Yes, violence in Mexico rising -- but it's less than in Washington

BY ANDRES OPPENHEIMER

AOPPENHEIMER@MIAMIHERALD.COM

After the murder of two U.S. consulate workers in Mexico's border city of Ciudad Juárez, many of you have written to me wondering whether it is safe to travel to Mexico. The answer is: If you are courageous enough to travel to Washington, D.C., you can safely visit most parts of Mexico.
Despite the escalation of drug-related violence in several Mexican cities, and the pictures of mutilated bodies dumped on the streets of Ciudad Juárez and other cities along the U.S. border, a dispassionate look at Mexico's murder rates shows that some parts of the country are indeed dangerous, but the country as a whole is safer than what the latest headlines suggest.

NEW STUDY

A new study by Brookings Institute Latin American expert Kevin Casas-Zamora, a former vice president of Costa Rica, helps put Mexico's violence in perspective.
According to Casas-Zamora's figures, based on United Nations 2008 data, Mexico's murder rate is nearly five times less than that of sunny Jamaica and about half that of Brazil, a country that was recently awarded the much-coveted 2014 soccer World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games.

Consider his data of Latin America's most violent countries: Honduras has a murder rate of 61 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Jamaica with 60, Venezuela and El Salvador with 52 each, Guatemala with 47, Trinidad and Tobago with 40, Colombia with 39, Brazil with 22, Dominican Republic with 21, Panama with 19, Ecuador with 18, Nicaragua with 13, Paraguay with 12, Mexico and Costa Rica with about 11.5 each, Bolivia with 10.5 and Uruguay, Argentina, Peru, and Chile with less than 10.

Comparatively, while the United States homicide rate is lower than Mexico's, Washington, D.C., has a murder rate of 31 people per 100,000 inhabitants and New Orleans has 74.
``Violence in Mexico is concentrated in a few cities, mainly in Sinaloa, Chihuahua and Baja California,'' Casas Zamora told me in an interview. ``In Ciudad Juárez, it's out of control. But in the country as a whole, it doesn't come even close to Washington, D.C.'s.''

He conceded that Mexico's murder rates may have risen in recent months as a result of the cross fire between Mexican security forces and the drug cartels, and between the drug cartels themselves. But he added that they are still significantly below what they were 10 years ago.
Largely for demographic reasons -- Mexico's birth rates are dropping and large numbers of Mexicans have been migrating to the United States in recent decades -- murder rates in Mexico have been falling steadily for decades. They may have picked up only marginally over the past year, he said.

The U.S. State Department's latest travel alert to Mexico, issued following the killings of the two U.S. consular workers in Ciudad Juárez, says it has temporarily authorized the departure of relatives of U.S. consular workers in the Northern Mexican border cities of Tijuana, Nogales, Ciudad Juárez, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey and Matamoros, and advises U.S. citizens ``to delay unnecessary travel to parts of Durango, Coahuila and Chihuahua states.''
As for Mexico as a whole, it says that ``U.S. citizen visitors are encouraged to stay in the well-known tourist areas.''

USE CAUTION

My opinion: Mexico is facing a dangerous rise in violence, and I would not advise you to spend your next vacation in Ciudad Juárez or any other place where the drug-related killings are taking place.

But Mexico is a huge country. To say that it's unsafe to travel to Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta or Cancún -- or that you wouldn't allow your children to spend spring break in that country, as Fox News' right-wing airhead Bill O'Reilly said last year -- is as irresponsible as saying that it's unsafe to travel to some of the biggest U.S. cities.

The State Department's travel alert, while correctly pointing out that the violence is concentrated in some Mexican states, should have put Mexico's national figures in perspective. It wouldn't be a bad idea if, from now on, it compared them with other countries' murder rates, and with that of its own home city -- Washington, D.C.


Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/03/24/1546034/yes-violence-in-mexico-rising.html#ixzz0jDsA0bva

Rosarito Crime Declines 21% To Reach A Five-Year Low

From January to November of 2009 Rosarito had the largest year-to-year decline in crime of any city in Baja California --- 21 percent --- to its lowest rate in five years, according to state figures.


The popular tourist and retirement destination 35 miles south of San Diego was the only one of Baja California’s five cities to achieve a five-year low. Baja Gov. Jose Guadalupe Osuna Millan told the San Diego Union it was one of Baja’s success stories.

Overall, Baja California crime declined by an average of 10 percent in 2009 from the same 11-month period in 2008 and was lower than the level of the previous two years.

“These are very encouraging figures for Rosarito, especially in difficult economic times, when crime historically increases,” said Mayor Hugo Torres, who ran in 2007 largely on a platform of improving public security and police reform.

Rosarito led all Baja cities in major categories for 2009, recording a 25 percent year-to-year decline in robbery and burglaries, 36 percent in violent crimes and 52 percent in murders, from 54 to 26, according to the January-November state figures.
(Year-end figures have not yet been tabulated but are expected to show little or no change.)

Five of the killings were between members of rival drug cartels as the government makes it more difficult for them to operate, and three were of police officers.
“Other people simply are not targets of the violence connected to the organized crime crackdown,” Torres
Torres said that the drug-related killings are very troubling but even with them Rosarito has a lower homicide rate than many U.S. cities, including New Orleans, St. Louis and Baltimore, and about the same as Washington, D.C.

“Understandably, much of the media coverage in the U.S. has focused on the crackdown on organized crime --- it’s a vital international issue,” he said. “But that has created a misleading impression about security here.”

“These latest crime figures show that for our typical resident and visitor, Rosarito is as safe or safer than ever. We hope these statistics will be well reported to convey a more realistic picture of life and safety here.”

Since taking office, Torres has led efforts to replace more than half of the city’s police force while expanding its size from about 150 to 230 officers.

He also established a special tourist police force that uses bilingual traffic tickets that can be mailed in from the U.S., an ombudsman office and a city department for visitor assistance.

The mayor also brought in former Army Capt. Jorge Montero to lead the police department as director of public security. He has praised his work as well as the support of the City Council Torres also cited federal and state support plus a close working relationship with the Rosarito office of the state attorney general, which is responsible for most reporting and investigation of crime.

“Prevention is the key to crime reduction,” said Torres, who added that the city’s focus would remain on public security.

Rosarito also is working on expanding positive activities including sports and drug prevention programs for youth. Torres has personally talked to about 15,000 of the city’s 23,000 school children and plans to visit the remainder this year.

(Further information on Rosarito, including testimonials from many of the thousands of U.S. expatriates who live there, is available on www.rosarito.org)

Rosarito esta mi Corazon!

I am a 70 yr. old female and I have Lived full time in Rosarito for almost 6 years by myself with 2 dogs and a cat and feel safer here than the US. Where else can you live when someone comes to change your tire who is a stranger and suddenly all your neighbors come to visit. Do I feel protected you better believe it. The cost of living is much better, perfect weather 98% of the time, clean white beaches, I can walk to town, Know my bank manager, pharmacist, etc. Fresh food we can trust. I can go on and on. I love Rosarito the rich social life I have. Do I go out at night of course, do I use common sense of course just like anywhere else in the world.

Marilu Shah

*feel free to use my name. Rosarito esta mi Corazon!

Testimonials for Rosarito Beach, Baja California, Mexico

While driving to my home in Bajamar from the US my car broke down on the highway at 1AM a Rosarito Policeman made sure I was ok and then found a shop that would fix my car at that late time,2 hours and $ 50.00 USD I was on the road.........Mucho Gracias

B. Larsen, Bajamar

Testimonials for Rosarito Beach, Baja California, Mexico

I am a native Californian who has been visiting Baja since I was a child. There have been many changes over the years, but few as dramatic as in the decade or so since Rosarito became an incorporated city. Particularly in the recent years, Rosarito has faced a crisis and stepped forward with deliberate speed and leadership to bring order and safety to its residents and visitors.


Now as a full-time ex-patriot foreign resident, my real-life experience in Rosarito is far different from the one I see portrayed in the media. Of the 14, 000 or more full-time foreign resident Americans and Canadians living here, I am unaware of a single incident where any innocent foreign residents or tourist visitors have been victims of the violence visited upon us by the drug cartels. All but a few of the incidents between drug dealers have taken place, while technically within the city limits of Rosarito, far into the deserted canyons and hills surrounding the population center.


Teen-agers are not, perhaps, the most prudent tourists, but even these young people have ventured into our city for years and not one has encountered the predicted danger. In 2009, there are fewer of them so far, but they are coming here, and they are having fun-filled, violence-free vacations at bargain prices. Even the State Department "alert" stated calmly that Mexico is one of the most visited countries by Americans, who are advised to stay in tourist areas! All of the business zone in central Rosarito is a "tourist area" where visitors walk from taco stands to fish markets, from disco bar to family restaurant, from motels to luxury condos, and from sidewalk cafe to art gallery.


I am a member of the Rosarito Friends of the Library, and we visit libraries throughout the city without fear, even in outlaying colonias. Recently major corporations such as Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Applebees, Burger King and GNC Nutrition have opened locations in Rosarito. Others are coming. They share our confidence in the safety and sunshine we enjoy in Rosarito.


Just so you know... I am semi-retired, but have nothing to sell. I don't own a business here, don't sell real estate, and don't have a financial interest in the tourists who either visit or don't visit Rosarito and Baja. It is simply an injustice to watch repeated media reports that use years old video tape and information from other parts of the country while they stand in San Ysidro, California and do their reporting with cameras pointing toward Mexico... where they have never visited.

Ken Bell
Rosarito, Baja California
RosaritoKen@gmail.com

Testimonials for Rosarito Beach, Baja California, Mexico

One fact to know about us first is that we do not have a cell phone - left them ALL back in Colorado feeling we did not need them here in Rosarito. On Thursday, March 12, 2009, approximately 4:15PM, we had just crossed the border coming back from a day at the doctors in Hillcrest, CA. Our van just died on the street along the Mexican side the of border fence. Several bystanders jumped into action and pushed us out of traffic.

These men, at one point, had become quite demanding of money. And then a Tijuana resident, Sr. Barajas, stopped and came to our aid. He spoke English as well as his native Spanish. He helped by translating with the guys who had pushed us. He volunteered to go for a tow truck and he would be right back. Just after he left a Motorcycle Officer, Sahagun S., stationed out of Playas de Tijuana, stopped. He spoke English, was extremely professional, courteous and helpful.

He also offered to call a tow truck and in fact did so. Without a word his presence disbanded the group of men who had pushed our van. Within 15 minutes, two tow trucks simultaneously show up. In one of them is Sr. Barajas and it is a flat bed, which is exactly what we had asked for. Sr. Barajas again translated for us, negotiating with Ranulfo of Gruas Guardado in Tijuana, to take us to Rosarito AND for a fair price. We told Officer Sahagun how much we appreciated his assistance and to tell the tow truck he called we were sorry but we could not use them. We felt we had to go with Sr. Barajas after his coming through for us. We were at our mechanics and then our home in Rosarito by 6:30PM, just shortly after dark.

If it had not been for the people of Tijuana, Playas de Tijuana and Rosarito - all of them - we may have been in a collision or worse. We have been here for 2 years and this is just one of several occasions that the citizens and officials of the Baja have come to our aid. We love it here and believe strongly that this is a FANTASTIC place to live.

Nate And Julia Prine
Rosarito - Full time resident & Lovin' IT

Testimonials for Rosarito Beach, Baja California, Mexico

I get very upset at what I read in the American Press regarding Mexico, in particular. Rosarito Beach. Yes, there have been some serious issues regarding corrupt groups, but their quarrel is between themselves and it rarely spills over into the civilian section and when it does, it is just a person being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I see more problems in the daily newspapers stateside, such as daily carjacking, gang issues and murders just to name a few. I really think that all this hype about Mexico is more to do with selling papers than giving its readers the real information.

I have a home in Rosarito Beach and another home stateside. I have been coming to Rosarito since I was a teenager and have had my home here for over 30 years. In all that time, I have never encountered any problems. Maybe I was just lucky, but most of my friends feel the same way I do. SAFE.

I love the lifestyle, kick back and relaxing. Every time I travel from the states to Rosarito, I feel like a huge stone has been removed from my back and I slide right back into that relaxed feeling of being back in Mexico. Rosarito Beach is a great little seaside get away and offers everything that is imaginable, good restaurants, reasonable hotel rates, a great beach, terrific shopping (and with the peso being as it now is, shopping is a bargain) and most of all relaxation.

Dr. Harry O.
ifapres@yahoo.com