Mayor-Elect Vows Police Reform
Rosarito Mayor-Elect Vows Police Reform,
Drug Prevention and Economic Advances
ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO---The mayor-elect of this city 20 miles south of the U.S. border told a leading expatriate group that his administration would focus on police reform, reducing drug use and economic gains in the tourist sector.
“There are a couple of problems that need to be fixed.” Hugo Torres told an Oct.6 meeting of 120 members of the United Society of Baja California, “We’re going to try to do it quickly but carefully.”
Rosarito estimates that about 10 percent of its 130,000 population consists of people born in other countries, primarily the United States .
Torres, the principal owner of the Rosarito Beach Hotel, was a leader of the drive in which Rosarito residents voted to become a city in 1995, and he then was appointed to a three-year term as mayor.
After being out of office for nine years, he was elected to a three-year term this August. He will take office Dec, 1 and says he will work to make Rosarito a model city for all of Baja.
Changes in the police department are needed both to make it both more effective and to stop some officers from abusing tourists and others. “We want to protect the visitor from extortion by police,” he said.
He said a neighborhood policing concept will be emphasized under which police are assigned to certain sections of the city, so people know the officers they are dealing with and police understand the areas better.
A tourism police division will be established specifically to deal with visitors and Torres said he would propose to the City Council an increase in police salaries from $700 to $1,500 a month to help professionalize the department. The increase would be dependent on performance.
Torres said he had met with other city, state and federal officials to discuss better police protection on a regional basis. “From the border to Ensenada , the goal is no assaults and no police abuses.” Torres said.
Drug use, especially among young people, is a major contributor to crime, Torres said, and he suggested several strategies to reduce it. “We have to get the children away from drugs and gangs and vandalism,” he said.
One strategy would be drug prevention programs in the schools, combined with an increase in youth activities, plus “more sports and cultural activities in our neighborhoods,” including more city park space.
“I’d like a park for picnics, with an acoustic shell for concerts,” he said.
To help pay for city improvements and expanded services, Torres said he would propose a developer fee of between $500 and $1,000 on each new condominium built, and that money collected be matched by city funds.
About 70 percent of Rosarito’s economy is dependent on tourism and Torres listed proposals to strengthen that sector.
As well as creation of a tourist police force, Torres said a city ombudsman position will be created to deal with any visitor complaints and provide assistance. The city’s convention and visitors’ bureau will have expanded hours.
He also said the downtown, Popotla and Puerto Nuevo areas needed renovation. As part of that effort, “I’d like to see more galleries,” he said. “I’d like to make Rosarito a Mecca for artists.”
During the question-and-answer period, several people said they would like to volunteer to help in improvement efforts. The Mayor-elect said a structure would be established to make that possible.
He also said illegal drag racing on Popotla Boulevard would be stopped and efforts made to expand the city’s animal control and shelter efforts.