First up, there's the issue of inflation and poverty to report. I don't know if you're familiar with it, but there's a phrase in Mexico: “la cuesta de enero” that you hear a lot after the first of every January. Cuesta means hill, or slope; enero, of course, means January.
What it refers to is the uphill struggle to get to the end of the month, most often meaning the financial struggle, after all that over-spending on food and presents during the Christmas holidays.
Lately, though, la cuesta de enero hasn't been ending with the advent of February. Due to the constant rise in prices of everything from tortillas to fuel prices (including gas), families are finding that uphill struggle continuing on throughout the year. There has been a significant rise in the poverty rate as a result, and families are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. Locals are finding it very hard to afford such basics as a kilo of meat, a gallon of milk, tortillas or a kilo of beans, let alone afford to buy vegetables and other basic necessities. And keep in mind their wages also have to stretch for clothing, electrical energy costs and school expenses, too.
Times are hard, and the good people of Puerto Penasco can use your help. If you are able, choose a charity (or two) from this list and give/do what you can. A child's smile is a great reward...
Moving along: In the "Safety" category, earlier this month Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Munro had a photo op connected to the delivery of 8 brand new squad cars for Puerto Penasco's police force, made possible by a Public Safety grant of 3.4 million pesos. The keys were delivered in front of City Hall. This brings the number of patrol vehicles to 40, counting motorcycles. The city is also working hard to give its police officers better pay and training, which is all good.
Meanwhile, the municipality is continuing its infrastructure work, and not just for tourism. In the neighborhood east of town called San Rafael, some 3,500 homes will finally be getting electricity by this summer; and plans for additional grading and paving of streets within the city are progressing. This is all good.
In Old Port, ground has been broken for the first phase of a $5.2 million peso project for berths for small boats. This will create better docking conditions for fishermen and service providers and sets the stage for the infrastructure necessary for the development of sport fishing and other tourism.
This initial phase includes considerable dredging, the construction of an 8,504 square foot platform with a retaining wall and a floating dock with room for 25 small boats.
The finished project will comprise 2 platforms with retaining walls, another 328-ft. floating dock, 2 boat launch ramps and offices and restrooms.
It's a GOOD thing!
And Hey! The weather is sunny and beautiful, so come on down!
And that's the Buzz on the Beach for today.
Peace out...
About Beach Buzz: Not necessarily the news, this is a place for information, opinion, speculation, gossip, tips and other good stuff about Rocky Point, and Mexico in general. If you have something you'd like to share, I'd like to hear from you!
Contact me at lahuerita2@gmail.com
