General News

In a new chapter for the troubled development of the waterfront malecon (boardwalk) in San Antonio Tlayacapan, the National Water Commission (Conagua) is slapping Chapala government with a steep fine and threatening partial demolition of the project.

Chapala alderman Gerardo Degollado Gonzalez abandoned his seat on the city council (cabildo) on Monday, April 29 after being granted an indefinite leave of absence to assume a new job with the Guadalajara city government.

Neither the civic nor liturgical calendar marks the date, yet May 10 is unquestionably the most widely and fervently celebrated of all Mexican holidays.

Manuel Real Barragan heaves a faint sigh of despair, furrowing his sun-baked brow as he glances out beyond the far end of the Chapala pier. As head of the vigilance council for the local tour boat operators association, he is up against the challenge of literally keeping business afloat.

Chapala Mayor Joaquin Huerta intends to cut the municipal government’s bloated payroll in a bid to rectify the municipality’s shaky financial status.

The goal is to slash payroll expenses by 15 to 20 percent by reducing city hall staff.  Huerta says that will be accomplished by  encouraging some employees to retire or resign voluntarily and merging government offices that handle similar or parallel duties.

The six Chapala policemen who were detained last month on suspicion of colluding with the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) crime syndicate have been put behind bars to face formal charges of attempted homicide, illegal deprivation of liberty and association in organized crime.

Lakeside residents, especially those living in Ajijic and west of the village, will soon be able to take advantage of a new Red Cross clinic offering a full range of emergency services (with the exception of x-rays).

Reporter reader Cathie Simon took this dramatic photograph from her  home in Chula Vista looking south across Lake Chapala on the evening of Thursday, April 18.