Along the Border – Immeasurable fear overrules reality

On 01.31.10, In Fear Factor, The Border, By PMC

MATAMOROS — Violence in this border city, residents say, is often left unreported by authorities yet exaggerated when caught on tape by the media, making it difficult to measure.

But if there is some certainty in the muddle of misinformation, many say it is this: Fear is ravaging the public perception of Matamoros. People no longer cross as frequently into the Mexican border city as they did in the past, and its retail businesses and restaurants are hurting.

“It is not to say that there have not been dangerous incidents, but we can say the same for this side of the border,” said Susan Ritter, an associate professor of criminal justice at the University of Texas-Brownsville/Texas Southmost College. “These things (crimes and violent acts) get reported on and repeated and exaggerated, and on and on they go until everybody thinks it is gospel.”

Regardless of the case and regardless of where it occurs, Ritter says, “Generally, the fear is larger than the crime.”
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Mexico to be represented in Rose Parade – First time in 40 years

On 12.27.09, In Headlines, By PMC

This artists depiction of Mexicos entry into the 2010 Tournament of Roses Parade coincides with the 200th birthday of the Republic of Mexico and the 100th anniversary of the Revolution. This is Mexico's first entry in more than 40 years.In honor of the 200th anniversary of Mexican independence and 100 years since the country’s revolution, the Mexican government is sponsoring its first Rose Parade float in over 40 years.

“With this float we’re going to tell 40 million people watching on TV that it’s Mexico’s birthday,” said Juan Marcos Gutierrez-Gonzalez, the Mexican consul general in Los Angeles. “There’s no better way to do it.”
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Arturo Beltran Leyva, Cartel “Boss of Bosses”, killed by Mexican Navy

On 12.18.09, In Narco Wars, By PMC
A Navy Marine stands next to the body of Arturo Beltran Leyva in this AP/El Universal photo

A Navy Marine stands next to the body of Arturo Beltran Leyva in this AP/El Universal photo

MEXICO CITY — Mexican troops acting on information from U.S. officials took out drug kingpin Arturo Beltran Leyva in an assault that provided a rare victory for President Felipe Calderon but left a power vacuum that could lead to more violence.

In a carefully executed attack, heavily armed Mexican marines quietly evacuated an upscale apartment complex in Cuernavaca Wednesday before some 200 troops stormed the building and demanded the surrender of Beltran Leyva, one of the world’s most brutal drug lords.

Gunmen fired on the marines who then launched an attack that lasted nearly two hours.

Nicknamed the “boss of bosses,” Beltran Leyva is the biggest drug lord to be taken down in Calderon’s drug war, which is ending its bloodiest year yet. His absence is expected to shake up Mexico’s narcotics trafficking networks eager to take over his billion-dollar business, as well as set off an internal struggle within his gang, said Mexico’s Attorney General Arturo Chavez.
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Surviving Mexico’s highways and byways

On 11.17.09, In Guest Bloggers, By PMC

reynosa_monterreyMaribeth Mellin, in a special to SFGate.com confirms what I’ve been preaching for years. That Mexico’s roads and rules are nothing like Trucking Bozo and others describe them.

Here’s her article.

I never wanted to be a road warrior in Mexico. For the first 10 years of my adult life, traveling south of the border meant taking a train to Palenque, putting my name in the lottery for a seat on the ferry across the Sea of Cortez, playing gin rummy at the station until the next bus departed , or placing my fate in the hands of a generous Bimbo bread truck driver headed in a promising direction
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NAFTA dispute costing Texas firms millions

On 11.12.09, In Cross Border Program, NAFTA, By PMC

“We're the FedEx of Mexico,” said Christian Bruns, general manager of Estafeta USA. “Since we're a majority-held Mexican company, we cannot go intrastate in the U.S. We have to use third parties in the U.S. instead of taking our own trucks.”

“We're the FedEx of Mexico,” said Christian Bruns, general manager of Estafeta USA. “Since we're a majority-held Mexican company, we cannot go intrastate in the U.S. We have to use third parties in the U.S. instead of taking our own trucks.”

NAFTA, one of the most contentious trade agreements signed by the U.S., was meant to unite the U.S., Mexico and Canada economically. But 15 years after it was enacted, it has spurred endless division, the latest being a high-level spat between the U.S. and Mexico that critics say is hurting the profitability of American companies.

Under the North American Free Trade Agreement, the U.S. was supposed to allow Mexican trucks access to U.S. highways. But American unions have put up roadblocks for years by accusing Mexican trucks of being unsafe.

Since NAFTA went into effect in 1994, Mexican trucks have not had access to the U.S. market except for a September 2007 pilot program. That program allowed 100 trucking companies to move cargo beyond U.S. border towns but ended in March when the U.S. government cut its funding.

A few days after that, Mexico retaliated by slapping duties as high as 45 percent on 89 U.S. products, including pencils, pears and potatoes.
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