By: Patrick O’Heffernan
Semanario Laguna has been covering the attempts by the Chapala government to deal with the stray and abandoned dogs in the municipality through two administrations. Our reporters and editors have sat in meetings with government officials and the various parties that were both on and off the record; we have obtained and analyzed a copy of the lawsuit currently driving the process; we have toured the SOS facility in West Ajijic and carefully studied the video of the new facility in East Chapala; and we have interviewed everyone involved, including people volunteering at the SOS shelter (see story below), to make sure we understand the Gordian knot that humans have tied around stray dogs in Chapala.
We are still digging for facts. The new shelter now under construction by the Aguirre administration in East Chapala has a number of questions around it: does the municipality have the budget and staff to handle a large number of dogs, what is the waste removal system on the new site, what happens when the lease is up and the next administration takes over, and who will manage it?
As of now the answers to these questions have not been forthcoming (Note: at press time, our reporter Sophia Medeles obtained a quote from Chapala President Aguirre that he is talking to a group of Expats about managing the new shelter. No details yet, but it is a start).
It is possible that the answer to all of them is “we don’t yet, but we are working on it”. Given the Aguirre Administration’s penchant for solving problems, that would be an acceptable answer – no government always knows all the answers before it starts a project. As a reporter, former government staff and political scientist I have learned to look at the trajectory of an administration’s intentions and actions more closely than I do at their statements. “We don’t know yet but we are working on it” is an acceptable answer in many cases if it is accompanied by information about what is going on. It is certainly much better than “no answer”, which invites misinformation and rumors.
So here we are. Locally, we have a new shelter under construction by the current administration which appears to really want to solve the problem handed to them by the last administration and build and operate a dog shelter that is good for the dogs. We have a well – managed SOS dog shelter in West Ajijic that won’t move until it feels the conditions for the dogs are right. We have a homeowners alliance that has run out of patience over the 24/7 noise of the dogs in that shelter and filed a lawsuit, but understands and supports the need for the dogs to be well cared for no matter what happens.
Our reporters and editors have requested information and documents from the government to answer the questions surrounding this situation. We are pushing for those interviews and documents from the municipality to continue our effort to piece together a full and accurate picture of a situation. And to counter the misinformation and rumors.
But as one of the reporters who has followed this story for 2 years and interviewed many of the parties involved, I want to assure my readers that, while not everything we have been told checks out, all the parties involved seem genuinely to have the health and welfare of the dogs top on their list. That seems to be the one thing everyone agrees on – take care of the dogs, which is where I stand. Let’s go from there.
Dog shelter, located west of Ajijic, at the foot of Cerro Colorado. Photo: Sofía Medeles.
Editor. In order to better understand the controversy surrounding the dog shelter in West Ajijic run by Chapala SOS Dog Shelter, Laguna has been interviewing all the parties involved in the controversy. Last week Laguna interviewed the president and the spokesperson of the homeowners association impacted by the noise from the shelter. This week we have interviewed an influential volunteer at the SOS shelter, and Chapala President Aguirre. Semanario has not confirmed any of the claims made in the interview, except thore of President Aguirre. The volunteer interviewed does not have final decision authority.
Sofia Medeles (Ajijic).- A volunteer of SOS Chapala Dog Rescue, who asked not to be named, said that volunteers want none of the dogs that are currently in the shelter located in Ajijic to go to the new shelter that is being prepared by the current Chapala Government, located in Hacienda de La Labor.
The interviewee told Semanario Laguna that, due to the great investment in health and maintenance the workers and volunteers have made in each dog that is in the shelter, as well as the lack of information about the commitment of care in the new space, they do not want any of the 85 dogs to be transferred. So far, they have not given them a deadline to leave the place.
«None of the dogs are going to go there, because of everything that is invested in each one, besides the fact that there is no certainty that they will continue to be cared for in the same way we care for them., “the interviewee told Laguna, saying that “We want them to go to a better place. We know nothing about the methodology to be used, if the place is suitable, if there are trained people, if the feeding is correct, etc.”
The interviewee also pointed out the lack of commitment on the part of the municipalities to continue with projects such as the shelter, and added that at no time, neither government personnel, nor the Department of Ecology, approached them to notify them, so they found out through social networks. (note: President Aguirre posted a video on the municipal website touring the new shelter and expressing his commitment to excellent care for the dogs, however, o specific information has been provided by the administration).
According to the volunteer, the monthly investment ranges from 90 to 100 thousand pesos, between medical expenses that include sterilizations, deworming, vaccinations, and in some cases medications and chemotherapy, in addition to food, salary for employees and the sanitization that is carried out. This amount is contributed by volunteers and associations that not only contribute monetarily, but also in kind, and by careful management.
The volunteer also pointed out that the way in which the shelter has been run has always followed international standards for this type of site, such as cage measurements, cage material, roof and floor slope, playground, isolation cages, and daily walks. The interview’ s opinion is that the new shelter will not be able to meet these requirements.
Chapala President Alejandro Aguirre Curiel, told Laguna that although he does not have an exact budget for the new shelter, the investment is relatively low and he hopes that it will open as soon as possible.
He also told Laguna that a group of Expats is interested in supporting the project, but since it is a municipal shelter, the municipality will also be looking for sponsors to keep the space in good condition. He also mentioned that an agreement was signed with those responsible for the SOS shelter, where it was stipulated that they had at least 30 days to vacate, a date that has now expired.
The new municipal shelter is located on a hectare of land in Hacienda de La Labor. The government announced that in a few days the 50 cages will be ready. The cost of renting the space is 15,000 pesos per month, which will be covered by the group of neighbors whose homes have been impacted by the noise from the west Ajijic shelter and whose lawsuit is driving the negotiation process.
The volunteer interviewed added that interested people can help the dogs by donating, adopting or being a bridge house, and even, if there is the possibility, lending a space in contract so that a new shelter can be established in the Ajijic delegation, where most of the sponsors and volunteers are located.(note: a shelter will require permits from the municipality and must be located so that it does not impact nearby homes). For more information, contact the Facebook page SOS Dog Chapala Rescue.
The interviewee also asked pet owners to be aware and responsible; «we will not end up sending dogs and dogs to the United States because people are quick to abandon them. We need to raise people’s awareness, if we provide permanent homes, bridge houses and shelters, we won’t need governments to take care of them», he concluded.
Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan
Garbage accumulates around some Piedra Barrenada restaurants. Photo: Courtesy.
Héctor Ruiz Mejía (Jocotepec).- Restaurant owners in the Piedra Barrenada tourist area have complained that, after they refused to pay more for garbage collection, pickups became “irregular and infrequent.”
At a meeting on May 31, members of the restaurateurs’ association, Prestadora de Servicios de Piedra Barrenada A.C., complained that about one month ago the Government of Jocotepec imposed higher charges for garbage pickup.
The association, representing at least 12 restaurateurs, said that after they refused to pay the charge, garbage collection became irregular and less and less frequent, causing an accumulation of garbage around their businesses.
They said it was unfair, since the collection service was the only benefit they received from the municipality.
“We pay all our taxes on time (and) this was the only thing that the City Council supported us with,” said one restaurateur at the meeting, who requested anonymity to «avoid problems.»
The restaurateurs also suggested that charges for pickups should be based on the amount of garbage each establishment generated, arguing that some restaurants generate much more than others.
Despite their disagreements with the municipality, members of the association said they are willing to pay «a fair contribution.»
They said that a solution should be found, expressing concern about the impact of the recent garbage pile-ups on Lakeside tourism, in one of the best-known restaurant areas of Jalisco.
Translated by Alan Ferguson
Juan Olivares «Juanito» – July 12, 1944 – May 28, 2022. Credit: Sofía Medeles.
Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- One of Ajijic’s first and most prolific photographers, Juan «Juanito» Olivares, died last Saturday, May 28, 2022. He is survived by his wife Alicia Morales from Ajijic, and three children: Aquiles, Imelda, and Judith. He leaves behind a historical photo narrative covering almost his entire life
He was born on July 12, 1944 in Ajijic. His parents were Antonio Olivares and Romana Sánchez. In an interview from two years ago, Juanito said that he began his artistic career before his 20th birthday, with a plastic arts course. He used photography to improve his drawing technique, but soon photography became his main medium. Of his success, he explained, «when I was doing well, I would print up to 300 photos. When I started, the photos cost 50 centavos, and they went up to 75 centavos, one peso, two, three, and so on until they cost what they cost today.»
With his steadily increasing reputation, he became a fixture at town festivities, and important celebrations throughout the town. During this interview, he nostalgically mentioned how his work as a photographer was devalued over time, due to the advent of cell phones. Even so, he continued painting and making signs and small landscapes for businesses in town. Until the end of his days he remained in love with his little town of Ajijic, «the landscapes have changed a lot because of the development, but it is still beautiful every moment of the day.”
His collection included photos of old hammocks, fishermen, the lakeshore when it still had no pier, no boardwalk, and other landscapes of many iconic Ajijic sites. Some of what he photographed remains today, but much has disappeared; his body of work is art and history. He photographed traditions that are now almost extinct, such as the Day of the Cross, and the Day of the Altars of Sorrows.
Translated by Amy Esperanto
The site was delimited with police tape. Illustration photo.
Staff.- Three bodies were discovered in a well on the federal highway from Tuxcueca to San Luis Soyatlan, half a kilometer from the municipal cemetery, thanks to an anonymous tip received by the Municipal Police.
Personnel from the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Investigative Police corroborated the fact and Civil Protection went to the place to extract the bodies.
The recovered bodies were armed and had bullet wounds in the skull, and were found in a well that is 10-15 meters deep (about 30-50 feet). They were handed over to the Jalisco Institute of Forensic Sciences, according to the statement issued by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Translated by Nita Rudy
Another strategy is to promote energy efficiency. Photo: internet.
Abigail A. Correa Cisneros
Last Wednesday morning, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador proposed to eliminate daylight saving time saying that it’s impacts on health and energy savings are minimal.
In 1996, Ernesto Zedillo established this schedule to make better use of sunlight during the sunny months and thus save on electricity generation during peak demand hours.
The strategy is not exclusive to our country; it is used in Europe, for example. But few people agreed. It has been shown that the population prefers to do away with daylight saving time. In addition, health problems are reported, such as digestive disorders, depression, drowsiness, irritability, and even heart attacks.
On the other hand, the energy savings achieved through daylight saving time could supply about 600,000 homes for a year, according to estimates by the Trust for Electric Energy Saving (FIDE).
Another strategy is to promote energy efficiency by means of which the consumption of any type of energy would be reduced and with it the possible environmental impacts associated with it. This is applicable from the generation of such energy to its final consumption. In this way, we would be reducing the greenhouse effect and optimizing the use of natural resources.
In the recent Ordinary Session of the Trust for Electric Energy Saving Technical Committee, a comparison was made between the costs of electricity generation of all the technologies available in the market and the costs of energy efficiency, at a global level. It was shown that, both globally and nationally, it is between three and five times cheaper to save a kilowatt-hour (kWh) in homes, industries, businesses, and services, than to generate, transmit, distribute, and market it.
International government energy-saving strategies have a major impact on climate change. The International Energy Agency, in its Sustainable Development Scenario (IEA-SDS) and the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) point out that the best and most economical strategy to comply with environmental commitments is to increase support for energy efficiency actions by 40 to 44 percent.
Energy efficiency provides important social, labor, and public health benefits. It favors the generation of new jobs in the country, has an important impact on the value chain of the national electricity sector and on industrial productivity, thus helping to alleviate poverty.
President López Obrador said that he will analyze whether it is feasible to eliminate daylight saving time. More analysis will need to be done regarding the energy issue, to see the best solution to take advantage of renewable energies and to start generating more projects regarding energy efficiency.
FROM THE CENTER
As part of World Milk Day, celebrated this June 1, the Agri-food, and Fisheries Information Service (SIAP) reported that national cow’s milk production was 13,239,779 tons in 2021, an increase of 2.3 percent over the 12,943,123 tons a year ago. Likewise, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development called on the industry to promote the consumption of milk and dairy products among the Mexican population, due to its health benefits. The main producers include Jalisco, with 2,780 thousand tons; Coahuila, with 1,514 thousand tons; Durango, with 1,463 thousand tons; and Chihuahua, with 1,249 thousand tons.
Translated by Nita Rudy
Lupita Hernández Romero and Moisés Real, creators of «Son del Telar». Photo: La Tradición de Ajijic.
Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- With great acceptance and enthusiasm the «Son del Telar» (Sound of the Loom) has premiered, the first one dedicated to the Magical Town of Ajijic.
The musical piece that was created by María Guadalupe «Lupita» Hernández Romero and the musician Moisés Real Gómez, was presented on May 29 with dance and folkloric music in Ajijic’s main square.
The event was attended by more than 150 people. They talked about the sound and the folkloric dance, as well as the making of the costumes that will be used to dance the musical piece that lasts about three and a half minutes.
The song was presented to the rhythm of the loom, accompanied by Mariachi Nuevo Chapala, and the collaboration of Ballet Folklorico Maya and Ballet Folklorico Huitzillin.
«From the beginning it was very entertaining, and when it was first presented, it made many of us cry. People were very surprised with the result,» said an attendee of the event.
The song «El Son del Telar» can be found on YouTube and Facebook; in the video you can see the popular characters of the sayacas and places like the square and the Magic Town boardwalk. The video is by Mariachi Nuevo Chapala.
«There is no prettier town than my Ajijic, so pretty, full of beautiful girls and lots of sayacas,» can be heard in the song written in honor of the town.
Translated by Sydney Metrick
The sidewalk was cordoned off by the authorities while the forensic medical service arrived.
Staff (Chapala).- A man died outside the Juan Rayo soccer field, located on Madero Avenue, Chapala. He was playing a soccer game during the afternoon of May 28 when he began to feel discomfort, so he sought medical attention.
He was escorted to the outskirts of the field, asking for help from the medical authorities, but by the time they arrived it was too late, and he had died on the sidewalk.
Translated by Paul Weeks
José Miguel Gómez López during the last Popular Consultation of the Fiscal Pact on November 27 and 28, 2021. Photo: Archive.
Editorial Staff.- José Miguel Gómez López, the municipal president of Jocotepec, said he supports the revision of the Fiscal Coordination Agreement for Jalisco sent by the Jalisco Executive and approved by the State Congress. He said the municipality contributes much more than it receives.
Gómez López said of all the taxes Jocotepec contributes to the federation each year, only 15 million pesos are returned to the public budget. Jocotepec has 195 million pesos in expenses per year (almost US$10 million).
He also said that Jocotepec is one of the municipalities most affected by the current fiscal pact. With more than 200,000 hectares producing berries, among other economic activities that “generate an extraordinary amount of resources,” the amount returned to the municipality is irregular.
Gómez López said that by “refusing to sign” the Fiscal Pact agreement the worst scenario would be a budget cut and “we would still be better off.”
Jalisco is not seeking to withdraw from the Fiscal Pact but to establish a new distribution scheme for taxes generated in the states. This is based on the size of the resources that each entity contributes to the national economy according to its economic strength, needs and current challenges. The Government of Jalisco has a new and balanced vision of what should be fairly distributed to each state.
At the end of last year, a referendum was held in the state regarding a revision of the Fiscal Pact, but it did not have the required minimum participation to become binding. The southeast region had only 25.40 percent of citizen participation, while 33 percent was needed.
Translated by Mary Woods
Section of the Jocotepec – Chapala bike path, which has had irregular lighting service. Photo: Courtesy.
Héctor Ruiz Mejía (Jocotepec).- The Jocotepec town council approved the payment of a debt to the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) in the amount of 114,000 pesos. However, they will seek reimbursement, arguing that the balance was due to technical details of the Secretariat of Infrastructure and Public Works of Jalisco (SIOP) in the installation of lights in the bike path.
The payment for the use of electric energy was unanimously approved, and the payment will be made in ten monthly installments of 11,401.20 pesos, however, the town council will seek the legal means to appeal the charge and seek a refund of the payment.
During the fourteenth session of the town council of the Government of Jocotepec, it was informed that the municipality has a debt of 114,012 pesos, generated during the period from January 21 to November 21, 2021.
The municipal trustee, Carlos Alberto Zúñiga Chacón, advised that the debt was generated due to irregularities and inconsistencies during the works of the bicycle lane by the Secretariat of Infrastructure and Public Works of Jalisco.
According to the trustee, the amount was the result of the study of the expenditure of the whole area in kilowatts, which resulted in 2,600 during the period, which represented a fee to the municipality of .05 under the concept of public lighting services.
The irregular monthly expense of approximately ten thousand pesos was due to the fact that the SIOP personnel, during their work on the bicycle path, left the electric service connected to the lights while the necessary technical operations were being installed.
«These were irregular works that now we had to resolve, but we will look for the way to legally request the refund of the undue payment», assured the municipal trustee Zúñiga Chacón during the session.
Translated by Christalle Dalsted
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