en inglés

Unit 194 of Civil Protection and Firefighters that collided with the pickup truck

On February 10, Chapala Civil Protection and Fire Department truck crashed into a pickup truck while responding to a fire call in Ajijic.

«In the course, Unit 194  collided with a Ford Explorer Sport 2018 vehicle,» the report of the municipal fire department stated.  

The crash was minor and there were no injuries. The pickup sustained damage to the right rearview mirror and dash which will be covered by the corresponding insurance of both units. 

Despite the crash, two members of Civil Protection and Fire Department responded to the call on Zaragoza Street in Ajijic. A building measuring 15 by 3 meters (about 500 square feet) burned,  damaging a motorcycle. To extinguish the fire, the support of the fire truck from the Civil Protection and Fire Department of Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos was needed, in addition to two other trucks from Chapala.

The fire left material losses estimated at 30 thousand pesos, according to the report of the corresponding day.

Translated by Christalle Dalsted

Maximiliano Macías Arceo, acting Ajijic delegate. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- Semanario Laguna talked to a group of 29 Ajijic residents  last week, and found that  17  of them expressed their approval for the current  Acting Ajijic delegate, Maximiliano Macías Arceo. The conversations covered residents living between Six Corners, to the west of the town, and Flores Magón. Seminario Laguna interviewed 29 residents. The poll questions included:

1) Do you know the work of the delegate?
2) Do you like the way he has worked so far?
3) Do you think we need an election to choose a delegate?

Responding to  the first two questions, only two people disapproved of his work and management. As for the elections, 17 people preferred that Macías Arceo remain in the post, while 12 people said there should be an official vote.

Don Pepe, who lives on Álvaro Obregón, commented that, although he thought Macías Arceo’s performance was good, he also thought an election would be fair, «if the people have other options, it would be fair and legal to hold a vote, so that everyone feels heard,» he said. 

Another resident commented, «I like how the delegate has worked, the opportunities he gives, and the response his office has given to people who approach him asking for help. If there were an election, I am concerned that the person elected might not have as good a working relationship with the new administration in Chapala, and as a result, Ajijic might suffer. Or that the winner of the election might not work as hard.” We are fine with Max, and he is very supportive of the people,» commented another interviewee.

Eli, another respondent, believes that a vote is important. It is important that the delegate represents the different opinions of the population they represent. Although she thinks Macías Arceo does his job well, she would like to have the option to choose a delegate. 

Gaby, another resident, offered a different perspective, «it is important to vote, but in this case, I do not see another person more suitable or apt to do the job that Max is doing. He has respond to  several reports, regardless of the time, the place, or the person who is requesting. For example, the day the tree fell in the plaza, it was already about eleven o’clock at night; he and his wife were helping right away. Who else is going to offer that availability? The President will choose the best person for the job, but personally, I would like him to stay.»

Likewise, Adán added that he is very satisfied with the work. He believes Ajijic needs a proactive delegate. Previous ones have left much to be desired. «I don’t think an election is necessary since he has demonstrated that he can handle the position. It would be absurd to hold elections when we already have someone who has worked very well, and has demonstrated that he is up to the job.»

Municipal President, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel stated that all current delegates will remain in place until the end of pandemic restrictions. This applies to the delegates of all five towns in the Chapala municipality: Ajijic, San Antonio Tlayacapan, Santa Cruz de la Soledad, San Nicolás de Ibarra and Atotonilquillo. 

 «As of October 1st, there will be office managers or delegados in each town, and as we go along, we will see about the election, depending on the work done by the office managers,» mentioned Aguirre Curiel before the start of his 2021-2024 administration. 

During his previous administration, (2001-2004), it was stipulated in the Organic Government Regulations that it was essential to call for delegate elections during the first three months after the current administration started, however, with the changes made in 2018, there is now no specific deadline to call for elections.

Translated by Amy Esperanto

One month after relocation, merchants continue to record low sales. Photo: Héctor Ruiz Mejía.

Héctor Ruiz Mejía(Jocotepec).- After low sales, the former street vendors of Morelos and Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez streets who were relocated inside the Municipal Market, have begun to offer their products outside Jocotepec.  The vendors have opted to sell their products in the neighboring town of Ajijic and even in Chapala to «make ends meet». 

After almost a month of having been relocated to the second floor inside the market, with the purpose of «cleaning» the urban image and freeing the streets from street vendors, their sales continued to plummet.

Traders consulted by Laguna shared that in the new modules the average daily sales do not exceed 40 to 60 pesos; although on other occasions they have closed the day «at zero». 

«The other day we had to throw away full boxes of guajes (edible green tree pods)  because nothing is selling here anymore», commented Ana. The almost zero sales have also had an impact on her sister, who was left homeless because she could no longer pay the rent.

«Now we have a full house, my sister could no longer pay her rent and they threw her out and the truth is that now thanks to our support she was able to feed her baby, otherwise we don’t know what she would have done, she hasn’t sold a thing,» added the merchant.

Although those affected expressed their disagreement and proposed to return to the streets, specifically to the market access bench or to settle in the private Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez street, the Government of Jocotepec has not commented on the matter. 

Translated by Kerry Watson

Moisés Adrián Avelino Hoyos became the third director of DIF Jocotepec in a period of under a year. Photo: Héctor Ruiz Mejía.

Héctor Ruiz Mejía (Jocotepec).- For the third time in less than a year, the System for the Integral Development of the Family (DIF) Jocotepec, appointed a new director. 

Moisés Adrián Avelino Hoyos, a recent law graduate, took over on Monday, February 14, as head of the agency after the brief tenure of Angélica Melina Ramos Bautista, which lasted less than six months.

Previously, Avelino Hoyos worked at DIF Jocotepec for a little over a year in the Social Food Assistance Program for the First 1000 Days of Life, focused on supporting breastfeeding mothers.

«As they say, I started from the bottom,» explained Avelino Hoyos, who also spent another year and a half in the soup kitchen program. «It was there in the soup kitchens that I began my career as a public servant, before that I was the administrator of the San Jorge commercial passageway,» he added.

Moisés Avelino said he was thankful for the trust and the opportunity to be part of this department and said that he will work to meet the needs of the people, in addition to contributing to regenerating the social fabric of Jocotepec.

 «The truth is that there is a very difficult outlook, very complicated, but we will be here to support the people as much as we can and try to improve,» concluded the new director.

Translated by Kerry Watson

By Patrick O’Heffernan

The sunsets have been spectacular this week.  A combination of clouds – some of which actually brought rain –  and the  position of the sun this time of year all came together to create the flaming skies and the silver linings.  The sunsets turn the lake a color of blue that can only be seen on an open body of water for a few  minutes while  the sun sets.  As I look out over the lake from my balcony and enjoy the luminous demonstration of nature’s artistry. I can’t help but think about how lucky we are to live in this beautiful place.

After sundown, the social  beauty of Mexico emerges  – the parties in the eventos, the high school band practicing two blocks over with the out of tune tuba, the recuerdos emanating from the giant speakers of my neighbor’s son’s car as he and his friends gather for beer and conversation.

I love the  tables that come out onto the sidewalks  around 7 pm for family dinners. And I especially love the grills or portable stoves on the sidewalk firing up while the abuelas sit at their table and play Loteria as the daughters and daughters -in-law cook delicious things in the sidewalk kitchen.

As  I walk down my street into Ajijic, I pass about 5 tiendas built out of the living rooms of homes, and 4 sidewalk restaurants (one with indoor seating!). “ Buenas noches” the neighbors say as I walk by, and I can’t resist stopping  and sniffing.  “Hueles delicioso!” I reply. “Probar” the mujer behind the stove or the grill orders me (I know it is an offer, but…maybe not) so often   I do take a taste.  Despite my bad Spanish,  the people  on the street talk with me.  They know who I am through my next door neighbor, a Mexicana who knows everyone and everything on the block,  and my friend Chui who owns part of the block and who built us our Christmas tree in his taller last year.

Of course, everyone has a boom box, either inside the house or under the table or beside a parked car.  Mostly traditional Mexican music – recuerdos, banda, Mexican pop and  rap, and some 70’s rock and roll. The children sit on the curb, bounce to the music and giggle while they look at their phones.  The young men, back from construction jobs, sit next to them, drinking beer, swapping stories and sports scores and occasionally looking at the phone games the children are playing, giving advice.

Often an old man on a bicycle rides by (up the hill on cobblestones!!) on his way home and a chorus of “buenas noches”  follows him. The horse and rider who live around the corner come down to the tienda for beer, and the rider goes inside for his big boy Corona while the kids pet his horse hitched outside.  I think he is really flirting with the daughter of the woman who runs the store, at least that is the gossip.

 I understand  that  not everyone has a  life in Lakeside  with  beautiful sunsets and chatty families dining al fresco on the sidewalk.  Chapala was one of 22 counties in Jalisco that saw an increase in poverty since the last census.  I don’t understand that, given the steady income brought in by the retired Expats, the constant construction all around us, the traffic day and night.  It is something I hope we at Laguna can look into, to find out why Chapala ranked high on the poverty scale in Jalisco and maybe find  some insight into what can be done to reverse it.  But for now, the sunset is stunning, the aromas from the sidewalk are mouth-watering , and the music is cranking up.

The work to place the new one took SIMAPA workers two days. Photo: Ramón Ramírez.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- The sewage leak at the end of Niños Héroes Street, a few meters from the boardwalk, was finally repaired by personnel from the Municipal System of Potable Water and Sewage (SIMAPA Ajijic) after a year and half of leaks. 

The water main, which had been leaking for over 18 months, took two days to  repair;  the work began last Monday, February 14, and concluded the next day. The workers found that the   problem was the collector, which collapsed just a few meters from the manhole.

SIMAPA Ajijic Director Timoteo Aldana Perez said  that it was a hard work for the agency employees, who from day 1 worked from early in the morning until approximately 11 at night to remove the broken collector -which was at a depth of approximately 2.5 meters-, and install  a new one, as well as drain the pipes.

Aldana Pérez explained that it took time to replace the pipe due to its weight  and because of the soil that had leaked, causing the pipe to break. They also had to clean the debris  in the pipe which included shoes, clothes and sanitary napkins; in addition to connecting the PVC pipe with the concrete one.

«We hope it will no longer cause inconvenience. Now that it has been  opened for the first time we realized that the collectors are very old.  They have at least 30 years of use but they are in good condition and could last up to five or six more years.  Even  so, the municipal authorities should take action to modify the collector,”  he said.

The repair was welcomed by residents of the delegation who, through social networks, applauded the initiative of SIMAPA workers to solve the problem that has plagued them since 2020. 

Timoteo Aldana also  thanked the workers and I announced that they will continue with the maintenance and drainage  of the collector on an annual basis, to avoid further sewage spillage.

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan

Sayacas are the main characters of the Ajijic Carnival parade. Photo: The tradition of Ajijic, 2020.

Sofía Medeles (Ajjic).- The  Ajijic carnival will return. After a yearlong absence, but with changes . Chapala President Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel confirmed through his social networks the return of the carnival, however, it will  be smaller and have different events. 

Charros Association President Ernesto Pérez Reyes said that an agreement was reached not to hold the traditional «toro de once»nor the «recibimiento» (reception), as they want to avoid crowds.  However Ajijic Acting Delegado Maximiliano Macías Arceo confirmed that the traditional Carnival Tuesday parade will be held this year and called upon residents to register to participate. 

Macías Arceo said that there will be three days of celebration: Sunday, March 27, Monday, March 28 and Tuesday, March 1. He said that the first two days will see  the Sayacas parade on its usual route; on Tuesday, March 1st, it will follow the same route, but with floats. The parades will start around 11:00 am. 

«The call for the parade is more than just insuring order and controlling the event,” Macías Arceo said, adding that, “ We want to start reviving traditions, but with the best possible (Covid) measures, in the best possible way so as not to spread contagions and to be careful. We hope you will support us by wearing masks, so that everything goes well, and so that the people can enjoy it.”

Macías Arceo urged attendees to be Covid-responsible while attending the event.  «Please, everyone wear your masks, and if someone has symptoms, they should  not attend. Let’s be responsible so we can have a healthy environment this Shrove Tuesday.»

 The announcement of the parade  appears to contravene the  new sanitary measures published by Jalisco Board of Health which prohibits from February 13 to March 15,  and requires  municipalities to submit a protocol for outdoor events  for approval.

Translated  by Patrick O’Heffernan

The trailer overturned at Kilometer 112 of the highway shortly before reaching El Molino, was carrying 300 thousand liters of ethanol. 

Héctor Ruiz Mejía (Jocotepec).– On Sunday, February 13, a tanker carrying ethanol overturned on the Guadalajara-Morelia highway, in the narrow stretch of the  town of El Molino, causing the total closure of the road for almost two days. Specialists were brought in to clean up the highly flammable chemical, also known as ethyl alcohol, and to transfer the liquid to another vehicle.

Although the accident did not result in any loss of life, only material damage, the incident caused kilometer-long lines of traffic and detours by alternate routes such as the Huejotitán breach, the road to San Marcos Evangelista and the Chapala-Jocotepec highway. Motorists returning to Guadalajara from places such as Mazamitla, San Luis Soyatlán and other places on the south shore of Lake Chapala, had to spend more than three hours to get around Chapala. 

The town of Ajijic, where traffic congestion is common on weekends, was one of the hardest hit, as thousands of motorists were diverted along Ocampo Street.

Sergio Herrera Robledo, director of the Civil Protection and Fire Department of Jocotepec, said  that the  truck held about 300,000 liters of ethanol when it overturned at kilometer 112 on the stretch of road near El Molino. Traffic was  stopped in both directions at approximately 2 pm when the spilled liquid was identified as flammable .

A total of 300 liters of ethanol were spilled, before the  leak was plugged and the transfer of the 299,700 liters to another truck of ethanol began. The transfer was completed at 11:30 pm on February 14 and  cranes moved the overturned truck to open  the road.

Herrera Robledo stated that it is not known what could have caused the  rollover of the «Luxemborg Mexico» company’ truck since the driver fled the scene, and  the investigation is ongoing.

This was the 84th accident in the past 13 months in this stretch of highway  known as La Engorda, which has claimed the lives of 19 people, among them a baby and two adults  on January 16. 

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan

Almost a hundred vehicles blocked the main intersection of Chapala between Francisco I. Madero Avenue, Hidalgo and Morelos Street, for about an hour.

Editors.- For the second time, drivers of «Uber» cars have demonstrated in Chapala against the alleged abuses of authority, robbery and extortion by the state police, demanding  the municipal authority withdraw the patrols from the area. 

Around 100 cars closed Hidalgo Avenue at its intersection with Morelos in Chapala for about an hour, and then took the Chapala-Jocotepec highway towards Ajijic. The traffic blockade also affected traffic on the main avenue of Chapala, Francisco I. Madero Avenue. 

“State agents out!”  shouted the demonstrators  in unison outside the Chapala City Hall building. This newspaper was present at the demonstration, however the demonstrators refused to make any statements.

After the hour of blockade in the municipal seat, the almost one hundred vehicles went to the intersection of the Chapala-Jocotepec highway at the entrance to Ajijic, in order to pressure the government to withdraw the CP-003, PA-024 and CP-028 units from the region. In response, the National Guard was present to mediate and reopen the roadway after approximately half an hour.

As a result, the government of Chapala issued a statement through social media  declaring  that despite respecting the right to free expression, it will not tolerate people outside the municipality to block the roads. It also demanded to see the permits of the demonstrating drivers.

“This Government will not tolerate that people from other neighboring municipalities close roads and alter the lives of Chapalenses, for reasons that are outside the law” read the statement, and went to urge that,  ‘We urge individuals that if they have complaints  for state agencies to appear before them or file complaints with the appropriate authorities’.”

Nearly 70 were outside the municipal town hall with banners.

The message reminded them that it is the Secretary of Transportation (Setran) of the State of Jalisco, the only one empowered to issue permits and regularize the service providers of transportation platforms or Transportation Network Companies.

After this second demonstration in Chapala, some of the transporters met with the coordinator of advisors of the Municipality of Chapala, Juan Carlos Pelayo Pelayo, who invited them to denounce the alleged extortion by elements of the state police to the Public Prosecutor’s Office. 

Pelayo Pelayo asked them to present proof of the accusation, but clarified that it was beyond the powers of the municipal government to ask the State police to stop patrolling the streets of the municipality. «Chapala is also Jalisco’s territory,» the public official was heard saying in a video posted on social networks by the Facebook account: Reporters Anonymous. 

The protests stem from the fact that elements of the state police have allegedly taken cash from several of the drivers in their so-called «routine checks», which have intensified over the last three weeks. 

The straw that broke the camel’s back was the alleged robbery of 7,500 pesos from a driver of the cars  popularly known as «Uber ‘s»,  but which are not licensed Uber drivers, which makes them more vulnerable to this type of alleged abuse of authority.

The first protest that took place on February 7 with 30 drivers, in front of the State Police headquarters, installed in the Parque de la Cristianía, located to the east of the municipal capital of Chapala, has grown in number of protesters. 

On this second occasion there were around one hundred cars that took to the streets to demonstrate, as opposed to the 30 units that protested on the first occasion. 

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan

The building under construction is located in La Floresta, next to Club Nautico. Photo: Sofía Medeles. 

Sofia Medeles (Ajijic).- The controversial construction  of a seven-story building in La Floresta, located next to Club Nautica , is in the process of having two floors, removed as required in  an agreement between the residents of the subdivision and the developer.

The office of the Asociación de Colonos del Fraccionamiento de La Floresta confirmed the requirement  for the removal of the floors.  No deadlines or legal agreements were specified, but a few weeks ago machinery and a crew of workers were observed entering the site,  

This building has been in dispute since its inception, because, although it obtained the construction permit in 2012, in 2014 the project was modified from 5 to 7 stories,  exceeding the subdivision’s limit of two-stories.   In 2016,  it was temporarily closed because the modifications were made without a permit, and the fact that part of it was allegedly located on federal land of Lake Chapala. Construction was  completely  suspended  in 2017 because of the violations.

Translated  by Patrick O’Heffernan