municipio

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

Lago de Chapala. Foto: Héctor Ruíz. 

Por: Daniel Jiménez Carranza

En las actuales condiciones en que nos desenvolvemos, condicionadas por múltiples factores que nos someten a convivir en espacios limitados, es necesario considerar el incremento de entornos públicos de esparcimiento que permitan a la población despejarse del encierro en sus domicilios, cuyo resultado desemboca en considerables casos, en tensiones familiares como consecuencia del limitado entorno de convivencia, trátese de hogares amplios o reducidos, lo cierto es que la estrecha convivencia, genera fricciones entre sus ocupantes.

Dicha condición, obliga a las familias a buscar alternativas fuera de su vivienda, para oxigenar la relación entre sus miembros, encontrándose a su alrededor con reducidas posibilidades de espacios para este propósito, pues dentro del ramillete  existente, sólo existen espacios para el desempeño mecánico de movilidad como es la larga ciclopista, que pone en riesgo el acceso peatonal del individuo, y no se diga de grupos familiares, pues tratándose de este último aspecto,  sería necesario que cada miembro, contara con un instrumento de movilidad de este tipo, lo cual no es posible en muchos de los casos.

Es importante considerar este punto, como elemento fundamental el dotar de infraestructura recreativa  al Municipio enlazando sus Delegaciones, mediante un plan de desarrollo que considere la implementación de espacios recreativos y esparcimiento, aprovechando los recursos naturales que permiten la sana convivencia y estimulan la integración familiar, uno de ellos, sería la ampliación del malecón a lo largo de la ribera del Municipio, enlazando las distintas Delegaciones del Municipio, ampliando los limitados entornos existentes en cada Delegación, que también  atraería a otro tipo de turismo y no sólo el consumista depredador del entorno;  crear veredas claramente señalizadas y acotadas en las montañas y cerros del Municipio, en donde puedan caminar y ejercitarse, además de disfrutar de  la belleza de  los espacios naturales que constituyen una riqueza de la flora y fauna de la Región.

La construcción de la ciclopista ha sido sin duda, un  paso acertado en esta dirección, aunque aún no se encuentra en pleno funcionamiento, pues existen tramos en donde no se ha puesto en operación el alumbrado, así como los espacios construidos para sembrar árboles, están secos y descuidados; ahora toca hacer justicia al peatón, al hombre de a pie y su familia, que también  reclaman un espacio de esparcimiento que contribuya a la integración familiar, y por ende, social.

El Lienzo Charro J. Jesús González Gallo será la única sede del Carnaval de Chapala en su edición 2022. Foto: wikimedia. 

Redacción.- Chapala echará la casa por la ventana. El Carnaval Chapala 2022 ya está aquí y Semanario Laguna te comparte el cartel de actividades que se realizarán en su única sede, el Lienzo Charro J. Jesús González Gallo, donde destacan presentaciones de la Banda el Pueblito en su día de apertura el 25 de marzo o la del cartel del cierre para el primero de marzo con la Banda Agua de la Llave, Banda la Incontenible, Banda Astilleros, Banda Nueva Casta y Banda La Pequeña.

Este año, regresa también el certamen y coronación de la Reina de Carnaval que no se realizaba desde el 2020 a consecuencia de la pandemia por coronavirus y la alta incidencia de contagios.

A continuación, te compartimos el cartel de los bailes, actividades, así como sus costos.  

CARNAVAL CHAPALA 2022 DEL 25 DE FEBRERO AL 1 DE MARZO

 Lienzo Charro “J. Jesús González Gallo” en Chapala, Jal. A partir de las 4:00 pm Niños Menores de 10 años entran Gratis. 

>>> VIERNES 25 DE FEBRERO <<< 

* Entierro del Mal Humor 12 pm 

Banda El Pueblito 

Banda Perla Azul 

Toros de la ganadería de Neto Díaz * 

Certamen y Coronación de la Reina de Carnaval, ameniza música de mariachi. 8 pm 

Preventa especial los primeros 500 boletos a $100 pesos 

Preventa normal $130 pesos Taquilla un poco más. 

Habrá zona VIP teléfono 3322029359 

>>> SÁBADO 26 DE FEBRERO <<< 

Jaripeo Baile Julio Preciado

Mi Banda El Mexicano de Germán Román 

Grupo Imperio 

Banda Loma Santa 

Toros Los Intocables de los Hnos. Gómez. 

Preventa especial los 500 primeros boletos $250 pesos 

Preventa normal $300 pesos 

Taquilla un poco más. 

Habrá zona VIP teléfono 3322029359 

>>> DOMINGO 27 DE FEBRERO <<< 

Banda Agua de la Llave 

Banda la Ancontenible 

Banda Astilleros 

BANDA Nueva Casta 

BANDA la Pequeña

Toros los explosivos de Raúl De La Torre 

Preventa especial los 500 primeros boletos $200 pesos 

Preventa normal $250 pesos Taquilla un poco más. 

Habrá zona VIP teléfono 3322029359

>>> LUNES 28 DE FEBRERO <<< 

Banda la fugitiva 

Banda caña Verde 

Banda la masiva

Toros Rancho San Lorenzo 

Preventa especial los primeros 500 boletos $100 pesos 

Preventa normal $130 pesos 

Taquilla un poco más. 

Habrá zona VIP teléfono 3322029359 

>>> MARTES 01 DE MARZO <<< 

Cierre de Carnaval 

Jorge Medina 

Virlan García 

Banda San Miguel 

La Colegiala 

Preventa especial los primeros 500 boletos $300 pesos 

Preventa normal $350 pesos 

Taquilla un poco más. 

Habrá zona VIP teléfono 3322029359

Community of El Chante, gathered to demand their rights after the lack of water service. Photo: Héctor Ruiz.

Héctor Ruiz Mejía (Jocotepec).- Starting February 4th, residents of El Chante I unleashed a series of protests due to construction work on the network that supplies water to their subdivision. This pork was being done by the Government of Jocotepec,on Morelos Street to connect a new development called “Ribera Capital Living” to the water well that currently feeds the community. Residents complained that they currently have a shortage of water, with only a few hours of water a day. 

The Municipal Police and the National Guard escorted the representatives of City Hall to talk with the protestors; however, they did not reach any agreement. 

Residents banners were installed at the affected street address. Photo: Héctor Ruiz.

The demonstration resumed the following morning, when municipal police, prepared for riot operations, set up on Chueca Street «cutting cartridges and preparing for battle», according to neighbors. 

«Suddenly the entire police department arrived, with shields and helmets, cutting cartridges, as if sending us a message,» commented one of the residents. A fact that the community described as excessive use of force, «they treated us as if we were criminals», they added.

The demonstration continued until Wednesday, February 9, when in the afternoon about 60 people gathered at the point between Chueca and Morelos streets, where the project is located.

Citizens could be heard chanting «the people united will never be defeated» and with their banners demanded respect for their right to access to water.

Residents dissatisfied with the mayor’s response to the situation. Photo: Héctor Ruiz.

Municipal president José Miguel Gómez López summoned them to engage in dialogue at Campo David, an event hall located near the Jocotepec boardwalk.  This, he explained,was to safeguard their integrity from the insults of the inhabitants. A meeting did not take place and demonstrators advised that City Hall did not consult with them.

They also recalled the controversy that arose in September of last year, when the municipal president promised to fix the now bumpy Cuauhtémoc Street after disagreements over the Lago Luna development, a promise that has not been fulfilled.

Through his social networks, Gómez López said that the community of El Chante will be left without a solution to the problem of lack of water supply they face due to the poor state of the water and sewage networks, since the «misinformation» incited them to demonstrate and slow  the improvement and development works for them. 

Translated by Christalle Dalsted

The director of SIMAPA Chapala, Fernando Antonio Monreal Mendoza. 

D.Arturo Ortega  (Chapala).-  The Municipal Water and Sewage System of Chapala (SIMAPA) plans to drill a new artesian well to solve the drinking water supply problem in the downtown area of the municipal capital.

SIMAPA announced the drilling of a new water well next to Well Three, one of the oldest wells with decreasing capacity.

Residents of Chapala have been using social networks to publicize the lack of water service in the downtown area of the municipal capital.  

The director of SIMAPA, Fernando Antonio Monreal Mendoza, explained that the 60- year-old Well 3 is reaching the end of its life. The 12-inch diameter steel pipe is fractured.  The age of the pipe, along with lack of maintenance, has caused the fracture.

Monreal Mendoza recalled that in 2017, Well 3 delivered up to 24 liters per second.  Currently it produces  ten liters per second. A landslide in October 2021 plugged the well. SIMAPA was able to recover 132 meters of the original 165 meters.  They could not recover more because of lack of tools and risk of losing the source of water.

Another reason there are water shortages is the increase in population. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), from 2010 to 2020, Chapala’s population increased from 49,000 to 55,000 people. 

The director of SIMAPA said that a short-term solution is to truck water to places where there is no supply through the use of two water trucks.  One water truck is provided by the Civil Protection and Fire Departments (when it is not required by the municipal agency). Another water truck is contracted by the Decentralized Public Organization (OPD), so as not to leave the affected population without water.

To make use of this free water truck service, which is available seven days a week from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, residents must register by calling SIMAPA at 375-7612 or 375-3108.

Another strategy that SIMAPA uses is to deliver water to the neighborhoods most affected such as Barrio Nuevo, Las Redes, El Carmen, Los Electricistas and streets such as Pepe Guízar, Privada Pedro Moreno, Privada Degollado, Juárez, Degollado, Francisco I. Madero and Raúl Navarro.

Rogelio Ramos Pérez, Secretary General of Jocotepec.  Photo: Courtesy.

Héctor Ruiz Mejía  (Jocotepec).-  Rogelio Ramos Pérez resigned as Secretary General of the municipality of Jocotepec on February 3, 2022. Prior to becoming Secretary General, Ramos Pérez had served as the Director of the Municipal Institute of Attention to the Youth of Jocotepec (IMAJ) in the previous (2018-2021) administration.

Ramos Pérez was reluctant to provide further information about his decision, citing only “personal reasons” for his resignation. He urged the community to respect his privacy. He also expressed his gratitude for the expressions of support that he has received from his colleagues at City Hall. 

Regarding the resignation, Felipe Aguilar Montes de Oca, Director of Social Communication of the Government of Jocotepec, said that he has not yet considered who will be the next Secretary General. He said that a decision would be made in the following weeks. In the meantime, the municipal trustee, Carlos Alberto Zúñiga Chacón, will assume his duties. 

Before assuming the General Secretariat, Ramos Pérez served as director of the Municipal Institute of Attention to the Youth of Jocotepec (IMAJ) in the past administration 2018-2021. 

Translated by Amy Esperanto

Some parts of the walkway are used as parking, or to place easels with advertising. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- The pedestrian walkway in the heart of Ajijic has caused confusion among visitors who, instead of using it to have more space to walk, avoid it. 

The walkway has been in operation for approximately three months on weekends and, occasionally, on holidays. It was put in place during the first weeks of November, sometimes from Colón to the intersection with Parroquia street, and on other occasions, from Morelos street.

Several people expressed that they do not use it because they did not realize it is meant for pedestrians, or believe it is for other uses, because there are no indications that it is for pedestrians.

«Every now and then there are (bicycle) races here, I don’t know if the lane is meant for that, because it’s been there unsigned  for a while now. Some people walk there, but you don’t want to take the risk that someone might come racing or on a bicycle and run you over,» said Guadalupe, who visited Ajijic from Guadalajara.

«To me, it is so that cars do not enter this street, and do not park, because the street is like a walkway, but sometimes cars circulate here and the traffic officers do not say anything to them,» commented another woman who was walking down the street. When informed that this was a pedestrian walkway, she was surprised.

Tourists often walk outside the walkway, due to the lack of signage. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

«We can’t imagine it because it doesn’t say anything; neither where it starts nor where it ends,» she added.

Due to the lack of signage or signs indicating its function, the reflective cones and traffic barrels placed along the street that connects with the access to the malecón, confuses pedestrians. In addition to the fact that it is sometimes blocked by motorcycles or advertising signs.

Acting delegate Maximiliano Macías Arceo confirmed that it is indeed a walkway. He pointed out that this weekend there were many people who walked on the street, instead of using the cones.

«Sometimes tourists get upset when they are told to use the crosswalks or the sidewalks instead of the street. They would like the street to be closed to be a walkway, but  that is not possible because it is a main road,» said Macías Arceo.  

Finally, the official commented that the pedestrian walkway project has been running smoothly during these months, and will continue to do so until the municipal president gives the order to change or modify the project.

Translated by Rebecca Zittle

The illegal sewage discharge has been affecting the neighbors of Río Zula for at least two years. Photo: Sofía Medeles. 

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- Sewage spilling into Lake Chapala on Río Zula street, located on the west side of the Ajijic, has troubled neighbors, and visitors to the waterfront area. 

Neighbors confirm that the pipe has been constantly discharging sewage into the lake for more than two years, and that in the season when the water level rises, it is even more noticeable. 

«It has been like this for a long time. Tourists sometimes come here to the store and mention the bad smell, and the strange color of the water. It is very bad that people are dumping sewage,» said a woman who lives in the affected area. «When the lake rises, that is when it is most noticeable, and more filth collects on the shore. Not only does it smell bad, but it also contaminates and can harm those who come down, even the dogs and cats that hang out there. Many of us who live around here go down there to walk, and it’s really sad to see all the garbage, and to have to deal with the bad smell emanating from the sewage,» said Aurora, another neighbor of Río Zula.

Another neighbor, Andrés, said that it is uncomfortable to be there, and that before the level of the lake covered the pipe, he could see how the discharges ran from higher up into the lake. «It not only smells bad and affects the ecosystem, SIMAPA should consider that sometimes people come here to fish, or tourists go into the lake. It is a source of infection and disease, and the owners of the house that do this, only think of themselves. We have never known who the owners are, but we hope they will be sanctioned soon.»

The Director of the Municipal System of Potable Water and Sewage (SIMAPA) of Ajijic, Timoteo Aldana Pérez, commented that, although it is not a recurrent problem, it is within his authority to cancel water service,and issue fines in these types of cases. «This type of problem is seen more in San Antonio Tlayacapan and Riberas del Pilar; rarely in Ajijic, but if you know of any, you should report it to the SIMAPA office. Here we will take care of issuing fines, or charging to connect to the drainage system appropriately,» he shared. 

Aldana Perez acknowledged that he was not aware of the existence of this pipe, but that he will review it within the next few days. «One good thing is that Ajijic’s collection pipe runs along the shore of the lake, so it is easier to connect it to the pipe, unlike the systems of other towns,» he added.

Translated by Amy Esperanto

El fuerte impacto provocó severas abolladuras en el cofre del carro estacionado; mientras que el causante perdió la defensa.

Redacción.- La madrugada de este domingo se registró un aparatoso accidente en la cabecera municipal de Jocotepec; no hubo lesionados.

Un fuerte estruendo despertó a los vecinos de la calle Morelos, entre las calles López Rayón y Niños Héroes, cuando a las 06:15 horas, un conductor se impactó de frente contra un automóvil estacionado.

Tras el golpe, el carro aparcado presentó abolladuras en el cofre, además de que fue empujado a la banqueta; mientras que el causante perdió la defensa. Se trató de un Nissan Versa color plata, cuyo chofer se dio a la fuga.

El carro circulaba de oriente a poniente, al parecer, según testigos, a exceso de velocidad y de forma zigzagueante desde la placita de La Campana, por lo que perdió el control y se terminó impactando contra el vehículo detenido.

Fueron los mismos afectados quienes se dieron a la tarea de buscar al causante siguiendo el rastro del líquido que iba derramando el auto, mismo que fue localizado en un terreno baldío de la calle Independencia norte, en las faldas del cerro, sin embargo, el conductor ya había escapado.

Tras dar aviso a la policía municipal, el automóvil causante fue asegurado; no se registraron personas lesionadas

Al menos 200  unidades de transporte denominado «Uber»bloquean vialidades en la cabecera municipal de Chapala.  Foto: Jazmín Stengel. 

Redacción.- El Gobierno de Chapala condenó mediante un mensaje en redes sociales los bloqueos que se registran la tarde del 12 de febrero en vialidades del municipio ribereño por parte de choferes de transporte denominado «Uber»

‘Este Gobierno no va a tolerar que gente de otros municipios vecinos generen colapsos viales y alteren la vida de las y los chapalenses, por motivos que están al margen de la ley’, se lee en el mensaje, donde se invita a los quejosos a denunciar:  ‘Exhortamos a los particulares que si tienen quejas de las autoridades estatales que comparezcan ante estas o bien, presenten las denuncias ante las instancias correspondientes’.

En el mensaje se les recordó que es la Secretaría de Transporte (Setran) del Estado de Jalisco, la única facultada para emitir permisos y regularizar a los prestadores de servicio de traslado de plataformas o Empresas de Redes de Transporte.

«Respetamos el derecho a manifestarse, sin que este derecho invada el derecho de los demás habitantes», puntualiza el comunicado oficial.

Y es que, chóferes de transporte denominado «Uber» se manifestaron esta tarde del 12 de febrero por segunda ocasión en la cabecera municipal de Chapala, debido a presuntos abusos de autoridad, robo y extorsión por parte de elementos de la policía del Estado, por lo que piden a la autoridad municipal retire los patrullajes de los mismos en la zona. 

Fueron alrededor de 200 automóviles los que en dicha fecha del 12 de febrero -alrededor de las 3pm- cerraron por varios minutos la Avenida Hidalgo, en su cruce con Morelos, en la cabecera municipal de Chapala, para luego tomar carretera Chapala-Jocotepec y dirigirse rumbo al pueblo Mágico de Ajijic.

 En la manifestación presuntamente participaron  choferes de transporte denominado «Uber» de Chapala, Jocotepec e Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos. 

Más notas acerca del tema: 

PROTESTAN POR SEGUNDA OCASIÓN EN CHAPALA LOS CHÓFERES DE TRANSPORTE DENOMINADO «UBER» 

 http://semanariolaguna.com/63057/