Delegation staff collecting abandoned street vending clothing. Photo: Delegation Ajijic 2021-2024.
Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- Due to the growing problem of accumulation of large items such as furniture, tires and debris in the streets of Ajijic, town staff have opted to help low-income people remove this waste.
The Ajijic acting delegate, Maximiano Macias Arceo, commented that they have already identified several areas of Ajijic, among them the streets Emiliano Zapata, Francisco Villa, or the northern part of Juárez, where oversized garbage is constantly discarded that the collection trucks do not take away.
«Armchairs, mattresses, other furniture, tires and debris, are taken out in the street, and they stay there several days. Sometimes the people who throw them away do so because they do not have the money to pay for a service to take the furniture, debris or tires, the latter are taken to specific and authorized places», commented Macías Arceo.
Because of this, he offers the support to remove them, as long as whoever requests it does not have the resources to hire a service of this type. Help can be requested at the phone number: 331-537-9134.
He added that they do not charge a fee, they only ask in exchange that, if possible, the debris be delivered in bags, and the area of the debris be clear so that it can be easily loaded onto the truck. In addition, a support «for the refreshment» of the workers because at times the workers do this work outside their normal working hours.
Translated by Christalle Dalsted
The new main plaza, in broad daylight, is empty and without shade to protect from the sun. Photo: Héctor Ruiz.
Héctor Ruiz Mejía (Jocotepec).- Residents of the community of El Chante, in Jocotepec asked the City Council for support for the completion of the main square project. The rehabilitation project consisted of the construction of a kiosk, a new local town office, public restrooms and multiple benches.
After an investment of ten million pesos (over US$500,000), with funding from the Common Competitive Fund for Infrastructure (FOCOCI) and managed by the Jalisco Public Works Infrastructure Secretariat (SIOP), there are still «details to be fine-tuned,» as some residents pointed out.
The fact that the sun shines on the plaza from approximately 11:00 in the morning until 5:30 in the afternoon, without any shade to help protect against the heat, means that the space remains empty and unused during those hours.
«Well, we are happy because in all my years here, there was rarely anyone who put money into it and now it looks much better than it was before. But before, we could take out chairs and sit out until the afternoon, when the sun goes down,» commented Maria, who lives almost in front of the public space.
«They should put something – more trees or some awnings. They say they want to put some games here, but who is going to play outside with this sun?,» commented another of the neighbors, who preferred to keep her name anonymous.
The lack of shelter from the inclement sun was not the only issue that previous users of the space pointed out: just at the border of the plaza with the Encarnación Rosas School, there is a «poorly made ditch,» where a stairway was planned to go.
The structure, which was originally planned to be a stairway, is now only an uneven ramp of dirt and gravel which has already caused more than one passerby to slip.
«They should have put some stairs or a proper ramp there. People have already fallen, especially drunks and children, they are the ones who fall the most. Besides, in rainy weather, all the gravel slides and it becomes even more dangerous,» commented another of the residents.
They added that it wouldn’t hurt to give the much-loved kiosk a «facelift» since the bricks used to build the structure still stand out, and they say that «a little tidying up would make the view of the only square more pleasant.»
The project was inaugurated on February 27, 2021, after being postponed several times due to the pandemic.
Translated by Rebecca Zittle
Héctor Ruiz Mejía (Jocotopec).- With fire, dance, and knives, the fourth edition of the traveling festival «Jalisco Suena», a program promoted by the Ministry of Culture of Jalisco, the Directorate of Operation and Cultural Programming, and the Head of Festivals and Artistic Groups, kicked off in the municipality of Jocotepec.
In the first stop, among six other municipalities, the festival presented a contemporary dance show with a gypsy theme, performed by the group Gipsy Dandys. For a little over an hour the group danced and interacted with spectators in the main square of Jocotepec on the evening of Sunday, May 22.
Translated by Nita Rudy
In Querétaro, the local Congress approved the privatization of potable water services.
By: Abigail A. Correa Cisneros
Drought stalks the whole country. Climate change is wreaking havoc in various parts of México, whether due to floods, fires or drought. In the midst of this situation, the people of Querétaro are now facing the privatization of water, after the approval of a law that grants concessions to private companies.
What several civil organizations have been warning about for weeks has become a reality in the Querétaro Congress. The majority of PAN congressmen approved the privatization of the drinking water service through operators who will be in charge of granting and charging citizens for the distribution, drainage and hydraulic works in the 18 municipalities of the state.
This is not bad, as long as a quality service is offered and the companies do not take advantage of the population’s need. In several parts of the country this is a reality; but corruption has allowed the plundering of aquifers under individual interests.
Querétaro has 26 dams that are already in a critical state, below 50 percent of their capacity. There is also an alert for the death of animals. A few days ago, the president of the Regional Livestock Union of Querétaro (UGRQ), Alejandro Ugalde Tinoco, stated that in the Querétaro Sierra the first four animal deaths were registered due to lack of water; therefore, he warned that if water is not available, the same could happen in San Juan del Río and the other municipalities.
The National Water Commission (Conagua) reports that 39 percent of the state’s surface area is in abnormally dry conditions, 29.9 percent in moderate drought and 31.1 percent in severe drought.
The purpose of this new law is to regulate the provision of public drinking water, drinking water treatment, drainage, sewerage, sanitation, wastewater treatment and disposal services in the state, including the recirculation and reuse of water, and mechanisms for its distribution and transportation.
Civil organizations have said that the approval did not contemplate important aspects for the regulation of water, such as its relationship with the ecological support of life, the rural context and climate change. In addition, its approval was made with inconsistencies and in a very early manner, according to the PRI deputy, Paul Ospital.
The mismanagement of this law exposes the population of Jaalisco to shortages because on other occasions these concessions are granted to private companies that use them for large real estate developments, excluding those who have the least.
IN OTHER NEWS
In the framework of World Bee Day, the General Coordination of Livestock of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development highlighted that, at the close of 2021, México produced 63,400 tons of honey, which was an increase of 17 percent compared to the 54,200 tons registered a year ago, which keeps national beekeeping in the first places of the livestock subsector, due to its economic and social importance. The commercial exploitation of bees takes place mainly in the southeast of the country, in entities such as Yucatán, Campeche, Quintana Roo and Chiapas. There are currently around 43,000 beekeepers nationwide, registered in 508 specialized livestock associations, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The economic income generated by this activity benefits one of the most unprotected rural sectors, favors the development of related industries and generates temporary jobs during the honey harvest season.
Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan
The body was collected by forensic medical service.
Laguna Staff.- While walking on the bicycle path of the Chapala-Jocotepec highway, a man fell to the ground after suffering a heart attack. The man, an expat, was helped by people who saw him fall including a private security guard who assisted him with CPR. Unfortunately, even with an immediate response, nothing could be done to save his life. He died on May 23rd, at about 11:15 a.m. at the corner of Aquiles Serdán, just west of central Ajijic.
Translated by Amy Esperanto
Vaccination module for children under nine, installed on Jocotepec’s main square was part of the health fair. Credit: Héctor Ruiz.
Héctor Ruiz Mejía (Jocotepec).- As part of the First National Health Day (JNSP) 2022, Jocotepec held several health fairs. They began in Jalisco on May 16th and ran through May 27th. The municipality of Jocotepec held several health fairs in different parts of the municipality. Health fair locations included Jocotepec’s main square and San Cristóbal Zapotitlán. In San Cristóbal Zapotitlán, there was a health fair at the Centro Artesanal de Hoja de Maiz.
According to Miguel Ibarra Garabito, coordinator of the Jocotepec Health Center, the health fairs featured different preventive and detection activities. Among them were questionnaires for the detection of chronic diseases such as diabetes, as well as glucose tests, hypertension, and certain types of cancer such as cervical and breast cancer. Anyone who received a test result requiring follow-up was referred to a private consultation, said Ibarra Garabito.
Routine vaccination schedules were completed for children under nine. Children received vaccines against measles, several types of rotavirus, smallpox, and others
«We are completing all the vaccination schedules for children under nine years of age, fortunately, we already have the vaccines and supplies,» said Ibarra.
Additional screenings included PCR or Papanicolau (Pap test) screening, as well as clinical breast screenings. Finally, health fair workers screened for potential domestic violence. Screeners aimed to identify both physical and psychological damage, as well as referring those who need help to resources in the community.
Translated by Amy Esperanto
The extortion attempt was registered in a store in Hidalgo Street, in Riberas del Pilar. Photo: District Attorney’s Office.
Laguna staff.- A new extortion attempt was registered in the municipality of Chapala, this time in Riberas del Pilar, where officers of the State Security Secretariat (SSE) attended and thwarted the crime.
During a surveillance tour on Hidalgo Street, the state officers were stopped by a man who said that he was receiving calls from an unknown number asking for money in exchange for the release of an employee who was supposedly being held hostage.
The police officers accompanied the man and advised him to avoid making any payment and to continue providing information to the alleged kidnappers, they proceeded to search for the employee, who was found near a hotel, confirming that he was in good health.
Translated by Sydney Metrick
Sergio Herrera Robledo, director of the Civil Protection and Fire Department of Jocotepec. Photo: Héctor Ruiz.
Héctor Ruiz Mejía (Jocotepec).- With the onset of the rainy season, work began on the clearing and cleaning of watercourses and streams in Jocotepec.
The Civil Protection and Firefighters Unit of Jocotepec began the operation on May 15. The purpose is to address the factors that may pose a risk to citizens with the arrival of the rainy season.
Work is being carried out to clear obstructions, such as debris and trash from the watercourses under a plan of operations in coordination with the Parks and Gardens, Public Works and Rural Development departments.
Sergio Herrera Robledo, head of the fire department, said that in addition to the clearing work, flood prevention and other actions have also been carried out in different parts of the municipality.
The points considered at risk have already been cleaned by heavy machinery from the Rural Development Department.
Although the social communication department assured that «all year round, before, during and after the rainy season» they carry out clearing operations, there is no record of the amount of material removed to support this.
In contrast, residents of the community of San Juan Cosalá, such as Francisco, said that there are still points that the Civil Protection Unit should work on, such as the channels at the height of Piedra Barrenada, as they have even removed dead dogs and considerable amounts of trash from there in the past.
Translated by Sydney Metrick
Accident on May 19, a truck transporting materials was hit by bus 722 when braking abruptly in San Juan Cosalá.
Jazmín Stengel (Chapala).- «Expensive and dangerous», this is how the buses in Chapala were described by some residents of the municipality. The lack of care on the part of the drivers has caused a series of accidents, especially on the Chapala-Jocotepec highway.
Most of the accidents have occurred because the drivers of Autotransportes Chapala-Guadalajara stop in the highway lane instead of pulling over to allow passengers to board and alight.
This situation led more than one driver of private cars traveling behind a bus to crash into the bus. This was the experience of Juan, a tortilla delivery man who was traveling in his Nissan NP van, and at the end of last year crashed into the back of a bus in San Juan Cosalá, for not being able to brake in time.
On May 19, in the same town, the event was repeated in front of the ‘Colegio Gustavo Díaz Ordaz’ elementary school with another Nissan pickup, this time belonging to a construction company, which crashed into the bumper of the 722 bus after braking abruptly.
The section of the entrance to Ajijic after the La Floresta subdivision is another of the points pointed out by the complainants. Bus drivers take the parallel road to avoid traffic, however, on many occasions it is too narrow and results in minor accidents against parked cars or those leaving the parking lot.
Another witness said that, when giving way to the state patrol cars at the La Montaña in the downtown area of Ajijic racing with their sirens on about a month ago, the bus coming behind the patrols tried to pass at high speed and came face to face with the bus approaching from the front; Álvaro the witness said he was lucky to have been saved.
A video was also circulated on social networks on April 4 showing the fall of a woman who was trying to get out of the rear door of bus number 06, when the bus abruptly started up, causing her to fall to the ground and injuring her. Other popular complaints are the high speed and abruptness with which drivers drive, «play racing» or running stop lights.
The director of Mobility in Chapala, Moisés Ochoa Urquieta, said that he had called the company Autotransportes de Chapala’s attention for not parking the buses at the stops, however, he also excused the drivers when they do not have a place to park. So far there have been no municipal infractions against the company’s units, the official said.
In the municipality of Chapala, accidents involving buses «are not alarming», said Ochoa Urquieta, since they have been minimal and not serious; so far there have only been material losses.
Translated by Kerry Watson
Players of the national team applauding their triumph in the River Plate classic against Jocotepec.
Jazmín Stengel (Chapala).- The Chapala men’s team qualified as undefeated to go to the Round Of 16 after eight games in the group stage of the competition, after Valle de Juárez lost their last game by default, giving Chapala a 3-0 lead in the Copa Jalisco tournament.
Chapala managed to stay at the top of Group 5 Southeast during the first two months of the tournament, with only a draw against neighboring Jocotepec on match day 5, during the River Classic, which Chapala won on penalty kicks 4-3.
At the end of the group stage, Chapala managed to accumulate 17 points in six games, 16 goals for and only two against, a difference of 14 goals in total. They were followed by Concepción de Buenos Aires in second place and their biggest rival, Jocotepec, in third place.
The draw to kick off the Copa Jalisco 2022 playoffs among the 32 qualified teams will take place in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga on June 1 at 7:00 p.m. in the multi-purpose hall.
Chapala Women’s National Team: Chapala was given a rest
The Chapala women’s national team had to rest this week from the fifth day of the Jalisco Cup season, in order to gather strength to face their next rival, Mazamitla, as visitors.
Mazamitla only managed to accumulate three points in four games played, only one of them won and three lost, conceding 17 goals against and only five in favor, which makes a difference of minus 12 goals.
Meanwhile, Chapala is in third place in the Group 5 Southeast table with twice as many points scored (six), which translates into nine goals conceded and nine goals scored, so there is no goal difference.
The first time the two teams faced each other this season ended with a single goal in favor of Chapala as the home team. The next meeting will be at the Mazamitla U.D. municipal field next Sunday, May 29, at 12:00 pm.
Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan
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