noticias

In Jocotepec the loss of jobs amounted to 559, primarily in the agricultural sector. Photo: Notisistema. 

Staff.- Chapala and Jocotepec registered the loss of 780 formal jobs during May, according to the IMSS database of insured workers. 

In the update presented by the Institute of Statistical and Geographic Information of Jalisco (IIEG), lakeside towns can be found on the list of the 20 municipalities with the greatest decrease in jobs. 

Jocotepec ranked fifth with 495 formal jobs lost; 431 of them classified as seasonal and 64 as permanent. Chapala ranked tenth with 221 fewer jobs; 149 permanent and 72 seasonal. 

The ranking of municipalities with the greatest loss of employment in May 2022 was headed by Tala with 1,666 fewer jobs, followed by Ameca with a decrease of 994 jobs and in third place was Tamazula de Gordiano with 752 fewer formal jobs. 

In contrast, the towns with the greatest job creation were Zapopan with 4,117 new jobs, Guadalajara with 3,322, and Zacoalco de Torres with 1,218 new insured workers. 

At the state level, Jalisco generated 3,517 formal jobs in May, mainly due to the construction industry sector, where there was an increase of 2,327 workers in the month, with a monthly variation of +1.70 percent. 

Translated by Rebecca Zittle

Eric Lea, 21 years old, resident of Ajijic. Photo: Facebook.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- Eric Leal, a 21-year-old resident of Ajijic, recently appeared in an internationally distributed commercial for the electronics, software and online services brand Apple, maker of the iPhone.

He was part of an Apple production, where he appears simulating a video call. Photo: Instagram.

Eric shared exclusively with Semanario Laguna that he became interested in the casting because of the pay offered, without knowing that it was for Apple. He found out which product the commercial would be promoting after his wardrobe fitting. The recording lasted approximately 15 minutes and took place in Mexico City. He described it as a brief and exciting experience.

«The day of the recording I was summoned between 9:00 and 10:00 in the morning. I was taken to wardrobe and then to makeup and, after about an hour, I was taken to the set. All this was recorded with an iPhone, and lasted about 15 minutes. It was very professional, because even in the corners where you knew the camera would not reach, there was decoration,” Eric said.  

Eric in a commercial for the US internet and phone service Frontier. Photo: Instagram.

Although Eric currently usually does commercial modeling, he commented that in addition to modeling in productions or in the fashion world, he would also like to explore acting. In the short term he hopes to start casting as an extra for Netflix series with his agency, MMRunaway. In addition, he wants to open his own agency in the future. So far, he has participated in five commercials, some of them international in scope.

Translated by Sandy Britton

Moment of the capture of Leo ‘N’ on Tuesday, May 31. Photo: Courtesy.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- The Government of Chapala insists that an alleged stalker, identified as Leo ‘N’, was released from custody after he complied with an administrative sanction and because there were no complaints against him.

But witnesses have contradicted the statement the City Council gave on Thursday, June 2 when the man was freed, saying that there were at least six complaints filed in the Public Ministry (MP).

Complainants have shared with Laguna their testimonies against the accused.

Two complainants, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, showed to Laguna a complaint folder page. In addition, they said that they maintained contact with at least four other people who denounced the alleged stalker between the day of his arrest on Tuesday, May 31, and the following day.

The complainants did not cite a specific cause or crime in their report, but they said  the testimonies of all the complainants were similar and they believed the crime could be stalking, or taking pictures of minors without their consent.

Municipal police officers and other authorities had urged concerned residents to file a complaint, but the denial that any complaints had been received by the Public Ministry, together with the release of the accused, left them demoralized.

They said they saw no point in continuing with the procedures now that the subject was free, and reportedly far from Ajijic.

But they said that in the process of making their complaints to the Ministry, the agency’s staff was curt, lacked empathy, and failed to properly explain the paperwork.

A law student, who asked not to be named, suggested several reasons why the authorities released the individual: his possible mental condition, or that the crime of harassment is not so severe as to warrant jail while further investigations are made.  In such cases, it was likely that a precautionary measure would be granted, such as reporting each month to MP offices.

The complainants, meanwhile,  demanded state authorities tell them what has to happen before they intercede in cases like this one.

Someone could be kidnapped or abused, said one complainant. When nothing is done, people may «take justice into their own hands.»

Translated by Alan Ferguson 

Staff.– Two men and a woman charged with stealing auto parts in the Ajijic area were captured in Chapala.

According to investigators, Eduardo Adrián ‘N’, Bryan Amador ‘N’’ and Silvia Elena ‘N’, allegedly removed and took a catalytic converter from a Toyota Hilux double-cab truck on June 1, using an electric saw.

The agent of the Public Ministry carried out the inquiries and obtained arrest warrants against the three suspects for the commission of the crime of qualified robbery.

Members of the Investigative Police captured the suspects in the Gastronomia neighborhood in Chapala, who were remanded to the control of the Supervisory Judge.

Translated by Alan Ferguson

Ajijic Health Center located at Ocampo 102, Ajijic. Credit: Sofía Medeles

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- The Ajijic Health Center (Centro de Salud Ajijic) recommends that women from Ajijic come in as soon as possible for a pap smear screening.

Dr. Sandra Gonzalez, director of the health center, said about 3 out of every 10 women recently tested have irregular, or positive test results, «Testing is available all year round, and due to the many cases we have seen in Ajijic, we ask women to come and get it done. «This test is free, appointments are available Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. The only requirement is to bring a copy of your CURP with you.Pap smears test for signs of HPV (Human Papillomavirus), and cervical cancer by detecting abnormal cells in the cervix. In addition to pap smears, the Ajijic Health Center also provides many other valuable services for citizens and residents. Information and updates about the health center are available on their Facebook page, «CS Ajijic.”

Dr. González says that they have not seen a high incidence of seasonal diseases such as dengue, or Covid-19, nor have they seen any incidents of monkeypox.

Covid-19 vaccinations are announced as they are available, and currently they have a vaccination campaign for rubella and measles.

Translated by Amy Esperanto.

 One of the suspects arrested, the driver of the car reported stolen in Chapala. 

Editor.- Authorities in Chapala captured and arrested three suspects, and recovered a car that had been reported stolen just days before. The arrest was made in the Chapala boardwalk area on June 6th. 

While on a surveillance tour, municipal police spotted a car that matched the description of a car that had been reported stolen just days before, a late model Volkswagen Jetta. They stopped the vehicle on Ramón Corona, near the boardwalk. 

The suspects are two men and a woman. When arrested, they were also in possession of drugs, and tools commonly used to steal cars.

Translated by Amy Esperanto

Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel, mayor of Chapala. Photo: Archive. Jazmín Stengel.

Jazmín Stengel.- The drainage project for Riberas del Pilar, presented by the Chapala municipal government on April 5 of this year, is undergoing modifications, said Mayor Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel in an interview.

Although the project was presented to residents as an already analyzed proposal to be carried out in a single six-month stage, the plan has changed. Aguirre Curiel said that the work will be carried out in stages, without specifying how many. The project  began on May 4 in the main area and will continue in the commercial area of Riberas del Pilar, but still without a date.

During the April 5 presentation, the  President said «first the treatment plant has to be budgeted» for which negotiations are already underway with a private company; a cost of 68 million pesos was announced for the entire project. This included drainage lines, a modular treatment plant, and a connector between the two. 

The neighbors were asked to raise  34 million pesos, half of the 68 million pesos that the work will cost. Despite having set a maximum deadline of one and a half months, this was not achieved because many of the residents continued to ignore the invitation.

In order to begin the work, the government must collect 25 percent of the total cost from the neighbors, 17 million pesos. Chapala government representatives said during the presentation that they had the other 34 million pesos, including funds for the biological treatment plant, the land where it will be installed and for the labor to carry out the project.

 The contributions of the residents are being collected at SIMAPA’s offices and the amount to be paid by each homeowner is evaluated according to the size of each property. Each homeowner must contribute 70 pesos per square meter of land and 100 pesos for businesses.

The executive plan of the project is available to the general public at the facilities of the Municipal Potable Water and Sewer System (SIMAPA),at  Juárez 573, Colonia Centro,  in Chapala .

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan

 Fenced and walled property; this is located inside the lake, in Riberas del Pilar. Photo: Courtesy.

Editor.- Both neighbors of the area, as well as activist groups in favor of the protection of the federal land, have denounced the lack of attention of the authorities to one of the lake invasions in the town of Riberas del Pilar.

This property is located on Paseo del Lago Street, between San Pablo and San Mateo and, according to witnesses, there are plans to build a house. The  invaded space measures 75 meters in front, and 20 to 25 meters long  facing the lake.

When the level of the lake rises, this land is flooded because it is located inside the lake.

In this particular case, not only is it located on federal land, but the supposed owner is filling it with material now that the level of the lake has dropped, in order to be able to build, which indicates this property is within the territory of Lake Chapala, so that when the level rises, the space will be covered by water.

Some witnesses interviewed, who prefer to remain anonymous, stated that there have already been complaints filed with both the National Water Commission (Conagua) and the Federal Attorney General’s Office for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), but neither agency has acted. 

According to the witnesses, the Chapala government has closed the site on at least two occasions; however, the seals have been removed and services such as potable water and electricity have been provided.

The owner is known among the complainants as «El Torero», and they say that he is a very aggressive person who cares little about invasion issues. There is currently a stable on the land. One of the activists went to talk to the woman who takes care of the stables, who confirmed that he  is planning to build a farm there, and so far, he has built the front wall.

Appearance of the fill and what has been built so far. The filled area is located on Paseo del Lago street, between San Pablo and San Mateo.

The Indigenous Community of San Antonio Tlayacapan has become involved in the case, acting to reduce the land that was being appropriated, fencing off at least a third of it and placing signs warning that it belongs to the community.

Currently, the land containing the landfill is without any type of closure. The municipal president, Alejandro Aguirre Curiel, commented that he recently met with the secretary general of the Government of Jalisco, Enrique Ibarra Pedroza, to ask for support to be able to intervene and act in federal zones, since, being a federal matter, «it does not depend on them».

«There have been several meetings with the director of the Conagua, who sent a proposal, but it is very far from what we need; then we seek to rethink it […] they offered approach, advice and willingness to come, but we are looking for authority and power to intervene and act», assured the mayor.

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan

Dog shelter, located west of Ajijic, at the foot of Cerro Colorado. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

 Editor. In order to better understand the controversy surrounding the dog shelter in West Ajijic run by Chapala SOS Dog Shelter, Laguna has been interviewing all the parties involved in the controversy.  Last week Laguna interviewed the president and the spokesperson of the homeowners association impacted by the noise from the shelter.  This week we have interviewed an influential volunteer at the SOS shelter, and Chapala  President Aguirre. Semanario has not confirmed any of the claims made in the interview, except thore of President Aguirre. The volunteer interviewed does not have final decision authority.

Sofia Medeles (Ajijic).- A volunteer of SOS Chapala Dog Rescue, who asked not to be named,  said  that volunteers want none of the dogs that are currently in the shelter located in Ajijic to go to the new shelter that is being prepared by the current Chapala Government, located in Hacienda de La Labor.

The interviewee told Semanario Laguna that, due to the great investment in health and maintenance the workers and volunteers have made in each dog that is in the shelter, as well as the lack of information about the commitment of care in the new space, they do not want any of the 85 dogs to be transferred. So far, they have not given them a deadline to leave the place.

«None of the dogs are going to go there, because of everything that is invested in each one, besides the fact that there is no certainty that they will continue to be cared for in the same way we care for them., “the interviewee told Laguna, saying that “We want them to go to a better place. We know nothing about the methodology to be used, if the place is suitable, if there are trained people, if the feeding is correct, etc.” 

The interviewee also pointed out the lack of commitment on the part of the municipalities to continue with projects such as the shelter, and added that at no time, neither government personnel, nor the Department of Ecology, approached them to notify them, so they found out through social networks. (note: President Aguirre posted a video on the municipal website touring the new shelter and expressing his commitment to excellent care for the dogs, however, o specific information has been provided by the administration).

Currently there are 85 dogs, which cost between 90 to 100 thousand pesos per month. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

According to the volunteer, the monthly investment ranges from 90 to 100 thousand pesos, between medical expenses that include sterilizations, deworming, vaccinations, and in some cases medications and chemotherapy, in addition to food, salary for employees and the sanitization that is carried out. This amount is contributed by volunteers and associations that not only contribute monetarily, but also in kind, and by careful management.

The volunteer also pointed out that the way in which the shelter has been run has always followed international standards for this type of site, such as cage measurements, cage material, roof and floor slope, playground, isolation cages, and daily walks. The interview’ s opinion is that  the new shelter will  not be able to meet these  requirements.

Chapala President  Alejandro Aguirre Curiel,  told Laguna that although he does not have an exact  budget for the new shelter, the investment is relatively low and he hopes that it will open as soon as possible. 

He also told Laguna that a group of Expats  is interested in supporting the project, but since it is a municipal shelter,  the  municipality  will also be looking for sponsors to keep the space in good condition. He also mentioned that an agreement was signed with those responsible for the SOS shelter, where it was stipulated that they had at least 30 days to vacate, a date that has now expired.

The new municipal shelter is located on a hectare of land in Hacienda de La Labor.  The government announced that in a few days the 50 cages will be ready. The cost of renting the space is 15,000 pesos per month, which will be covered by the group of neighbors  whose homes have been impacted by the noise from the west Ajijic shelter and whose lawsuit is driving the negotiation process.

The volunteer interviewed added that interested people can help the dogs by donating, adopting or being a bridge house, and even, if there is the possibility, lending a space in contract so that a new shelter can be established in the Ajijic delegation, where most of the sponsors and volunteers are located.(note: a shelter will require permits from the municipality and must be located so that it does not impact nearby homes).  For more information, contact the Facebook page SOS Dog Chapala Rescue.

The interviewee also asked pet owners to be aware and responsible; «we will not end up sending dogs and dogs to the United States because people are quick to abandon them. We need to raise people’s awareness, if we provide  permanent homes, bridge houses and shelters, we won’t need governments to take care of them», he concluded. 

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan

Garbage accumulates around some Piedra Barrenada restaurants. Photo: Courtesy.

Héctor Ruiz Mejía (Jocotepec).- Restaurant owners in the Piedra Barrenada tourist area have complained that, after they refused to pay more for garbage collection, pickups became “irregular and infrequent.” 

At a meeting on May 31, members of the restaurateurs’ association, Prestadora de Servicios de Piedra Barrenada A.C., complained that about one month ago the Government of Jocotepec imposed higher charges for garbage pickup.

The association, representing at least 12 restaurateurs, said that after they refused to pay the charge, garbage collection became irregular and less and less frequent, causing an accumulation of garbage around their businesses.

They said it was unfair, since the collection service was the only benefit they received from the municipality. 

“We pay all our taxes on time (and) this was the only thing that the City Council supported us with,” said one restaurateur at the meeting, who requested anonymity to «avoid problems.»

The restaurateurs also suggested that charges for pickups should be based on the amount of garbage each establishment generated, arguing that some restaurants generate much more than others. 

Despite their disagreements  with the municipality, members of the association said they are willing to pay «a fair contribution.» 

They said that a solution should be found, expressing concern about the impact of the recent garbage pile-ups on Lakeside tourism, in one of the best-known restaurant areas of Jalisco.

Translated by Alan Ferguson