Dear Sir,

I greatly appreciated Dale Palfrey’s recent column, Ciclovia Conflicts. I am a frequent guest here in Ajijic. When I come to stay with my sister-in-law, I always bring my folding bike. I walk it over the cobblestone streets and hop on the bike path heading either east or west. For me, as a cyclist, the Ciclovia is a real benefit, creating opportunities for exercising and exploration.

Dear Sir,

Mama Cleo’s Boys Home currently operates entirely off-grid.  The home relies on an aging solar power system, and there is often insufficient available power, especially on cloudy days.  The current batteries used for power storage are also old, and some are leaking.   Therefore, many activities of daily living are often interrupted.  

Dear Sir,

Based on the chatter on local chat groups, there is much confusion about the payment of the aguinaldo (end-of-year bonus).  I think your recent article about the history is very interesting, but it adds to the confusion.  (Some people think giving the employee a gift is adequate, which, obviously, it is not.)  Unfortunately, your article repeated a common misconception about how to calculate the aguinaldo.   Aguinaldo is not 15 times the daily salary.

Dear Sir,

As an expat living in Ajijic, I very much applaud CIBanco’s decision to file a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of the Treasury over allegations that it had facilitated money laundering by the drug cartels, without providing an ounce of proof. Intercam Banco was in a similar position and last week announced that Kapital Bank would acquire a significant portion of its operations. President Sheinbaum had requested proof of their misdeeds, but thus-far none has been forthcoming.

Dear Sir,

Even though I have made my home in Mexico for over 20 years, I still maintain a U.S. passport, file a U.S. tax return, and even file a Mexican tax return. I collect Social Security and pay into Medicare. I have family and friends in the United States, and both Mexican and foreign friends here in Mexico.