Letter from the Mayor of Rosarito

Below, in quotes, is a letter by the Mayor of Rosarito which was forwarded to me. Since it has received a wide dissemination by now, you may have already received a copy. The mayor's letter addresses the shootings which have occurred here recently and outlines remedies he has undertaken.

Additionally, the citizens of Rosarito are actively organizing various means to combat the crime wave. While Mr. Torres refers to "... the government’s battle against organized crime/drug cartels in Northern Baja and elsewhere in Mexico.", in effect, it is a battle that it being waged in one way or another, not just by government forces, but by everyone who lives here.

"October 28, 2008 Dear Rosarito Resident,

In recent weeks you’ve likely heard and read a great deal about violence related to the government’s battle against organized crime/drug cartels in Northern Baja and elsewhere in Mexico .

We believe we are making solid progress. But without question, it is a serious struggle and one that will not end soon. At the same time, there have been rumors and speculation that have exaggerated the risk to our Rosarito residents and visitors. Because of that, I would like to clarify some recent developments in our city.

Since Sept. 1, we have had 29 killings in our city of 140,000 people. According to information provided by the Baja Attorney General, the vast majority of recent victims have had some relationship with illegal activities, while three of the victims were innocent bystanders. The community in general, including expatriates and visitors, is not being targeted.

We also are taking steps to increase security in Rosarito. Last week, 50 state police arrived to assist our 150-officer police department and army elements already in the city. We also have asked for additional assistance, including better equipment for our police officers.

We believe that there is little or no risk for most residents. For most, life is going on as normal. Therefore, we recommend you maintain calm and conduct business as you normally would, while taking only standard precautions and reporting any suspicious activities.

To keep you informed and to help you separate fact from rumor, we also are establishing a special section of the city website, which we will update at least weekly. The information also will be distributed through websites serving our 14,000 expatriate residents and published in the Baja Times.

Thank you for your understanding and support in this challenging time, as we work to rid our city and state of organized crime elements and the harm they are doing to our children, our society and our future.

With Sincere Thanks and Gratitude,

Hugo Torres, Mayor
Rosarito Beach"