from supermarkets such as Soriana and Chedraui of about 80 products that do not comply with labeling requirements. Among the withdrawn products were Oreo cookies, Cheetos and Doritos. “But when dealing with substances such as illegal pesticides, Cofepris does not act with the same responsibility and effectiveness as any health authority should do,” González Cepeda said. “These are products used in the home, putting children and pets at risk.”
Cristian García de Paz, executive director of Protección de Cultivos, Ciencia y Tecnología A.C., said this serious omission by Cofepris, “Reflects the disparity of criteria with which this agency acts, since it has no problem in publicizing actions to withdraw food products that do not comply with labeling standards, but it gives no importance to such a relevant issue as the sale of illegal pesticides for home use, when they are authorized exclusively for agricultural use, that is, they are sold with registrations that are not endorsed by Cofepris itself.”
García de Paz said illegal products sold in self-service stores are also available online. “This requires firm action by Cofepris to prevent continued access to illegal pesticides and the proliferation of a business that does not respect health regulations, risking the health of consumers who, in a trusting manner, acquire these products for use in their homes,” he said.
Both directors made a respectful, but strong call to Cofepris, to remove from the market illegal pesticides sold in stores and online, given the health risk involved in their sale to consumers who unknowingly acquire products without a valid registration issued by the competent authority.
Translated by Mike Rogers
Karen Ivette Pérez Casillas awarded first place as Miss Bikini Junior 2022 in Jalisco.
Jazmín Stengel (Chapala).- Karen Ivette Pérez Casillas won first place in Miss Bikini Junior and third place in the Bikini Open 2022 categories at the state level as part of the Mr. Jalisco competition. She hopes to take the national title of Miss Fitness 2022.
The 21-year-old is participating for the second consecutive year in bodybuilding competitions and so far, she has won second and third places in competitions at the state and national levels.
Her goal is to win the “definitive prize” given to competitors who achieve first place in all categories, in her case: Junior Bikini, Miss Bikini up to 1.69 [meters, about 5 feet, 5 inches] and Miss Bikini Open. The prize will be given during the Mr. Jalisco & Mr. International competitions on August 13 and 14 in Guadalajara.
After winning the Jalisco state competition on May 15 in the Miss Bikini Junior category and third place in the Miss Bikini Open 2022, the young bodybuilder was selected by the Jalisco federation to participate in the Mr. Mexico Junior and Master competitions on May 29 in Cholula, Puebla.
However, Ivette decided to rest and prepare for the big international competition in Mexico City. This is the second time Ivette has made it this far. In her first year of participation (2021) she achieved second place in Mr. Jalisco and Mr. International, now she is going for first place.
“I never thought I would get to that point. I did sports for my mental health and exercise took me out of my depression. I became very fond of it,” said the winner, for whom sports has changed her life.
Translated by Mary Woods
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