By Laura Wong
While 2008 was not an easy year for anyone, our hopes are planted in long-awaited 2009.
Baja California was shaken by a wave of news that impacted the whole world: the economy eventually affected our neighbors in southern California, who lost their jobs, suffered the fall of the stock market, an economic recession, and an indiscriminate raise in gasoline prices for several months.
Many businessmen in Baja California were forced to close their businesses. Many people were left without jobs and the dollar shot up to cost 14 pesos. Those having loans in dollars (very common in Baja California) had to pay 40% more on their debt. In the U.S. people lost their homes. It was a year that we will hardly forget.
Christmas came with a light of love that did not cause much impact on the various merchants who sold far less than expected. I remember waiting to cross the line from Mexico to the United States in December 2007: Lanes of 700 cars in line waiting for up to four hours while people still waiting patiently in the hope of bringing the much longed for Christmas presents to Mexico. In 2008, the files fell to 300 cars on average during peak hours on weekends. Many people did not have Christmas presents. San Diego, Chula Vista and San Ysidro sold far less than last year. Tijuana, Rosarito, and Ensenada were no exception.
The narration is serious. Many, many people were killed and hurt by the wave of violence. Many tourism businesses were affected by insecurity, which did not affect the beach sites, but impacted their pocketbooks because of what is perceived in the United States. No tourists were killed in shootings. There were no incidents in tourist hotels and restaurants. Nevertheless, the visitors, as a precaution, refrained from coming.
We owe a big applause: to the Rotary clubs, who crossed and made tireless efforts of aid, to the members of Ministries of Love, who built houses for the needy, to the thousands of Harley-Davidson and Angels club members that gave toys for children, to the members of Sister Cities with donations, to people helping the Cruz Roja, to citizens supporting the orphanages, and to many other noble hearts with tenacity and an unwavering love for Mexico. For them we offer our sincere gratitude.
Every day altruistic groups and the large number of expatriates do not lose their great faith in Baja California. While we all hurt by what happens, if we conduct our normal routine will give organized crime a pat on the back and support. We cannot live in an intimidated community. We need to separate the wheat from the chaff and show that we are good people rather than bad ones. They say here that good always triumphs over evil and it will. It is a matter of time. Even though the violence is because the government is fighting to achieve the its goal, I believe that the United States should be proud of Mexico because it finally woke up and is doing something to combat this injurious scourge that has caused so much pain.
Thank God the Federal, State and Municipal levels are working hard for the first time to end the drug war. This is something that had not ever been seen in previous governments, which duplicated bureaucracies, and let illicit corruption infiltrate in all levels of government. For the first time, several leaders involved in organized crime were apprehended, including key members of the Arellano-Felix cartel. Also, ballistic tests and investigations of municipal police were conducted, which found many of those who were involved with drugs. Others fled in fear and many more have been executed by one band because of involvement with another band. Caldrón Felipe sent Marines, agents of the Federal Department of Investigation, and the Army.
In addition, the United States elected a new president. At this point, we are on the right track. There are high hopes laid in the beginning of 2009. While we may have to wait a little longer, there is light at the end of the tunnel. We hope that after the storm we have experienced, there is calm and we live a very happy 2009, full of peace and prosperity.