|
| Puerto Vallarta |
| September 14th
- 20th, 2003 |
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Make-A-Wish Foundation® Does
Not Participate in Chain Letters or Other Direct Solicitation
Wishes
Each day, the Make-A-Wish Foundation
receives hundreds of inquiries regarding chain letters
claiming to be associated with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
As a matter of policy, the Make-A-Wish Foundation does
not conduct these types of wishes – including
Internet and e-mail requests. Below are the chain letters
currently circulating around the world: Amy Bruce, Jeff
DeLeon, Rhyan Desquetado, LaNisha Jackson, Nikisha Johnson,
and Jessie Anderson
The Internet-based chain letter
currently circulating in Vallarta claims that a 7-year-old
girl named Amy Bruce, who is suffering from a brain
tumor and lung cancer, will receive 7 cents from the
Make-A-Wish Foundation each time her letter is forwarded
via e-mail.
This request is false, and the Foundation
has contacted the originator’s Internet service
provider to pursue the matter.
Variations of this letter featuring
the names Jeff DeLeon, Rhyan Desquetado, LaNisha Jackson,
Nikisha Johnson, and Jessie Anderson have also been
circulating and are not legitimate.
Re: Craig Shergold, Craig Sheldon,
Craig Sheppard, Craig Shelton, and Craig Shelford -
In 1989, a then 9-year-old boy named Craig Shergold
wanted to be recorded in the Guinness Book of World
Records for receiving the most greeting cards. His wish
was fulfilled by another wish-granting organization
not associated with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
His wish was fulfilled in 1990 after
receiving more than 16 million cards. Craig is now a
healthy adult, and he has requested an end to the mail.
Mail that is received is forwarded to a recycling center.
Street Vendors to Be Regularized
According to Arturo Vazquez, President
of the local Chamber of Commerce, of the 1,200 permits
issued by City Hall for the operation of “informal
business”, three thousand are tolerated, i.e.:
three for each permit. If informal practices continue
to be supported, they will continue to grow, leaving
legally established businesses behind.
Vendors at the Hidalgo Park “market”
enjoy better guarantees than any formal business as
they only pay a ridiculous amount for the use of the
space in comparison with their sales, unlike a legally-established
business that pays its taxes, rent and tries to comply
with business regulations.
Sr. Vazquez added that it was not a question of removing
them, but rather that they should be contributing to
the growth and strengthening of Puerto Vallarta just
like formal businesses do.
According to the Law on Income and
Regulations, semi-fixed stands are entitled to 3 square
meters of space. Today, there are 900 registered permits
as opposed to the 1,176 that existed at the beginning
of this administration, nearly three years ago. Those
vendors pay $1,026. Pesos per year while street vendors
pay only $516. Pesos as they are charged for one square
meter only.
There are 13 “semi-fixed”
stands in Hidalgo Park, some of them have been there
for over 10 years. Their offerings are varied, ranging
from handicrafts to clothing to food, and they only
open at 6 in the evening. Jesús Ramos is the
owner of the very first stand. He showed the official
documents he had been issued to prove the payment of
his 2003 permit. He recalled that the first permit issued
to him cost $75. pesos while this year’s cost
$1,400. pesos, including his permit to sell, his electricity
bill and his fees for refuse collection.
Civil Defense Department Still Waiting
The municipal department of Civil
Defense is still waiting for the City Council’s
authorization to install the five lifeguard towers on
the town’s main beaches, in order to reduce the
number of people drowning. The department’s spokesman
stressed the importance of those towers, adding that
the only thing missing is for City Hall to sign agreement
with the sponsors. Everything else is ready.
PV Present at 5th Location Expo 2003
For three consecutive days, the town’s
Film Commission introduced Vallarta’s natural
tourism attractions to video, TV and film producers
at the “5th Location Expo 2003” in Mexico
City.
The commission’s main objective
in attending the event was to showcase Vallarta as one
of the most attractive natural sets for the film industry
in both Mexico and abroad, while stressing the vocational
origins we have in the field.
For the 2nd consecutive year, Vallarta’s
stand was visited by representatives of national TV
networks Televisa and TV Azteca and production firms
such as Phoenix Films, Film Conexión, Ediciones
Especiales del Excelsior and professional photographers,
among many others who showed a marked interest in this
town.
$55 Million Pesos to Expand Pier
Mexico’s federal government
will invest approximately $55 Million Pesos next year
to expand the capacity of the port to welcome international
high-tonnage cruise ships. The funds will go to execute
the work needed to increase the size of Pier No. 2.
at the port. The end result would enable two large-size
ships to moor at the same time, avoiding the need for
tenders to transfer the passengers from ship to shore.
Shop Owners Complain of “Alpaquero”
Threats
“They are so bold that they
even come into the market to offer their wares. If we
say something to them, they immediately threaten us.
They roam free all over this area and they’ve
/$%& all the jewelry stores.”
The shop owners of the Handicrafts
(Flea) Market of the Rio Cuale added that there are
days when, during this low season, they sell $30. Pesos
worth in one day, $150. Pesos worth on a good day. On
the other hand, alpaca* vendors who ply the beaches
and all the tourist areas sell their bracelets for up
to $30. Dollars U.S. each when they really cost $4.
Pesos. They can earn as much as $4,000. Pesos in one
day.
* Alpaca refers to silver-plated
items.
Electric Vehicles for Downtown
In order to avoid large vehicle traffic
in the downtown area for the delivery of goods to shops
and hotels, the municipal authorities presented the
model of electric vehicles which three companies have
already purchased. The idea is for other business suppliers
to follow their example to reduce the traffic and pollution
problems that prevail in the heart of town. Mayor Ignacio
Guzmán García presented one of the delivery
vehicles purchased and already in use by a soft drink
company.
This presentation was a follow-up
to the joint program between residents, government and
businesses aimed at improving conditions in the downtown
area. Four companies have already purchased those vehicles.
The Mayor stated his hope that other
delivery companies would acquire this type of vehicle
before the end of the year, and of this administration.
They would also have the advantage of being able to
operate at any time of night or day as only heavy trucks
are prohibited during certain hours.
Outdoor Tables Should Stay
Vallarta restaurant owners and particularly
those of the Emiliano Zapata neighborhood known as the
Zona Romantica are not willing to withdraw the tables
and chairs they have had out on the sidewalks in front
of their establishments for years. They consider that
the idea of eating in an outdoor café ambiance
is an attraction for tourism which should be promoted
throughout town instead of being prohibited.
The President of Canirac (the restaurant
owners’ association) in Vallarta considered that
street vendors are much more serious detriments to tourism
than the tables and chairs on the sidewalks. “We
feel that nothing will come of this and at a certain
time, if they (the authorities) want to sit down and
negotiate, we are ready to listen,” he said.
The entire controversy arose following
a tragic accident that occurred on Olas Altas last July,
prompting the authorities to suggest that all outdoor
tables and railings should be removed.
Municipal Workers Remove Chewing Gum
The idea of removing the chewing
gum stuck on the Malecon was brought up recently by
the Director of Municipal Public Services during one
of the City Council’s weekly meetings. To prove
that this campaign was not a joke, Eugenio González
showed them his agenda of the previous week. He thought
of it when he had gone out to check out the Malecon
and became aware of the incredible number of black spots
there. Following the orders of their boss, the workers
exchanged their brooms for spatulas.
According to Sr. Gonzalez, in consequence
of the above, over $600,000. Pesos will be invested
for the application of an epoxy product on the Malecon
that will allow for easier maintenance of its recently-concluded
reconstruction, a project that cost more than $14 Million
Pesos. He added that he had noted this oversight in
the reconstruction of the Malecon ever since he assumed
his post last February. “Actually, the Malecon
surface that would be repelled by epoxy, which would
not allow it to stick.”
Beach Cleaning Equipment to Be Purchased
Eugenio González Márquez,
Director of Municipal Public Services said that with
the help of federal funds from Zofemat (the federal
maritime land zone department), the city will acquire
two cleaning machines for the maintenance of the beaches.
There will be a call for tenders prior to the purchase
of the two machines (from Europe), a compactor truck,
20 containers, portable johns and dump trucks.
The equipment will be purchased with
$9 Million Pesos collected from taxes paid for the use
of those federal lands.
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