Rosarito Beach mayor, in wake of drug-related violence, makes case for tourism
Rosarito Beach has long been known for its surfing, fishing, ATV and horseback riding; its many curbside restaurants and bars—and their free-flowing music, tequila and beer.
More often these days, though, the once flourishing tourist destination, 20 minutes from the U.S. border, is associated with violent fighting between drug factions.
Though the savagery has not been directed at tourists, ex-pat residents or ordinary Mexican citizens, the perceived danger of being shot has caused many to strike Rosarito Beach from their list of vacation spots.
To be sure, Rosarito Beach has been a hot topic on the Outposts comment board, so today I’ll revisit the issue merely by sharing some of what the town's mayor, Hugo Torres, told me during lunch last week at the Rosarito Beach Hotel:
--Drug-related violence in northern Baja California began to escalate after the arrest in 2006 of the leader of the Arellano-Felix cartel. Since then, there has been fragmented leadership and relentless warring between factions wanting to dominate the flow of drugs into the United States.
--Torres said, "I think we’re seeing the end of this fighting among themselves because I don’t think there are very many left of these head men. In the meantime, we're trying to apprehend the killers."
--Torres claims to have rooted out the city's police force of corrupt cops and has instituted an intense screening process that involves lie-detectors and looks for changes in spending habits and lifestyle changes. He has bolstered the force, created an English-speaking unit, and developed a neighborhood watch program.
--Torres said it has not been easy. Whenhe took office 13 months ago, "People told me they wanted to be chief of policeand that they would do the job for nothing" because they'd be well-paid by drugleaders. "Of course that was completely out of the question."
--Torres has increased pay for city police, from 9,000 pesos a month to 12,000 pesos, plus a two-month bonus at the end of the year. That was roughly $14,000 a year, which is considered decent pay in Mexico, before the recent devaluation of the peso delivered a setback. Torres is trying to push forward another pay increase.
--Torres acknowledges that some citizens have turned to drug dealing in and around town. He has put a former Mexican Army official in charge of fighting the drug war locally, and has launched a campaign using priests and ministers to spread the message that this is a sinful and perilous path.
--How bad is business? It fluctuates but has been down as much as 70% compared to what it was a few years ago.
--Has the mayor's life been threatened? Yes, when he first took office. "I'm concerned but I'm not afraid," said Torres, who owns the Rosarito Beach Hotel. "I decided to come into this job knowing that there was a problem with the police. Fortunately, we were able to turn that around and now we control the police and the police obey the city."
--Lastly, are tourists safe? Torres says they are if they exercise the same common sense the exercise when visiting any city on either side of the border. The should stay within the tourist zones and not venture into the outskirts or to remote areas after nightfall.
"If you were in Las Vegas," the mayor said, "you would not go to the end of town at 3 a.m., because you'd be asking for trouble. It's the same here."
--Pete Thomas