The wicked witch of the beach is back, controlling weekend access to parking on the swath of beach just east of the Ajijic pier and pocketing the proceeds of fees apparently established at random.
She’s a withered old woman known only as Josefina and with reputation for a viscous temper. And she is operating with the blessing of acting town administrator Rafael Escamilla, who announced just days after taking office that he had eliminated the paid parking scheme implemented by his predecessor Hector España.
As initiated under España, the main objective of the tactic was to maintain peace and security in the town’s prime tourist area. The spot had become a popular hangout for rowdy weekenders who raised havoc with loud music blasting from their cars, heavy drinking, drug consumption and overt sexual activity. Violent brawls were not uncommon.
The unruly scene calmed down significantly after thick-skinned Josefina took charge of the gate. The 30-peso parking fee was purportedly shared between the guard lady and the Delegación office. It is not clear whether accounting records were ever kept.
After scrapping the system last October, Escamilla recently backtracked, giving Josefina his okay to return and pick up some pocket money from voluntary 10-peso contributions. He justifies the decision, telling this newspaper that the old woman is in dire financial straights and was constantly badgering him for a position to help her earn a living.
There is no indication that the beach had once again become a trouble spot in the months since free access was reinstated. Some business owners in the vicinity are now understandably annoyed at the reversal, complaining that parking is already scarce enough in the center of town and charging for entry to that wide open space further drives away customers.
“Demanding payment and putting this aggressive person in charge is bad for tourism. And it’s totally illegal,” fumed one of the entrepreneurs.
The area in question is part of the federal zone contiguous to Lake Chapala. Under the laws of the land, federal zones are defined as areas of unrestricted public access. Regulation of vehicular traffic is technically under the purview of federal authorities. Even the former town administrator’s brother, Oscar España, who currently serves at chief legal officer for the municipal government, acknowledges that local officials have no authority to manage or rule lakeshore land.
While keeping watch on the situation last Saturday, this newspaper observed Josefina and a companion on guard at the gate, stopping cars and asking drivers for payment to lower the rope and let them through. She has no badge to show government authorization for her duties, although she was wearing a tee-shirt with the legend Delegación Ajijic visible under her jacket. There is no sign specifying the parking fee or that payment is voluntary.
Escamilla was present when a car with Canadian plates pulled up to the beach entrance. Josefina asked them for 15 pesos, only grudgingly letting them go through free after a wary passerby warned the driver that the fee wasn’t obligatory.
While no one wishes ill on an elderly woman of limited means, various local government agencies are geared to provide social assistance to the poor and downtrodden. Escamilla and his city hall colleagues would be well advised to explore every available channel to aid Josefina without putting themselves in the center of a potentially explosive public conflict.