City Mayor Hugo Torres on Saturday told the city’s largest expatriate group of gains made in public safety during his first year in office and was presented an award for his work.
“Our main proposal has been to fix up the security,” Mr. Torres told about 150 people gathered for the monthly meeting of the United Society of Baja California at the Rosarito Beach Hotel.
Mr. Torres was presented a plaque by USBC President Anne Hines which read in part: “In recognition of support, friendship and commitment in making Rosarito a better city for everyone.”
The USBC president said members of the group were deeply appreciative of the personal dedication and gains Mayor Torres has brought for all city residents.
The mayor thanked group members for the plaque and “for being here in Rosarito, making this your home and all your support.” About 10 percent of Rosarito’s estimated 140,000 residents are expatriates, most from the U.S.
This was the second time that Mr. Torres talked to the group since taking office on a reformist platform for a three-year term in December of 2007.
Noting that “the problem with security was a little bit bigger than we thought,” the mayor said that nonetheless substantial gains had been made, especially in improving the city’s police force.
Initially, Mayor Torres said, the main concern of his administration had been with some corrupt officers extorting money from visiting motorists.
But after a December 2007 attempt on the life of the new Police Chief Jorge Montero, in which about a dozen police officers were suspects, he realized the problem was deeper and quickly took strong action.
He sent all the department’s 149 officers for extensive ethics testing, including polygraph exams. Eventually about 60 percent of the department officers were replaced, while the size of the force was increased to almost 200, with plans to expand to 300.
With the changes — which include bringing in many former military as police officers —- a solid, dependable police department has been created and the problem of police soliciting bribes has become almost non-existent, Mayor Torres said.
“Much of the work has been done,” he said.
An additional 40 million pesos has been budgeted for police services and additional weapons and safety equipment is expected. The city also has established a tourist police force, a 24-hour-a-day ombudsman’s office and a citizen’s watch group of almost 400.
Mayor Torres said that the challenge of public safety would have been largely solved if not for war that broke out between rival factions of the Arrelano cartel several months ago in northern Baja, as federal, state and city officials crack down on organized crime.
More than 30 people, mainly cartel members, have been killed in Rosarito in recent months, because of the rivalry.
“It has been very difficult to stop the killings; we don’t have a list of who’s in the gangs,” Mayor Torres said. “But in Rosarito, I don’t expect these killings in Rosarito to go on much longer.”
In part because the U.S. media has covered primarily crime problems in the area, sometimes sensationalizing them, tourism and real estate sales have fallen off dramatically in Rosarito, creating economic difficulties, Mayor Torres said.
Part of the challenge in coming months will be to inform people in the U.S, of progress made and that the violence affects almost exclusively criminal elements. The information must be conveyed accurately.
“We will never go the U.S. and tell a lie,” he said.
In other gains, the city has been selected as the site for a new Tijuana Convention Center in Rosarito and plans are progressing to complete paving of all city streets, including outlying areas, Mayor Torres said.
Progress also is being made to bring more jobs to city by creating an industrial park and attracting environmentally sound manufacturing businesses, he said.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
Largest Convention of Real Estate developers in Mexico underway.
Baja California Meeting Point 2008 To Offer Opportunities For U.S. Building Firms
-- International Leaders to Explore the Growing Mexican Real Estate Industry—The largest convention of real estate developers in Mexico is being held minutes away from San Diego at the Grand Hotel Tijuana from October 15 to 18. Out of an unfilled need for American entrepreneurship, business opportunities for U.S. firms in the Mexican real estate industry are growing steadily. The wave of 76 million Baby Boomers who will be retiring over the next ten years translate into a mass market for Baja California real estate developers catering to American retirees. Baja California Meeting Point, also known as “The Sea of Cortes and Baja Peninsula Tourism Investment Summit and Real Estate Expo,” is a business hub for real estate investors, developers, landowners, construction companies and the hospitality industry. The event is sponsored by the Mexican government, the state of Baja California, the Mexican Tourism Board, among other important leaders concentrating on this niche. "Meeting Point will bring together entrepreneurs, investors, developers, landowners and operators to network, share information, form new business partnerships and discuss how U.S. know-how and investment can be brought to Mexico," said Javier Godinez-Villegas, creator of Baja California Meeting Point. “It will bring every key player to the ballpark of the retiree phenomenom for the ‘World Series’of training and interaction.”The Mexican Association for Retirement Communities (AMAR) has joined the Baja California Meeting Point with the intention of creating the needed legislation for the establishment of the regulations that will allow the introduction of the Senior’s Housing and Care industry in Mexico. The BCMP has positioned itself in the past years as the most important meeting point for investors, developers, land owners, constructors, and support companies for the tourist industry of the Sea of Cortes and the Baja California Peninsula.While the second-home market has contracted on both sides of the border, Mexico still attracts buyers from both the United States and Canada interested in owning vacation and retirement homes in Mexico, according to Xiomara Ramos general coordinator of the Mexican Association for Retirement Communities. “Baja California is well positioned to offer extraordinarily high-quality, attractive resort homes to the millions of North Americans increasingly interested in a higher quality of life for a lower cost of living,” she added. “We’re talking about the millions of Americans who won’t need to commute to work anymore. They want the golf courses, ocean views and leisure amenities only Baja California offers just across the border.” Godinez-Villegas says the Baja California real estate market matured tremendously over the past ten years and that U.S. builders and developers would be impressed with the high quality of projects now under construction. “Spectacular oceanfront and recreational land is available in Baja and the owners of this land, as well as experienced builders, are interested in partnering with American developers and operators to capture a larger share of the growing retirement market niche, he said. “Some are looking for equity partners while others are interested in construction and design expertise while still others require the specialized services American homebuyers demand.” “I`m delighted to see this industry mature," said Paul O`Sullivan, managing partner of O’SullivanSimms Internacional, who developed a binational public health policy project implemented in five Mexican and four U.S. states and is promoting Baja California Meeting Point in the United States. "With demand for top-quality assisted living communities clearly outstripping supply in the United States, there are dynamic opportunities in international real estate development and resort health care services throughout Mexico that Americans are going to want to hear about." Baja California Meeting Point is committed to bridging America and Mexican business partnerships. This year marks BCMP’s fourth-annual summit to be held in Tijuana. BCMP maintains a strategic alliance with Aero Mexico, which will sponsor discounted air travel arrangements for this year’s attendees. In addition, BCMP offers business matchmaking, pre-arranged meetings, one-on-one sessions, presentation space, networking areas and “Baja Talk,” aimed at providing information on reaching target markets. Attendees will find out how to increase his or her firm’s market share by building partnerships for the future. For more information or to register, visit www.bajacaliforniameetingpoint.com.
Article from the Baja Times
-- International Leaders to Explore the Growing Mexican Real Estate Industry—The largest convention of real estate developers in Mexico is being held minutes away from San Diego at the Grand Hotel Tijuana from October 15 to 18. Out of an unfilled need for American entrepreneurship, business opportunities for U.S. firms in the Mexican real estate industry are growing steadily. The wave of 76 million Baby Boomers who will be retiring over the next ten years translate into a mass market for Baja California real estate developers catering to American retirees. Baja California Meeting Point, also known as “The Sea of Cortes and Baja Peninsula Tourism Investment Summit and Real Estate Expo,” is a business hub for real estate investors, developers, landowners, construction companies and the hospitality industry. The event is sponsored by the Mexican government, the state of Baja California, the Mexican Tourism Board, among other important leaders concentrating on this niche. "Meeting Point will bring together entrepreneurs, investors, developers, landowners and operators to network, share information, form new business partnerships and discuss how U.S. know-how and investment can be brought to Mexico," said Javier Godinez-Villegas, creator of Baja California Meeting Point. “It will bring every key player to the ballpark of the retiree phenomenom for the ‘World Series’of training and interaction.”The Mexican Association for Retirement Communities (AMAR) has joined the Baja California Meeting Point with the intention of creating the needed legislation for the establishment of the regulations that will allow the introduction of the Senior’s Housing and Care industry in Mexico. The BCMP has positioned itself in the past years as the most important meeting point for investors, developers, land owners, constructors, and support companies for the tourist industry of the Sea of Cortes and the Baja California Peninsula.While the second-home market has contracted on both sides of the border, Mexico still attracts buyers from both the United States and Canada interested in owning vacation and retirement homes in Mexico, according to Xiomara Ramos general coordinator of the Mexican Association for Retirement Communities. “Baja California is well positioned to offer extraordinarily high-quality, attractive resort homes to the millions of North Americans increasingly interested in a higher quality of life for a lower cost of living,” she added. “We’re talking about the millions of Americans who won’t need to commute to work anymore. They want the golf courses, ocean views and leisure amenities only Baja California offers just across the border.” Godinez-Villegas says the Baja California real estate market matured tremendously over the past ten years and that U.S. builders and developers would be impressed with the high quality of projects now under construction. “Spectacular oceanfront and recreational land is available in Baja and the owners of this land, as well as experienced builders, are interested in partnering with American developers and operators to capture a larger share of the growing retirement market niche, he said. “Some are looking for equity partners while others are interested in construction and design expertise while still others require the specialized services American homebuyers demand.” “I`m delighted to see this industry mature," said Paul O`Sullivan, managing partner of O’SullivanSimms Internacional, who developed a binational public health policy project implemented in five Mexican and four U.S. states and is promoting Baja California Meeting Point in the United States. "With demand for top-quality assisted living communities clearly outstripping supply in the United States, there are dynamic opportunities in international real estate development and resort health care services throughout Mexico that Americans are going to want to hear about." Baja California Meeting Point is committed to bridging America and Mexican business partnerships. This year marks BCMP’s fourth-annual summit to be held in Tijuana. BCMP maintains a strategic alliance with Aero Mexico, which will sponsor discounted air travel arrangements for this year’s attendees. In addition, BCMP offers business matchmaking, pre-arranged meetings, one-on-one sessions, presentation space, networking areas and “Baja Talk,” aimed at providing information on reaching target markets. Attendees will find out how to increase his or her firm’s market share by building partnerships for the future. For more information or to register, visit www.bajacaliforniameetingpoint.com.
Article from the Baja Times
New Tiger Woods golf course Punta Brava in Ensenada
Bill Dwyre October 8, 2008
los Angeles Times
Tiger Woods had a circular stick in his hand in Southern California again Tuesday and waggled it confidently as he stood over a golf course.It is not what you think. Tiger is not back, not quite yet.The knee injury that will be forever etched in our memory as the focal point of his courageous and dramatic playoff victory on that Monday in June at Torrey Pines is still healing. He said his timetable for returning to the PGA Tour is still uncertain. He had surgery shortly after the U.S. Open."I can walk, the knee is good, we are right on schedule," he said. "There is no pain, and the work is on strength and mobility."Well, no pain until the daily rehabilitation begins."Oh, man." He rolled his eyes as he spoke."There is lots of work, hours a day. Man."But it is the very nature of Eldrick Woods to be a tiger about staying busy, even while doctors are keeping him off the golf course. That's why he was here Tuesday. This was Tiger Woods, designer, rather than Tiger Woods, best golfer in the universe.In a fancy room at a swank hotel -- the room filled with investment, developer and public relations types all dressed elegantly and a scattering of the opposite (also known as the media) -- Woods announced details about his part-time job.He has designed a golf course on a spectacular piece of land along the Pacific Ocean, just south of Ensenada and about 70 miles south of San Diego. It is called Punta Brava (Wild Point), and is a $100-million project financed by entrepreneur and former NFL and NBA owner Red McCombs.McCombs, in attendance, said, "When this was brought to me, I wasn't especially turned on. Then, they told me there was a good chance that Tiger would be involved. I said, forget it. It's over. I'm in." Woods took a display pointer, stood next to an artist's rendering of a proposed Punta Brava, to be completed in about three years, and described something that sounded like it could eventually become the Pebble Beach of Mexico. Pebble Beach of California, of course, is public. Punta Brava will not be.Woods talked about the elevation on the seven-mile peninsula that dropped from a 1,200-foot mountain to 300-foot ledges for villas and homes that overlook a golf course near sea level. That course, Woods said, will have an ocean view from every tee, fairway and green."Now, if you go and hit it in the bushes or the junk," he said, "maybe not."He said that 12 of the tees or greens are right on the water, that tee shots on eight of the holes will necessitate hitting over water, and No. 18, a Pebble-Beach-like par five dog-legging left with the ocean on the left, may not be as difficult as it looks."Some of you will reach it in two," he said, looking away from the media people.After they had run a video, showing Tiger standing on top of the 1,200-foot mountain and looking out to the ocean, and had finished the description, it was hard not to dash to the sign-up line for a villa. One unconfirmed rumor had several AIG executives, now with more time on their hands than Tiger, set to buy. Designer Woods said he has purposely gone slowly in this aspect of his career."I told myself I would play on every continent before I started designing," he said. "I guess I have missed the Antarctica Four Ball, but otherwise, I've done it."I felt I owed that to myself and to the people who will play the courses to have as much experience as I can. I've talked to all the people who have done this. I've learned a lot, thought a lot about it, used the experiences I've had as a player."That's why Jack is so successful [at course design]. He was a cerebral player."Player Woods said the doctors won't let him start swinging the club until January."I can't rotate the knee until then," he said, adding that his ideal would be to play one or two events before the Masters in mid-April."You just can't tell, once you start back, about things like swelling and soreness," he said. "That can set you back."Once he gets back, there is little question that we will see more of the same fire and grit he used to fight his way down those Torrey Pines fairways that June Monday afternoon."I was supposed to go to Mexico on a site visit for this that day," he said, "But I was busy."Indeed. Rocco Mediate and millions more remember.Bill Dwyre can be reached at bill.dwyre@latimes.com. For previous columns, go to latimes.com/dwyre.
Published Saturday, October 11, 2008 12:56 PM by Marianne Mills Edit
Filed under: Punta Brava, ensenada, tiger woods, Golf course [Edit Tags]
los Angeles Times
Tiger Woods had a circular stick in his hand in Southern California again Tuesday and waggled it confidently as he stood over a golf course.It is not what you think. Tiger is not back, not quite yet.The knee injury that will be forever etched in our memory as the focal point of his courageous and dramatic playoff victory on that Monday in June at Torrey Pines is still healing. He said his timetable for returning to the PGA Tour is still uncertain. He had surgery shortly after the U.S. Open."I can walk, the knee is good, we are right on schedule," he said. "There is no pain, and the work is on strength and mobility."Well, no pain until the daily rehabilitation begins."Oh, man." He rolled his eyes as he spoke."There is lots of work, hours a day. Man."But it is the very nature of Eldrick Woods to be a tiger about staying busy, even while doctors are keeping him off the golf course. That's why he was here Tuesday. This was Tiger Woods, designer, rather than Tiger Woods, best golfer in the universe.In a fancy room at a swank hotel -- the room filled with investment, developer and public relations types all dressed elegantly and a scattering of the opposite (also known as the media) -- Woods announced details about his part-time job.He has designed a golf course on a spectacular piece of land along the Pacific Ocean, just south of Ensenada and about 70 miles south of San Diego. It is called Punta Brava (Wild Point), and is a $100-million project financed by entrepreneur and former NFL and NBA owner Red McCombs.McCombs, in attendance, said, "When this was brought to me, I wasn't especially turned on. Then, they told me there was a good chance that Tiger would be involved. I said, forget it. It's over. I'm in." Woods took a display pointer, stood next to an artist's rendering of a proposed Punta Brava, to be completed in about three years, and described something that sounded like it could eventually become the Pebble Beach of Mexico. Pebble Beach of California, of course, is public. Punta Brava will not be.Woods talked about the elevation on the seven-mile peninsula that dropped from a 1,200-foot mountain to 300-foot ledges for villas and homes that overlook a golf course near sea level. That course, Woods said, will have an ocean view from every tee, fairway and green."Now, if you go and hit it in the bushes or the junk," he said, "maybe not."He said that 12 of the tees or greens are right on the water, that tee shots on eight of the holes will necessitate hitting over water, and No. 18, a Pebble-Beach-like par five dog-legging left with the ocean on the left, may not be as difficult as it looks."Some of you will reach it in two," he said, looking away from the media people.After they had run a video, showing Tiger standing on top of the 1,200-foot mountain and looking out to the ocean, and had finished the description, it was hard not to dash to the sign-up line for a villa. One unconfirmed rumor had several AIG executives, now with more time on their hands than Tiger, set to buy. Designer Woods said he has purposely gone slowly in this aspect of his career."I told myself I would play on every continent before I started designing," he said. "I guess I have missed the Antarctica Four Ball, but otherwise, I've done it."I felt I owed that to myself and to the people who will play the courses to have as much experience as I can. I've talked to all the people who have done this. I've learned a lot, thought a lot about it, used the experiences I've had as a player."That's why Jack is so successful [at course design]. He was a cerebral player."Player Woods said the doctors won't let him start swinging the club until January."I can't rotate the knee until then," he said, adding that his ideal would be to play one or two events before the Masters in mid-April."You just can't tell, once you start back, about things like swelling and soreness," he said. "That can set you back."Once he gets back, there is little question that we will see more of the same fire and grit he used to fight his way down those Torrey Pines fairways that June Monday afternoon."I was supposed to go to Mexico on a site visit for this that day," he said, "But I was busy."Indeed. Rocco Mediate and millions more remember.Bill Dwyre can be reached at bill.dwyre@latimes.com. For previous columns, go to latimes.com/dwyre.
Published Saturday, October 11, 2008 12:56 PM by Marianne Mills Edit
Filed under: Punta Brava, ensenada, tiger woods, Golf course [Edit Tags]
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