municipio

The mayor of Chapala, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel, during the inspection of the rehabilitation of the Riberas del Pilar park entrance. 

Editor.– The municipal government of Chapala is continuing with the rehabilitation of public spaces in the city and the municipality’s surrounding towns. According to the municipal president, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel, one of the locations receiving attention is Riberas del Pilar Park. The park is one of the most emblematic places of Riberas, with the two stone pillars supporting the neighborhood name. 

«The Recovery of Public Spaces program continues throughout the municipality. Soon the public will be able once more to enjoy the Riberas del Pilar Park,» City Hall announced on social media.

Workers of the Municipality of Chapala start with the rehabilitation of the Riberas del Pilar Park.

«The recovery of public spaces is being carried out with the objective that families will be able to enjoy public spaces worthy of our municipality and its people,» the director of Social Communication informed Seminario Laguna. 

In addition to the iconic pillars, the sign for the park also received a freshening up. 

Translated by Rebecca Zittle

Héctor Ruiz Mejía (Jocotepec).– Despite some of the Jocotepec boardwalk merchants reporting low sales during the Holy Week and Easter holiday season compared to last year, Víctor Loza Ornelas, Director of Tourism and Artisan Promotion, confirmed that the holiday period brought approximately $1.8M (about US$90,000) to the local community, saying » it’s a very good number.»

Translated by Amy Esperanto

During the last rainy season, Lake Chapala reached 74% of its capacity; it is currently at 67%, informed the National Water Commission (CONAGUA). 

Despite the decrease in the level, it is still up compared to April 2021, when it was at 51% of its capacity.

Translated by Paul Weeks

From left to right Filiberto Pérez Vega, Nadia Vega and José González Valenzuela. Photo: Sofía Medeles

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- Three Ajijic runners from the   «Team Jou,» mountain runners  shined  in the competition «Ultra Cerro Rojo» in Tlatlauquitepec, Puebla, which took place on April 30.

They are José «Jou» Valenzuela, Filiberto Pérez Vega and Nadia Vega, who ran in the free category, covering different distances: Jou competed in the 50 km race, reaching ninth place, Nadia in the 15 km race, achieving sixth place and Filiberto in the 30 km race, positioning himself in fifteenth place.

Both Filiberto and José said they were happy with the experience, even though they described it as a «hard» race. For Nadia, this competition is the second in which she has participated outside of Jalisco.  She shared that she found it incredible to go out and see these places that she described as beautiful.

«Because of my injury, the race was a little difficult for me, but I finished it out of pride. On the route, organizers supported me and gave me a pill for the pain to keep me going. Although I did not reach the goal I had set for myself and felt frustrated, it motivates me to continue and to do better in the next races,» said Jou Valenzuela. 

The three mountain marathoners agreed that they will continue running in races outside of their hometown, and that they feel very motivated – as well as grateful – for the support that the people of Ajijic have given them. 

When asked about how runners are selected to represent «Team Jou» in this type of race, Valenzuela said that they are chosen for «the commitment» they put into their training.

He also invited anyone who wants to be part of his team to contact him through his Facebook page, «Jou Valenzuela» so that he can provide them with information about the group.

Translated by Rebecca Zittle

La Cristina bridge still obstructed by large rocks. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- The streams that until a few months ago were clogged are now in the process of being cleared, so they will be clean before the rainy season, said Maximiano Macías Arceo. the acting delegate of Ajijic. 

He added that work is underway and advancing as fast as possible in the streams of the western zone of Ajijic. These are the most obstructed streams, due to the mudslides that occurred in October of last year. 

«Our goal, and the order of president Alejandro Aguirre Curiel, is to finish the works before the rains arrive. Both Civil Protection and the municipal government agree that Ajijic is a priority, due to the condition of the streams. However, city personnel are also focused on streams throughout the municipality,» he said.

The same La Cristina bridge on the side has already been cleaned. Photo: Sofia Medeles

He commented that in the days that they have been cleaning the first stream in La Cristina, they aren’t dealing much with garbage, but rather with the debris from the mudslides that occurred in October, mainly large stones.

«We are close to finishing and cleaning up,» he added. These works are being carried out by hand because the heavy machinery that they use to clean the riverbeds and bridges cannot reach the clogged areas.

When the cleaning of the first bridge is finished, Macías Arceo shared that they will clean eight more riverbeds and their bridges, from east to west, during the next few weeks. 

Macías Arceo added that he would take advantage of the suitable stones excavated during the cleanup to use them for the paving and patching works in the streets of Ajijic.

Translated by Sandy Britton

In the center and with paper in hand, the municipal president of Chapala, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel; (left) secretary general of the SPTAC union, Juan Cuevas Gudiño, and municipal trustee Gamaliel de Jesús Soto Pérez.  Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

The municipal president of Chapala, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel, gave the go-ahead to seven of the ten requests made by the Plural Union of Workers of the Chapala City Hall (SPTAC), in favor of the rights of the union civil servants.

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

The list of requests included the approval of medical services for the worker’s dependent parents, minor children and students with a valid school card.

Members of the union outside the City Hall. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

In addition, there will be an extra doctor and medical supplies at the Municipal Clinic so union members do not have to seek private consultation due to lack of attention or supplies.

In addition to the medical health requests presented by SPTAC, there is also the payment of overdue medical bills in an expeditious manner with the prior approval of the director of the Municipal Clinic. 

Another issue is the vacation bonus corresponding to five legal days of salary. In order to collect the arrears, a review of documents will be carried out, stated Cuevas Gudiño.

it was also requested that the workers’ vacations be respected since there have been cases in which the directors have not allowed workers to take an absence from work, and that these vacations be made up if they are not given correctly.

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.

One of the most relevant requests approved by Aguirre Curiel during the almost one hour meeting was the right to affiliate for 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 assembly from 2:30 to 4:30 in the afternoon, 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 for upcoming surgeries so as not to affect the family income of the union members.

Finally, 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, the coverage of surgeries and operations for the workers, as well as equipment to provide the 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 it would take us so long to get started… 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,» acknowledged Aguirre Curiel.

Translated by Paul Weeks

El sujeto señalado utilizó la violencia física y psicológica para cometer el abuso en reiteradas ocasiones. Foto Fiscalía.

Redacción.- Un sujeto de nombre Joshua A., quien impartía clases de regularización de matemáticas a un menor de edad y presuntamente abusó sexualmente de él, ya enfrenta un proceso penal luego de los datos de prueba que aportó en su contra la Fiscalía Especial Regional del Distrito V con sede en Chapala.

La persona señalada utilizó la violencia física y psicológica; además, se pudo acreditar que el delito presuntamente lo cometió también en reiteradas ocasiones, en el mes de diciembre de 2021.

La última agresión ocurrió el 24 de abril pasado, en una finca ubicada en la colonia Sabinos II, del municipio de Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos, donde dicho sujeto llevaba a cabo la instrucción escolar a la víctima.
 
Ante el temor de que el sujeto le causara un daño mayor, el niño ofendido guardó silencio; no obstante, su hermano se enteró de lo ocurrido, por lo que pidió ayuda a su mamá quien en busca de acceso a la justicia denunció a Joshua A.
  
El hombre fue capturado por agentes de la Policía de Investigación del Distrito V, quienes lo pusieron a disposición de un Juez de Control quien le dictó vinculación a proceso al considerar que los datos de prueba eran fundados. Además, dicha autoridad ratificó la solicitud del Ministerio Público para que Joshua A. permanezca en prisión preventiva oficiosa durante un año, como medida cautelar.

Community Hospital of Jocotepec where vaccinations are delivered. 

Héctor Ruiz Mejía (Jocotepec).-Medical authorities at the Community Hospital of Jocotepec assured the community that expired vaccines against Covid-19 will not be administered. The recent  Federal extension of expiration dates for some classes of Covid-19 vaccines. makes this possible.

It was reported in several media outlets that over 59 million doses of the AstraZeneca biologic had an expiration date of April 30th. The Ministry of Health of Jalisco (SSJ) said that the Federal Government granted an «extension of useful life» for these doses, so they will be applied between May 15th and May 30th, as stated in the COFEPRIS-CAS-DEAPE-5010-2022 official communication.

The Federal Commission for the Protection against Health Risks (Cofepris) and the National Center for the Health of Children and Adolescents (CENSIA) stated these vaccines should not go to waste, so  Jocotepec medical authorities will be able to use doses with the extended dates.

The authorities of the Jocotepec Community Hospital said  that no expired  vaccines will be administered, thanks to the extension of shelf life, and that so far this has not been a problem in the municipality.

The doctor said that only the necessary  number of doses have been requested -about 1,500 doses for each vaccination day, in contrast to the 10,000 that were requested months ago. This will insure that no valid vaccine doses go to waste

Translated by Mary Woods

The events took place in the Colinas de Chapala neighborhood in upper Chapala. Photo: Twitter.

Editorial staff.- Investigators probing the disappearance of a 13-year-old girl in Chapala were forced to call for help after they were confronted by armed men on Tuesday, May 3.

State police reinforcements went to the aid of the investigating team, which included personnel from the Jalisco Prosecutor’s Office and the Amber Alert team.

According to eyewitness accounts by residents of the Santa María neighborhood, at least one shot was fired, although state and municipal authorities said no firearms were discharged.

Three suspects were arrested at a house in the area.

A search of the house revealed firearms and bullet-proof vests bearing the initials of an organized crime group.

A bag containing narcotics and a motor vehicle were also seized.

Translated by Alan Ferguson

Pilgrims pray as they walk, a rosary in one hand. Photo: Hector Ruiz.

Héctor Ruiz Mejía (Jocotepec).- About 500 people, fewer than in past years, attended the traditional pilgrimage to the cross on the hill of the municipal seat of Jocotepec, on May 3.

The difficult trail ascends for more than 1.7 kilometers (about a mile) and takes an average time of one hour and 40 minutes.

Enjoying the view from the top of the Jocotepec hill. Photo: Hector Ruiz.

Authorities from the Jocotepec Civil Protection and Fire Department, who were providing assistance for the walkers, said they counted approximately 500 people. 

“In past years, we had groups of up to 100 people in a row,» one said, suggesting that the traditional event may be in decline.

As a result, the firefighters and paramedics in attendance had little to do.

A woman climbs the hill at a rapid pace. Photo: Hector Ruiz.

Among the faithful who did take part was Gustavo, who said he had made the pilgrimage «his whole life” — asking Christ for help and thanking Him for what he has already.

“Every year I come here to pray . . .  and to remember the importance of this tradition for our people,” he said.

The municipal seat viewed rom the top of Jocotepec hill. Photo: Hector Ruiz. 

Father and son admire the view of Lake Chapala. Photo: Hector Ruiz. 

Beginning the difficult journey back, with another 1.7 kilometres to go. Photo: Hector Ruiz.

Translated by Alan Ferguson