Blood Boiler
I just wrote my first ever letter to the Editor of our local paper, The Arizona Republic.
Here's what I said:
Is there a conspiracy against tourism in Puerto Penasco?
AZ colleges warned students to avoid it for spring break because of drug related violence despite no shootings reported. Swine flu warnings came despite no cases reported in Sonora.
And now, the US Consulate issues a Warden that admits to reporting "unconfirmed" fake check points and goes on to say people have been shot and killed for evading them. One would think they would be confirmed if someone were killed.
Kudos to The Arizona Republic for actually doing research to dispute the unconfirmed rumors. However, I wish you'd put the article on the front page to try to cancel out the sensational stories on our local news.
What a shame that some people, thinking to be safe rather than sorry, will not travel to a wonderful beach community and miss out on a great vacation.
The bigger infamy is that the very hospitable residents of Puerto Penasco (both Mexican and US citizens) will suffer the financial loss of this latest libel.
I intend to enjoy a fantastic Holiday weekend in Puerto Penasco and hope others won't be unduly persuaded to cancel their similar plans. That would be a real shame.
What inspired my rant? Well, the Consulate in Nogales issued a Warden (warning message) about travel on Highway 8 that leads to Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco).
Here's an excerpt (emphasis is mine) from the Warden:
There have been unconfirmed reports that unauthorized checkpoints have been set up by unknown persons at night,
Here's another:
Motorists who have not stopped at unofficial checkpoints have been shot at and killed.
This libelous Warden has the folks in Rocky Point scrambling to get the facts out. A statement from them:
According to the director of Mexico’s Federal Highway Patrol, no incidents like those discussed in the warning have occurred. The AFI, which is like the American CIA, has also denied any knowledge of problems along Highway 8. Local police chief Erick Landagaray expressed surprise that the Consulate would issue a warning without so much as a thread of truth to it. The Attorneys General at the State as well as Federal level have also said there is no basis for the claims of violence on the road to Puerto Penasco.
I've been going to Rocky Point for over 20 years. The people there rely on tourism and have always been very friendly. The only time I saw someone get in trouble was a drunk who got kicked out of a bar with a warning to not come back. He did and the cops took him away. I imagine he spent a night in the jail to sober up. It was deserved.
Like any place you go, Phoenix included, it's prudent to not be stupid and to follow the rules of the law. Like any place you go, there are people who look to steal from your car (or steal your car) or mug you but I feel safer in Rocky Point than I do in many, many neighborhoods in the Valley.
It saddens me to see so many restaurants, shops and hotels suffering from the lack of customers because people have been scared away from crossing the border and making the relatively short drive down to Rocky Point. I've talked to several people who used to go and had great times there but now refuse to go because something might happen.
You know, something might happen as you leave one of the stadiums or concert venues in downtown Phoenix, too. Does that mean you should avoid them as well?
Here's what I said:
Is there a conspiracy against tourism in Puerto Penasco?
AZ colleges warned students to avoid it for spring break because of drug related violence despite no shootings reported. Swine flu warnings came despite no cases reported in Sonora.
And now, the US Consulate issues a Warden that admits to reporting "unconfirmed" fake check points and goes on to say people have been shot and killed for evading them. One would think they would be confirmed if someone were killed.
Kudos to The Arizona Republic for actually doing research to dispute the unconfirmed rumors. However, I wish you'd put the article on the front page to try to cancel out the sensational stories on our local news.
What a shame that some people, thinking to be safe rather than sorry, will not travel to a wonderful beach community and miss out on a great vacation.
The bigger infamy is that the very hospitable residents of Puerto Penasco (both Mexican and US citizens) will suffer the financial loss of this latest libel.
I intend to enjoy a fantastic Holiday weekend in Puerto Penasco and hope others won't be unduly persuaded to cancel their similar plans. That would be a real shame.
What inspired my rant? Well, the Consulate in Nogales issued a Warden (warning message) about travel on Highway 8 that leads to Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco).
Here's an excerpt (emphasis is mine) from the Warden:
There have been unconfirmed reports that unauthorized checkpoints have been set up by unknown persons at night,
Here's another:
Motorists who have not stopped at unofficial checkpoints have been shot at and killed.
This libelous Warden has the folks in Rocky Point scrambling to get the facts out. A statement from them:
According to the director of Mexico’s Federal Highway Patrol, no incidents like those discussed in the warning have occurred. The AFI, which is like the American CIA, has also denied any knowledge of problems along Highway 8. Local police chief Erick Landagaray expressed surprise that the Consulate would issue a warning without so much as a thread of truth to it. The Attorneys General at the State as well as Federal level have also said there is no basis for the claims of violence on the road to Puerto Penasco.
I've been going to Rocky Point for over 20 years. The people there rely on tourism and have always been very friendly. The only time I saw someone get in trouble was a drunk who got kicked out of a bar with a warning to not come back. He did and the cops took him away. I imagine he spent a night in the jail to sober up. It was deserved.
Like any place you go, Phoenix included, it's prudent to not be stupid and to follow the rules of the law. Like any place you go, there are people who look to steal from your car (or steal your car) or mug you but I feel safer in Rocky Point than I do in many, many neighborhoods in the Valley.
It saddens me to see so many restaurants, shops and hotels suffering from the lack of customers because people have been scared away from crossing the border and making the relatively short drive down to Rocky Point. I've talked to several people who used to go and had great times there but now refuse to go because something might happen.
You know, something might happen as you leave one of the stadiums or concert venues in downtown Phoenix, too. Does that mean you should avoid them as well?
