The Honorable Mayor Hugo Torres, Playas de Rosarito, Mexico.
Dear Mayor;
My wife and I have been enjoying the wonderful cities, people and culture of Mexico for over 20 years, and have never had a bad experience in our travels. We are now retired and live about half time at Club Marena, and we love Mexico more than ever, with no fear for our safety. We travel through the border region several times per month, and have never seen a single incidence of violence as reported in the American press. We do see the Federal Police and Army along our traveled routes, and welcome their presence because we know that they are helping to protect the citizens and tourists in the area.
We are constantly calming minds of our friends, family and neighbors by assuring them that the true situation in Mexico is no different than in any other city of the world, that the violence is among the warring drug cartels and the Mexican Government, and that the American press is grossly misrepresenting the true situation. We also encourage those same family and friends to join us in the Baja experience, and have no qualms about having our 3 beautiful grandchildren and their parents visit us.
We thank you for being a visionary and brave leader that continues to make Rosarito Beach a wonderful place to live and visit!
Sincerely,
Steve Manning
Rosarito, Baja California. Mexico
lunes, 30 de marzo de 2009
What Americans Think about Rosarito
Honorable Mayor Hugo Torres, Rosarito, Mexico
Dear Mayor Torres;
My late wife and I purchased a condominium at Club Marena in 2005. After the death of my wife and the sale of my business in Chicago, I have had the opportunity to spend more time in Rosarito.
I love Rosarito, the people, the culture, the weather, the beauty of the landscape and the ocean, the food, and virtually everything about Rosarito. I have been in Rosarito for all of 2009 so far, and I plan to make it my permanent home. We have started a small business here, and we travel the neighboring cities (Tijuana, Playas de Tijuana, Ensenada) frequently on business without incident or fear of any danger. I attend civic events and movies in Rosarito at night, meet friends for dinners at night, and have never encountered any kind of difficulty. I feel much safer here in Rosarito than I felt in the Chicago area than it is in Rosarito.
Several family members and friends from the states have visited me here in Rosarito, after expressing grave concern about the reports of violence that are continually broadcast in the U.S. media. Every one of my visitors loved Rosarito and felt perfectly safe and welcome here – and they left wondering what all of the news reports were really about.
One of my brothers has made a deposit on a new condominium here after visiting me.
Viva Rosarito!
Sincerely,
Allan Browne
Rosarito, Baja, CA
Dear Mayor Torres;
My late wife and I purchased a condominium at Club Marena in 2005. After the death of my wife and the sale of my business in Chicago, I have had the opportunity to spend more time in Rosarito.
I love Rosarito, the people, the culture, the weather, the beauty of the landscape and the ocean, the food, and virtually everything about Rosarito. I have been in Rosarito for all of 2009 so far, and I plan to make it my permanent home. We have started a small business here, and we travel the neighboring cities (Tijuana, Playas de Tijuana, Ensenada) frequently on business without incident or fear of any danger. I attend civic events and movies in Rosarito at night, meet friends for dinners at night, and have never encountered any kind of difficulty. I feel much safer here in Rosarito than I felt in the Chicago area than it is in Rosarito.
Several family members and friends from the states have visited me here in Rosarito, after expressing grave concern about the reports of violence that are continually broadcast in the U.S. media. Every one of my visitors loved Rosarito and felt perfectly safe and welcome here – and they left wondering what all of the news reports were really about.
One of my brothers has made a deposit on a new condominium here after visiting me.
Viva Rosarito!
Sincerely,
Allan Browne
Rosarito, Baja, CA
What Americans Think about Rosarito
Honorable Mayor Hugo Torres, Rosarito Beach, Mexico
March 21, 2009 - We live in Scottsdale during the winter months, and then move to our home in Rosarito Beach for 5-6 months in the summer. We have had it for 4 years. We are totally in love with everything about being there!
I feel much safer in Rosarito than I do in Scottsdale! WE walk anywhere, interact with the people (who are the most loving, kind and gracious we have met anywhere in the world!), love to walk on the beach, boogie board, and most of all just relax and have fun in our retirement years in a warm and peaceful environment.
I would let my kids come back here, alone, at any time. You have done a great job adding to the police, and upgrading existing ones. But there never was a crime problem. The drug dealers are as far away from us in Rosarito as they are in Scottsdale – we only see it on the news, but it is nowhere near us, here or there.
If these so-called reports would LIVE in Rosarito for a week or two, what they write would be completely different! It is the best place in the worlds to live – San Diego weather, great food, low prices and TOTALLY SAFE!
Regards,
Morrie and Marsha Baker
Scottsdale, AZ
March 21, 2009 - We live in Scottsdale during the winter months, and then move to our home in Rosarito Beach for 5-6 months in the summer. We have had it for 4 years. We are totally in love with everything about being there!
I feel much safer in Rosarito than I do in Scottsdale! WE walk anywhere, interact with the people (who are the most loving, kind and gracious we have met anywhere in the world!), love to walk on the beach, boogie board, and most of all just relax and have fun in our retirement years in a warm and peaceful environment.
I would let my kids come back here, alone, at any time. You have done a great job adding to the police, and upgrading existing ones. But there never was a crime problem. The drug dealers are as far away from us in Rosarito as they are in Scottsdale – we only see it on the news, but it is nowhere near us, here or there.
If these so-called reports would LIVE in Rosarito for a week or two, what they write would be completely different! It is the best place in the worlds to live – San Diego weather, great food, low prices and TOTALLY SAFE!
Regards,
Morrie and Marsha Baker
Scottsdale, AZ
miércoles, 25 de marzo de 2009
Message to LA Times From Rosarito Mayor Hugo Torres Chabert
I wish the Obama administration would recognize the effort we are making in cleaning up our cities, our police forces, our state and country. Certain elements in the US government have reacted very quickly in telling people not to come to Mexico, talking only about the problems we have and that we have a lot of narcos.
We do, but you have more over there in the United States. Our criminals sell the drugs wholesale, you distribute them retail and the amount of money handled by U.S. distributors is probably 10 times as much. There has to be some recognition of that aspect.
For our city in particular, the travel warning is very important, as is recognition by the United States of what we're doing to fight trafficking. The US warning was issued after they saw some of the drug traffickers killed among themselves.
We have had lots of killings between traffickers. Ninety-six percent of the killings we have had in our area are between traffickers and that also happens in New Orleans or Baltimore or other cities with high crime rates. But all of a sudden, there is a campaign to stay away from Mexico.
In Rosarito, we have lost about 70% of tourists since the middle of last year. It had already dropped at the beginning of last year, but by mid-year, when the leader of the Arrellano Felix cartel was taken to the United States, the group was left headless and two guys wanted to get control and they started killing each other.
We haven't had any tourist or visitor caught in any crossfire in 20 years. We have 20million visitors a year in Baja California, so really the risk is not there for a tourist. I would really like the travel advisory to be investigated. They put it on because of what they read in the press and that's not exactly what happens here.
Hugo Torres
htorres@hotelrosarito.com.mx
We do, but you have more over there in the United States. Our criminals sell the drugs wholesale, you distribute them retail and the amount of money handled by U.S. distributors is probably 10 times as much. There has to be some recognition of that aspect.
For our city in particular, the travel warning is very important, as is recognition by the United States of what we're doing to fight trafficking. The US warning was issued after they saw some of the drug traffickers killed among themselves.
We have had lots of killings between traffickers. Ninety-six percent of the killings we have had in our area are between traffickers and that also happens in New Orleans or Baltimore or other cities with high crime rates. But all of a sudden, there is a campaign to stay away from Mexico.
In Rosarito, we have lost about 70% of tourists since the middle of last year. It had already dropped at the beginning of last year, but by mid-year, when the leader of the Arrellano Felix cartel was taken to the United States, the group was left headless and two guys wanted to get control and they started killing each other.
We haven't had any tourist or visitor caught in any crossfire in 20 years. We have 20million visitors a year in Baja California, so really the risk is not there for a tourist. I would really like the travel advisory to be investigated. They put it on because of what they read in the press and that's not exactly what happens here.
Hugo Torres
htorres@hotelrosarito.com.mx
martes, 24 de marzo de 2009
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
B. Larsen, Bajamar
lunes, 23 de marzo de 2009
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
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
jueves, 19 de marzo de 2009
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
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
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