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El intento de extorsión se registró en un comercio de la calle Hidalgo, de Riberas del Pilar, . Foto: Fiscalía. 

Redacción.- Se registró un nuevo intento de extorsión en el municipio de Chapala, ahora en Riberas del Pilar, donde oficiales de la Secretaría de Seguridad del Estado (SSE) atendieron y frustraron el ilícito. 

Según el reporte de la SSE emitido el 20 de mayo, fue durante un recorrido de vigilancia por la calle Hidalgo, los oficiales estatales fueron interceptados por un hombre, quien les informó que estaba recibiendo llamadas desde un número desconocido en el cual le pedían dinero a cambio de liberar a un empleado al que supuestamente tenían secuestrado.

El joven que supuestamente había sido secuestrado, fue encontrado sano y salvo cerca de un hotel. Foto: Fiscalía.

Los policías brindaron acompañamiento a la víctima y tras recomendarle evitar hacer cualquier pago y seguir proporcionando información a los supuestos secuestradores, procedieron a realizar la búsqueda del empleado, el cual fue encontrado cerca de un hotel, confirmando que estaba en buen estado de salud.

Derivado del hecho se solicitó mando y conducción al agente del Ministerio Público de la Fiscalía del Estado, quien ordenó la elaboración de los informes policiales correspondientes.

People who participated during the removal of one of the invading cyclone fences. Photo: Facebook.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- Approximately 20 people gathered to recover the federal land on the beaches of  San Antonio Tlayacapan to protest against alleged illegal construction last Sunday, May 15.

On Sunday morning, residents of San Antonio and Ajijic and members of the group Pueblos Unidos de la Ribera removed two fences that were encroaching properties on Lake Chapala.

A wall allegedly invading federal land was filled with messages about the lack of attention from the authorities. Photo: Facebook.

The activists identify illegal landfills and construction as part of their mission and they pointed to a trailer on land allegedly invaded by the former PAN candidate for local deputy, José de Jesús Arambul Solorio as one of the sites they are targeting.

One of the fences the activists removed was located in a construction site in progress and had been re-erected during the week. The group reported the fence to  the Chapala Urban Development Department, requesting its removal and an end to the construction.However, as of the closing of this edition, the municipal authority had not acted, and the group intends to protest again.

«There are several landfills and high walls on the invaders’ land and they are walls that, until a year ago, were not there. They are very large spaces, some of up to one hectare. We tried to get a resolution from the city council to close down these construction projects, but they did not do it», mentioned a participant of the movement.

Trailer that the activists are trying to remove from property allegedly appropriated by the former PAN candidate for local congressman, Jesús Arambul Solorio, next to a banner calling for its removal. Photo: Facebook.

The contested  trailer had been  planned to be removed during the demonstration,  but there were not sufficient people to move it. The  protesters cleaned the property, and disconnected the vehicle from the electrical wiring, which, according to several witnesses, was illegally connected.

Due to the disregard by the authorities, as well as the lack of support, a demonstration is being called in the same area, this coming Friday, May 20, which will be attended by people from San Antonio, Ajijic and San Juan Cosalá to support the liberation of beaches and to create recreational and sports spaces.

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan

Gente que participó durante el retiro de una de las mallas ciclónicas invasoras. Foto: Facebook.

Sofía Medeles.– Aproximadamente 20 personas se reunieron para recuperar el terreno federal en las playas de la delegación de San Antonio Tlayacapan y protestar contra obras en estas, el pasado domingo 15 de mayo.

Durante la mañana del domingo, vecinos de San Antonio y Ajijic, entre los cuales había miembros del grupo Pueblos Unidos de la Ribera, se dedicaron a remover dos cercados de propiedades invasoras del Lago de Chapala.

Asimismo, los activistas se dedicaron a identificar los rellenos y construcciones ilegales para posteriormente denunciar, además de tratar de retirar un remolque, que se encuentra en el espacio presuntamente invadido por el excandidato del PAN a diputado local, José de Jesús Arambul Solorio.

En cuanto a los cercados, uno de estos se encontraba en una obra en proceso. Esta malla se volvió a colocar en el transcurso de la semana y, pese a que reportaron ante la dirección de Desarrollo Urbano para su clausura, hasta el cierre de esta edición, la autoridad municipal no ha actuado, por lo que el grupo, pretende volver a manifestarse.

“Hay varios rellenos y paredes altas en los terrenos invasores y son muros que, hasta hace un año, no estaban. Son espacios grandísimos, algunos de hasta una hectárea. Buscamos que nos dieran resolución en el ayuntamiento para que se clausuren estos trabajos, pero no lo hicieron”, mencionó un participante del movimiento.

Por otro lado, el remolque que se planeaba quitar durante la manifestación se tuvo que dejar ahí por falta de personas para moverlo, no obstante, se dejó una advertencia para que fuera removido antes del miércoles 18 de mayo; sin embargo, esto no ocurrió. Además, los manifestantes limpiaron el predio, y desconectaron el vehículo de los cables de corriente eléctrica, conexión que, según varios testigos, estaba de manera ilícita.

Debido al caso omiso por parte de autoridades, así como de la falta de apoyo, se está convocando a una manifestación en la misma zona, este próximo viernes 20 de mayo, a la cual asistirán personas de San Antonio, Ajijic y San Juan Cosalá a apoyar, y se espera la asistencia de más participantes, para buscar la liberación de playas y crear espacios recreativos y de deportes.

By: Patrick O’Herffernan

Elsewhere in Laguna are the details of the towing and impounding of a local Expat’s car after a minor non-injury accident. The story chronicles a bizarre 10-month journey through a bureaucratic hall of mirrors at the Jalisco Ministerio Público that is still not over.

The Chapala cop who mysteriously arrived at the accident  scene while the parties were working out a deal did not have to tow Amy E’s car. Why he towed the car we won’t know (he  works for another agency now), but that unnecessary action set off a chain of events that , to my mind, has laid bare the worst – and the best – in the Mexican government.

45: weeks Amy E.’s car has been in jail

The system of initiating a tow by a local cop, the actual towing by a private company to a lot regulated by the State, and release of the car in the hands of a State Agency whose priorities are elsewhere, all together are a recipe for disaster. Amy E. is going through this disaster now. The agency doesn’t give a damn about the citizens, the staff is incompetent (at least in this case) and the local government that is closest to the people is powerless.

This has to change. State law should be changed to devolve the authority for releasing towed cars to a local agency. Police at every level should not be allowed to tow cars that are drivable unless they were involved in a crime or an injury. And cars not involved in a crime or an injury accident should be released to the owners within two weeks by the impound lot, whether or not the government has generated the needed documents.

I know – good luck with that. But there is a small silver lining to this cloud  – the responsiveness of local officials. Amy E. was able to contact local officials who, rather than saying hers was a state problem, attempted to intervene on her behalf, spending considerable time in the process. While the intervention failed, it is heartening to see that the government closest to the people – the municipality – listens to them.

The bottom line here;  Mexicans will tell you if you are in an accident and no one is hurt, leave. Don’t leave your car at the scene for a cop to tow while you work out a deal with the other driver, they say. I support a change in the organic law controlling the Ministerio Público; that will make life a lot easier on everyone. In the meantime. Watch this space to help Free Amy E’s car.

El cambio distrital se debe a la disminución de población en la ZMG y el crecimiento en municipios del interior de Jalisco. Foto: Cortesía. 

Redacción.- La proyección del nuevo mapa distrital que propone el Instituto Nacional Electoral (INE) para la región del Lago de Chapala para este 2022 contempla la división de los municipios ribereños que quedarían en los distritos dos, cuatro y ocho.

Chapala se ubicaría en el distrito dos junto a Jocotepec, Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos, Poncitlán, Ocotlán, Zacoalco de Torres, Acatlán de Juárez y Villa Corona.

En el distrito cuatro estaría integrado por las entidades de Jamay, La Barca, Degollado, Atotonilco el Alto, Ayotlán, Jesús María, San Diego de Alejandría, San Julián, San Miguel el Alto, Jalostotitlán y Arandas.

Mientras que el distrito ocho quedaría conformado por Tototlán, Zapotlán del Rey, Tepatitlán, Ixtlahuacán del Río, Zapotlanejo, Acatic, Yahualica de González Gallo, Mexticacán, Valle de Guadalupe, San Ignacio Cerro Gordo y Juanacatlán.

Aun con estos cambios Jalisco se mantendría con 20 distritos estatales y federales, el proyecto para la nueva conformación de los distritos, se entregaron a los partidos políticos acreditados en las Comisiones de Vigilancia y los Institutos Electorales locales para que realicen su análisis y presenten observaciones para luego someterlo a la consideración del Consejo General del INE. 

El proyecto para la nueva conformación de los distritos electorales se realiza debido a la disminución de la población en distritos del Área Metropolitana de Guadalajara (AMG) y el crecimiento de municipios como Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos.

El proyecto inició en el 2021 y concluirá en el 2023 previo al periodo electoral 2023 – 2024.

The audience laughed out loud with Rafa Ramírez’s jokes. Photo: Jazmín Stengel. 

Jazmín Stengel (Chapala).- This year, the mothers of the municipality enjoyed more than four hours of entertainment and fun with tapatío comedians, mariachi and the imitation of Jenni Rivera.  They also took a few moments to share laughs.

The president of DIF Chapala, Erika Erín Torres Herrera, congratulated all the mothers of the municipality and in welcoming them, said that the festival was held with the purpose of giving a moment of joy to the mothers.

The president of DIF, Erika Erín Torres Herrera, and the municipal president Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel, during the presentation of the event. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

The gifts were few, but the laughs were many, and unlike other years in which utensils for the house were distributed, on May 9 at the Juan Rayo Municipal Field they were spoiled with laughter with the ‘Rafa Ramirez Show’, accompanied by the comedian Gelipe with G Latina.

The Original Mariachi Hermanos Vargas del Tepehuaje also performed to harmonize the evening, and Blanca Estela Fernandez’s impersonation of Jenni Rivera helped them sing what many have not been able to say.

Many mothers accompanied their own mothers. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

The celebrants, upon entering the facilities, were given a plastic basket with juice, a clown popsicle and a ham sandwich as a snack for the evening. This also included a number of vouchers for beverages, either soft drinks, cool water or beer.

Smiles and dancing demonstrated the joy with which they celebrated the evening, while our interviewees were at a loss for words to describe what a great time they had. Some of them, already in tune, sang along to the mariachi songs and others took pictures of themselves in the illuminated letters.

All noticed the moment when the host introduced Gelipe as Rafa Ramirez, and, as in a good comedy presentation, the mistake was lost in the audience’s applause and became the first joke of the night with an «Ah gee, that’s not me, sir,» as a response from the comedian.

During the comedy show there were dance contests. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

Rafel Ramirez began his presentation with the famous characterization of El Cholo, a satirical character of a popular Latin lifestyle. He concluded without disguises being his own character, although at times the audience could not tell if Ramirez was dancing for the women or dancing with them.

The protagonists managed to bring tears of joy to the mothers of Chapala on their day. «It was a great idea», said one interviewee, who said that the best gift is to pamper oneself. 

Rafa Ramírez in his character of El Cholo with Gelipe during the presentation. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

The presentations began after 6:00 p.m. and concluded shortly before 11:00 p.m., after more than four hours of music, entertainment and fun. To top it all off, Gelipe con G Latina and Rafa Ramirez stayed until the last photo was taken with every mom who wanted to take home a souvenir.  

Translated by Sydney Metrick

Romario Ibarra González. Photo: Facebook.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- Romario Ibarra González, 27 years old, Daniel Parra, 19 years old, and Carlos Amador Uribe, 29 years old are part of the Chapala National Team that will compete in the third edition of the Jalisco Cup 2022. They are all inhabitants of the magical town of Ajijic.

Daniel Parra. Photo: Facebook.

This year the teams compete for a trip to Paris, France, for first place, and a trip to Colombia for second place. 

The Jalisco Cup is a state tournament created in 2019. More than 130 teams participate from different municipalities and regions of the state. Each year the winners have won trips abroad.

Carlos Amador Uribe. Photo: Facebook.

Translated by Nita Rudy

61-year-old, María Quiroz Rameño is an unstoppable woman. Photo: Alma Serrano. 

Alma Serrana (San Juan Cosala).-  Maybe you didn’t have the childhood or adolescence you would have wished.  Life is never as we thought it would be, no matter how much we plan it. From the country to the city, that’s how your life has been, with many inevitable changes and realities that have made you wake up.

Your 61 years have shown you how capable you are.   Limits are nothing more than the experiences of others who have not dared to go, out of fear, where you knew you could go. Your determination makes you powerful and you always do the best you can, even if at the time you didn’t know how. 

Being a mother has made you see, go, look beyond, be invincible and give it your all. For your children you took off the blindfold, to see that the world is not a loom that you can hold. Sometimes you had to weave your own way, with the fabric of your hands.

You were, are, and will be a daughter, a wife, a mother of four children who had to live in a hurry «with shots and pulls.» Being a mother has led you to be, even when you were widowed, bigger than before, stronger, more you. You never gave up.  Nothing stops you. 

Since you were a child, you had the desire to break everything you came across. You have learned that this unquestionable attitude only exists in extraordinary people.

Thanks to your innate, relentless will you have managed to achieve what only the brave, those who remain standing, can achieve.

You may not notice everything you have achieved because circumstances have not allowed you the time to contemplate.  You have known what to do in the face of adversity, defending yourself from everything, you never lost faith. How courageous you have been. 

There is no doubt that it is not necessary to be a mother for us to honor your life like that of millions of mothers.  Undoubtedly being a mother has made you an impeccable human being at heart. I know that life has not been perfect neither with you nor with anyone else, but life does not need to be perfect to be wonderful.

Translated by Nita Rudy

Chapala moms had fun dancing in the atrium of the San Francisco de Asís parish during the contest. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

Jazmín Stengel (Chapala).-  With an attendance of just over 300 people, the Adolfo Rayo Festival was held in the atrium of the parish of San Francisco de Asís in Chapala. The festival was held to celebrate mothers on their day, with prizes such as kitchen utensils given away, and entertainment provided by the Mariachi Águila de Chapala.

During the celebration, dance contests were held for the mothers, where everyone won a prize. Numbered tickets were also given out for the awarding of prizes such as frying pans, express pots, blenders, and buckets, among many other household items.

Translated by Rebecca Zittle

In center with paper in hand, the municipal president of Chapala, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel; (left) secretary general of SPTAC, Juan Cuevas Gudiño, and municipal trustee Gamaliel de Jesús Soto Pérez, during the report on the approval of the list of demands, in front of the Municipal City Hall. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

 Jazmín Stengel (Chapala).- Chapala  President Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel gave the go-ahead to seven of 10 petitions made by the Plural Union of Workers of the Chapala City Hall, in favor of the rights of civil servants.

The remaining three petitions will be submitted to the municipal council for approval, according to the secretary general of the union, Juan Cuevas Gudiño.

The list of demands delivered to the mayor’s office included the approval of medical services for parents who depend on the worker, minor children, and students with a valid school card. The demands were delivered by the union leader after the Labor Day march on May 1, with about 325 participants from the unions of the City Hall, DIF and SIMAPA. 

In addition, it was established that an extra doctor at the Municipal Clinic will attend to the workers to avoid the need for workers to seek private consultation due to a shortage of medical appointments. Municipal medical services will also have the appropriate supply of medicines to cover any necessary services.

Members of the union waited outside the City Hall for approximately one hour until the dialogue ended. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

Additional requests presented by the Union of Workers of the Chapala City Hall included payment of overdue medical bills, and prompt reimbursement of the full cost of medical care upon approval by the Municipal Clinic director, to occur in the near future.

Another issue approved by the municipal president related to overdue and upcoming payments is the vacation bonus corresponding to five legal days of salary. In order to calculate the arrears, a review of documents will be carried out, stated Cuevas Gudiño.

In this respect, it was also requested that the workers’ vacations be respected, since there have been cases in which the directors have denied a worker’s vacation, and that these vacations be timely and fully made up when delayed.

One of the most relevant requests approved by Aguirre Curiel during the nearly one hour meeting was the freedom of the union to affiliate the 120 workers who have been working for the City Hall for more than three and a half years. SPTAC currently has 276 members.

The facilities of the Centro Cultural Antigua Presidencia or the Coliseo Municipal Benito Juárez were made available for the union to assemble from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm on the last Saturday of each month.

The three requests that will be submitted to the Chapala City Council for approval are: the delivery of the extra bonus for the Public Servant’s Day, the 40 pesos biweekly transportation support, and reimbursement of pending and upcoming surgeries so as not to affect the family income of the union members.

More than 300 people participated with flags and white T-shirts in the Labor Day march in the municipal capital of Chapala. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

Finally, SPTAC secretary general Juan Cuevas Gudiño openly thanked the municipal president for the recent approval of the five percent salary increase, as well as the increase in the savings fund from 65 to 100 pesos per unionized worker, reimbursement for surgeries and operations for the workers, and equipment necessary to provide citizens with the services they require.

The municipal president congratulated the workers on their day and reminded them of their commitment to work for the municipality. «I did not expect that it would cost us so much to start up … However, we have managed to move forward and stabilize. I thank everyone for their patience and support. It is clear to me that the face of the Municipal Government is each and every one of you,» said Aguirre Curiel.

Translated by MaryAnne Marble