Gobierno

El 8 de marzo se realizó la Constitución de la Bancada de Legisladoras 2021-2024 Legislatura LXIII que agrupa a 24 diputadas. Foto: Oficina Prensa MC.

Redacción.- En el marco del 8 de Marzo “Día Internacional de la Mujer”, 24 diputadas del Congreso de Jalisco conformaron la bancada de legisladoras cuyo objetivo será generar propuestas en pro de las niñas y mujeres del estado.

Con el fin de concretar acciones que garanticen la totalidad de los derechos de las mujeres y las niñas de Jalisco, así como sentar las bases institucionales para hacer efectiva la igualdad sustantiva de género, la mañana de este martes, en el Congreso local se realizó la Constitución de la Bancada de Legisladoras 2021-2024 Legislatura LXIII.

A iniciativa de la diputada por el Distrito 17 María Dolores López Jara, presidenta de la Comisión de Igualdad Sustantiva y de Género del Congreso Local, las 24 diputadas de la actual legislatura acordaron conformar esta bancada con el fin de legislar a favor de las niñas y las mujeres jaliscienses.

La nueva bancada se conformó por iniciativa de la diputada por el Distrito 17 María Dolores López Jara. Foto: Oficina Prensa MC.

“Derivado de esa y otras experiencias en cuanto la conformación de bancadas de legisladoras, es que la constitución de esta bancada busca en realidad poder articular el trabajo y temas estratégicos en torno a la agenda de derechos de las mujeres y las niñas de esta entidad”.

“Me congratula mucho que el día de hoy estemos aquí reunidas con el objeto de constitución de este espacio de deliberación, debate y acuerdos; el cual busca consolidar los trabajos y compromisos en la agenda de derechos de las mujeres y las niñas, precisamente por ser esta la primera legislatura con mayoría de mujeres, y contar con un compromiso muy sólido por avanzar el reconocimiento y protección de sus derechos”, expuso López Jara.

Luego de la instalación y de la firma de 21 de las 24 integrantes de la bancada, cada una de las vicecoordinadoras hizo uso de la voz para dejar de manifiesto su compromiso y aportación a este cuerpo parlamentario que legislará en pro de las niñas y mujeres del estado. 

María Guadalupe Urzúa Flores fue la primera diputada federal de Jalisco y alcaldesa en dos ocasiones de Jocotepec. 

Redacción .-  El Congreso del Estado de Jalisco reconocerá a María Guadalupe Urzúa Flores, de Jocotepec, y a Martha Rodríguez García, de Chapala, con el distintivo “Hermila Galindo Acosta” este ocho de marzo, Día de la Mujer.  

La Comisión de Igualdad Sustantiva y de Género del Congreso del Estado de Jalisco aprobó homenajear a diez mujeres del estado y una organización civil por sus acciones realizadas en favor de los derechos humanos de las mujeres, a través de la docencia e investigación, la función pública, el arte y la cultura, la salud, la igualdad de género o la participación ciudadana.

Es así como María Guadalupe Urzúa Flores recibirá esta distinción de manera post mortem, por haber sido una mujer que no pensó en sí misma, que no gozó de riquezas materiales ni de matrimonio, porque dedicó toda su vida entera al servicio de los demás.

Entre sus acciones destacan empedrados, pozos de agua, caminos, luz eléctrica, canchas deportivas, una biblioteca, academias femeniles de capacitación, una escuela nocturna de alfabetización para adultos hombres y mujeres, el hospital, el leprosario, la escuela primaria “Pedro Ogazón”, la secundaria “Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla”, y la actual preparatoria regional que gestionó para Jocotepec siendo alcaldesa por dos ocasiones.

Entre sus particularidades destaca que fue amiga de varios presidentes de la república y gobernadores de Jalisco. Fue la primera diputada federal por Jalisco de 1955 a 1958 y llegó a ocupar cuatro diputaciones federales, lo que permitió que las necesidades de la gente se escucharan a través de su voz y su gestión.

También fue alcaldesa de San Martín de Hidalgo y logró gestionar una preparatoria de la Universidad de Guadalajara para esta demarcación.

Martha Rodríguez García es una líder social ambientalista, defensora del territorio en Chapala.

Otra ribereña quien también será reconocida con la mencionada distinción es Martha Rodríguez García, líder social ambientalista, representante de la ruralidad ribereña, que desarrolló su proyecto personal en la cultura del esfuerzo, comprometiéndose con la defensa del territorio, los valores rurales y las tradiciones de su comunidad; valores que le fueron reconocidos al ser elegida como Presidenta del Comisariado de su pueblo en Santa Cruz de la Soledad, municipio de Chapala.

Martha Rodríguez, advirtió que el crecimiento de un modelo urbanizador y turístico fue ocupando los espacios de los territorios agrícolas trabajados por ejidatarios e indígenas, que fueron desplazados por la voracidad inmobiliaria y por los intereses externos y ajenos a la estructura tradicional comunal. 

El tejido social de su ejido se vulneró al dividirse sus integrantes ante las alternativas de instalar proyectos de desarrollo productivo e inmobiliario.

Desde su entendimiento como ejidataria, Martha se dio a la tarea de integrar un expediente documental que ubicó la historia de la comunidad desde la dotación de terrenos en 1919, su ampliación en 1925 y la definición de su extensión de 164 hectáreas, de las cuales, 145 corresponden al Cerro del Junco, un lomerío que alberga importantes especies de flora y fauna y desde cuya cima se alcanza a divisar el Volcán de Colima. 

Con esta carpeta bajo el brazo, ha emprendido una lucha de resistencia para defender este patrimonio de su comunidad, participando en las gestiones para su decreto como Área Natural Protegida, en la consulta pública que garantizase la voluntad del ejido en los procesos de decreto como Área Natural Protegida y en la integración de un Plan de Ordenamiento Ecológico del Territorio para la Ribera del Lago de Chapala; y en la atracción de proyectos, como los que ha desarrollado con asistencia técnica y apoyo de Aipromades Lago de Chapala, alcanzando un financiamiento del Programa de Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo para la restauración del cerro del Junco, y la participación de Fundación Coca Cola y Arca Continental como entidades asociadas al proyecto.

State officials Javier de Jesús Lechuga Millán, director of the Area of Political Development and Attention to State Problems; Luis Pablo Guerrero Preciado, director of Government Transportation Management; the municipal president of Chapala, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel and the leaders of Ubers Unidos, in Chapala’s Lakeside

Editor – State officials have requested that the Chapala municipality regulate local independent Uber-style drivers to prevent abuses of power by State Police. In exchange, the self-styled Ubers of Chapala were asked to regulate their legal status. These actions were decided on during a meeting held February 18, 2022 where the protesters met with state authorities at Chapala City Hall. 

The leaders of Ubers Unidos, who led the public demonstrations in Chapala on February 7 and 12, 2022 against State police intimidation, were invited to present their problems to Javier de Jesús Lechuga Millán, director of the Area of Political Development and Attention to State Problems of the General Secretariat of the Government of Jalisco, and Luis Pablo Guerrero Preciado, director of Transportation Management of the State Government.

Omar, the leader of the protesters, opened the dialogue by describing the current situation of corruption that the inhabitants of Chapala face at the hands of State Police. The police involved have been identified as State, rather than municipal, police by their unit numbers. Units CP-003, PA-024 and CP-028 are all associated with State Police, whereas units of the Chapala State Regional Police Base are first identified by the initials PRJ, according to the complainants.

He also explained that protesters from the municipalities of Jocotepec and Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos had decided to join forces with the demonstrators in Chapala since the State Regional Police Base is located in the Chapala municipality, and not their own.

The protesters’ complaints included the well-known «routine inspections» that the State Police carry out on private vehicles, which often result in many cases of alleged corruption. «They ask if we are hawks [lookouts for drug dealers], change our license plates, check our cell phones, plant small bags [of drugs] or take our money.» Victims do not want to sue in the Prosecutor’s Office because they are under threat, explained the affected party. 

Incidents of abuse of power and violation of personal data privacy such as these occur not only to independent transportation providers, but also to general civilians and merchants. Examples of these abuses have gone viral in the WhatsApp group ‘Anti Tamaros’ [roughly translated to Against Dark Forces] that circulates in Chapala lakeside. 

In response to these claims, Lechuga Millán expressed his concern and promised to review the State Police units identified. The units are currently under the command of Commander Juan Bosco Pacheco Medrano, Secretary General of Security Jalisco, who will be responsible ultimately for determining whether the officers should be replaced or just relocated to another base.

The protesters accuse elements of the State Police of corruption; drivers of Uber-style services from Jocotepec and Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos, join in the claim of abuses due to the fact that the Regional State Police Base is located in Chapala

Lechuga Millán also said that he would see that a direct link to the Area of Political Development and Attention to State Problems would be created, to facilitate addressing complaints anonymously and according to the law. «The rights of the people must be respected, but they also have obligations,» Lechuga Millán reminded the protesters.

He further explained that complaints would be addressed on a case-by-case basis.  Since the drivers are not registered with the State Transportation Secretariat, nor with the Tax Administration Service (SAT), they are in effect breaking the law. «It is as if you were robbing a bank and a policeman shoots at you,» he observed.

For his part, Luis Pablo Guerrero Preciado, director of Transportation Management of the State Government, urged protesters to join one of the services already registered in the Guadalajara metropolitan area such as Didi, Uber or Siggo Drive. Alternatively, he suggested, they could present and register a new service specific to the Chapala-Jocotepec region.

He explained that, because the «unauthorized artisanal» services (which is what he called the WhatsApp groups the drivers use to organize themselves) do not have any type of legal backing or insurance, they are vulnerable to extortion.  

Guerrero Preciado also stated that, should the Secretary of Transportation of Jalisco decide to carry out an operation to discourage unregulated transportation services, the protesters risk having their vehicles confiscated because “it is an illegal act.” Once the drivers legalize their services, however, they will benefit from the protection of the law, insurance and legal representation. In addition, they will be providing a safer service to paying passengers.

The local drivers, however, say that the registered services like Uber, etc. are not profitable.  The mileage fees they impose combined with commissions, weekly car rental charges, and gasoline costs make it impossible for the drivers to survive on the typical fares earned of 20 to 30 pesos. The drivers prefer – out of necessity – to go it alone.

Translated by Rebecca Zittle

The Mayor of Chapala, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel, made a call to the citizens to work for a culture of peace.

Editor – The mayor of Chapala, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel, urged the citizens to work for a culture of peace that leaves behind violence and useless bloodshed during the commemoration of Flag Day, on Thursday, February 24.

The municipal president, accompanied by directors and councilors of the administration, stressed that we must «work for a culture of peace that leaves behind violence and useless bloodshed. May the National Flag not only be a symbol that identifies us in the world, but a symbol that unites and brings us together.»

During the civic act that took place in the square located in front of the City Hall building, elements of the Municipal Police Department hoisted a large Mexican flag on its flagpole that unfortunately did not wave in the wind, because the air was still on that sunny morning.

Alluding to the emblematic colors of the national flag, the mayor spoke of recovering the green of hope and working to make it meaningful. He said, «Let’s move from conformism to action» and pointed out that we have to recover unity as one people and be as one family.

Elements of the Municipal Commissariat raised a large Mexican flag on its flagpole, unfortunately it did not wave in the wind, as the air was still on a sunny morning.

He also called on his team to commit themselves to fulfill the obligation they have with the people of Chapala and to bring unity internally and externally, in addition to seeking the balance and unity that the citizens have asked for so much.

«We need to know that the task we perform is very short and when we least expect it, we will be leaving. Let’s not get carried away by ambitions, let’s not get carried away by bad advice. The administration needs committed people…», he said. Likewise, the mayor reiterated his commitment and gratitude to the citizens for having entrusted him to lead the administration for the second time. 

The municipal president ended his speech with the desire that the colors of the National Flag once again symbolize peace, magic, the flavor of traditions, culture, gastronomy and the greatness of being Mexican. 

Translated by Colleen Beery

Since its construction, the beltway has had failures; currently, potholes and unevenness make it almost impassable. Photo: Archive.

Héctor Ruiz Mejía (Jocotepec).- The work for the rehabilitation of the five kilometers of Jocotepec’s beltway has been authorized, announced the municipal president José Miguel Gómez López. 

Through a video posted on his social networks, the mayor, who visited the offices of the Secretariat of Infrastructure and Public Works of Jalisco (SIOP) accompanied by General Director of Road infrastructure Omar David Paredes Flores, said that the state government approved «a large investment» for the repair of the road. 

The purpose of the project is to restore the very uneven stretch that extends for five kilometers and that, since its creation in the 2007-2009 administration, was a «poorly done work» that only a year after its inauguration developed so much unevenness and potholes that it has become impossible to travel on, said Gómez López. 

«We are talking about a section of road that is going to be totally fixed, since it was built with many deficiencies and there are flaws and conditions that  are unsafe for anyone traveling along it». 

The president announced that the work will begin this year and, although the amount to be invested has not yet been specified, he explained that the bidding processes are already active and that «it will be a significant amount» of money. 

The Libramiento de Jocotepec has received several minor repairs, the last one  in August 2020, when 500 thousand pesos were spent to repair  a dangerous sinkhole. 

Finally, in the same video, José Miguel Gómez also announced the rehabilitation of the three kilometers of the Huejotitán intersection, especially at its junction with the Guadalajara-Morelia highway. 

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan

Councilman Hugo García Bombín next to the banners after the demonstrations in El Chante. 

Héctor Ruiz Mejía (Jocotepec ).– José Miguel Gómez López, municipal mayor of Jocotepec, in a video, accused FUTURO councilman Hugo García «Bombín,» of provoking disinformation among the community of El Chante, regarding the controversial work of connection to the water well. 

In response «Bombín»  published a video under the right of reply, where he argued that he was not inciting disorder and in which he claimed to be a man of the people.

«Yesterday (February 10), I was singled out by Mayor José Miguel Gómez López for misinforming the community of El Chante and now he says he will not solve the water and sewage problem because of the ‘disinformation’,» explained the opposition councilman in the video. 

The frictions between both public servants were taken to the Cabildo (council), since in the third ordinary session, held on February 14, José Miguel reiterated his accusation to the FUTURO alderman, of inciting the citizens to disinformation despite him having the correct information. 

He is «neither leader, the Messiah, nor Robin Hood,» asserted José Miguel Gómez regarding Hugo García’s position.

Backed by other council members such as Marisol Contreras Durán, from Morena, who lashed out at Hugo Garcia, calling him incompetent and lacking experience in politics. 

In response, «Bombín» reproached the Morena councilwoman for her «opposition» stance, which she swore to be invalid, by showing that her family was on the City Hall payroll.

The attacks against «Bombín» also was confirmed by a councilman of the same party, Israel Camarena Flores, who called him «unruly» and not a team player, since the councilman aclaimed «that all of them are workers of the people.»

Finally, after the attacks in the Cabildo session, «Bombín» assured that his intention has never been to misinform and he had no choice but to align himself with the majority and join in the socialization of the work and the dialogue with the reluctant community. 

Translated by Sydney Metrick

COMUR members and Chapala authorities in the council chamber.

Laguna Staff.- The mayor of Chapala, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel, swore in the members of the Municipal Commission for the Regularization of Urban Properties (COMUR). The objective of the commission is to give legal certainty to the citizens and the City Hall itself about their documentation and deeds that give them the ability to transfer, sell or dispose of their properties. 

Aguirre Curiel, who presides  over the commission, swore in its eight members and proposed the director of Urban Development and Planning, Jaime Arellano Rodriguez, to be the technical secretary of said municipal body.

During the installation of the COMUR on February 15, Jalisco’s Urban Development Attorney, Carlos Romero Sanchez, was present and recognized the importance of the commission’s work in updating the properties. 

He also spoke of working in a coordinated manner to demand that state deputies update legal instruments such as the State Zoning Regulation, which dates back to the mid-1990s, the Urban Code in force since 2009, and the General Law of Human Settlements of 2016.

The mayor of Chapala, Alejandro Aguirre Curiel, with the Jalisco Urban Development Attorney, Carlos Romero Sánchez.

The people who make up the commission are the following council members: Jesús González Amezcua, of Acción Nacional (PAN); Mayra Raquel Morales Cerda, of Movimiento Ciudadano (MC); Irma Paulina Vázquez Baltazar, of Revolucionario Institucional (PRI); María Isabel Mendoza Rodríguez of Hagamos. In addition, the trustee, Gamaliel de Jesús Soto Pérez, the general secretary, Lilia Alvarado Macías and José Barajas Gómez, director of Cadastre.

Arellano Rodríguez, as technical secretary of the recently formed COMUR, reminded everyone that the regularization of properties was a campaign proposal of the current mayor. He proposed to work jointly with the City Hall agencies so that many elderly people can inherit properties who have not been able to do so due to that due to irregularities in their property titles and documents.

Translated by Sydney Metrick

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

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