A state lawmaker introduced a bill that, if enacted, would mandate a reduction in campaign financing for political parties.
Assemblyman Felipe Mayoral announced his proposal to amend the Mexican Constitution to decrease funds provided to political parties.
“Mexico is a country with a very high level of spending to maintain and have elections in all states,” he said. “However, the results of these ‘democratic’ elections are way far from being so given the expenditures incurred in.”
The bill seeks to reduce up to 35 percent of funds provided to political parties for their ordinary activities and 60 percent in money for election.
Mexican law mandates all election-related activities, including political parties, must be funded with taxpayers’ money.
The bill was endorsed by other five assembly members.
After the bill is approved by the Assembly, it will be turned to Mexican Congress.
Sexual abuse suspect arrested
A 64-year-old man who allegedly abused sexually a girl two years ago was arrested by state police officers, said the Attorney General’s office.
José de Jesús “Doe”, who had an arrest warrant for the crime, was apprehended at Ejido Cucapah Indígena in Mexicali Valley, authorities said.
The suspect was accused by the 8-year-old victim relatives who filed the lawsuit on Nov. 2014.
Authorities said the first time the suspect allegedly abused the girl was Nov. 24 of that year, when the man took advantage of the girl who was taking a shower.
The last incident was reported on April 2015, when the victim was playing with a cousin close to the suspect’s residence.
The girl was threatened by the suspect in order to remain silent about the abuse, authorities said.
The man was booked in Mexicali Jail.
Men arrested for police assault
Three men were arrested Thursday after allegedly assaulting police officers who attempted to apprehend the suspects, said the Municipal Public Safety Department.
Authorities said the arrested suspects were identified as Octavio “Doe”, 18; Jorge “Doe”, 18; and Carlos “Doe”, 25.
The arrest was reported at Fonelas Avenue and Puente de la Reyna Street at Fraccionamiento Quintas del Rey in southern Mexicali.
According to the police, agents found a man who was watching at residences and began questioning him.
While attempting to inspect the male’s belongings, the suspect attacked the police officer, who had an injury on the right hand and other parts of his body.
Another police officer attempted to arrest the suspect, but the man injured the agent on the right hand, too.
Several people left the residence and attacked the police officers.
More police agents arrived later and observed five suspects punching their colleagues.
The suspects left the scene on foot, but three of them were arrested and transported to the police headquarters.
Lawmaker demands pollution report
A state lawmaker asked an official to provide a report regarding the activities done in order to combat
pollution in Mexicali.
Assemblywoman Cynthia Ruiz said pollution levels in Mexicali and Tijuana are among the highest
nationwide along with cities like Monterrey and Cuernavaca.
Ruiz based her statement on a report from the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness, which compared
air pollution in Mexican cities with the levels reported at Mexico City, where authorities launched a
program to forbid vehicle circulation to improve air quality.
The lawmaker, a Mexicali member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, said every year 30 Mexicali
residents die prematurely due to pollution. In comparison, Mexico City has reported only 9 fatal victims.
Ruiz asked state Secretary of Environmental Protection Thelma Castañeda to report regarding
activities to address the issue.
“When an environmental contingency is declared in our nation’s capital is the time we should be
worried about the omissions from state authorities to address the problem,” she said. “It is worthless to
make great efforts in economy, education, labor, and infrastructure if future generations have not been
granted a healthy environment in which they can enjoy the goals achieved.”
