Fiestas, Cemento y ViolenZIHa

https://youtu.be/mnNM0ipwwKI

There was nothing very cool or refreshing about this Thursday morning. It was warm and humid at daybreak. And we had quite a few clouds blowing about today. It only reached about 32°C today, but as the local captains say, the ocean wants water. This evening after sunset it looked like rain to the east in the sierra. Local consensus seems to be that we're expecting an early arrival of the rains this year. Local forecasts are now including predictions of the possibility of rain this weekend and next week. The official beginning of the hurricane season is May 15th, but as we used to say in Florida: "there ain't no reason to the hurricane season."

And of course, we're expecting a highly active hurricane season with stronger than usual storms thanks to El Niño effect. Oh boy!

There have been numerous events of violence in Zihuatanejo in recent days. Many more than have been discussed here. When reporters asked the mayor yesterday if she was going to make any changes to local public security, she said no. Many locals including myself believe that this is a WRONG ANSWER. The nation's security chief made a very clear and true statement during one of President Sheinbaum's morning news conferences we call Mañaneras while describing violence across the country and showing how Guerrero remains one of the states with the most violence. He said that the biggest challenge for states like Guerrero is the professionalization of state AND MUNICIPAL police forces. Our local government has made absolutely no meaningful effort to professionalize our municipal police. And it shows. The results speak for themselves. That lack of professionalization is the reason the Guardia Nacional had to be created. But the Guardia Nacional, like the military, are mostly made up of people who are not local. It is unrealistic to expect them to know the area as well as locals. But locals appear to have no trust in our Municipal Police, and even less confidence in reporting what they know about crimes and criminal activity.

For the past couple of days workers from the municipal government have been decorating extensively mostly in Plaza del Artista but also along the downtown waterfront for the upcoming Feria Internacional del Libro. Even while there remain deteriorated decorations all over the place from last month's Carnaval. I can't help but come to the conclusion that our local public security would be SO MUCH better if our mayor put at least as much effort and resources into local public security as she does in planning and putting on events and parties and deciding where to put cement and gravel from her husband's company.

No one I've spoken with is in favor of the mayor's plan to demolish the offices of the Capitanía and turn it into a huge slab of hot cement for her events and parties, but because she controls access to resources the local captains and other users of the pier need, no one is willing to speak out publicly against the incredibly unpopular, very costly and extremely unnecessary project. I seem to be "it". So, if anything happens to me...

Tonight was the first time since it opened that Lupita and I have walked by La Porteña Restaurant and there wasn't a single table with any customers. It's usually either full or quite busy. But everyone who works there including the kitchen staff was standing in the front of the restaurant this evening looking at empty tables and a mostly empty Paseo del Pescador. I don't think we saw a single person who looked like a visitor during our stroll to the pier. Not one. A few people were watching a basketball game at the cancha, and a few people were setting up for the Feria del Libro, but other than that it was local city workers, policía turística, students, and locals.

Looking for an idyllic lodging in a tranquil setting within easy walking distance of the village at Barra de Potosí? Check out Villa Don Manuel. A bed and breakfast inn offering six comfortable one-bedroom bungalows located in a coconut grove across the road from the beach of Playa Blanca in Barra de Potosí just south of Zihuatanejo. Amenities include mini-fridge and pool. (click to enlarge image)
Zihuatanejo Hotels

¡Cuidemos nuestro patrimonio!
#MásSeguridadPúblicaMenosCemento
#NoBlueFlag
#PreservemosPlayaManzanillo
#DenunciaElEcocidio

Este jueves fue un día de poca asistencia en las playas de Zihuatanejo con casi nada de turismo.