A bill to allow state agencies to stop the sale of fireworks when pollution levels increase was introduced recently at the state assembly.
Francisco Barraza, a lawmaker with the Baja California Party, or PBC in Spanish, said the goal of the bill is to change Article 112 of the Environmental Protection State Law.
The proposal gives authority to the Environmental Protection Agency to temporarily of totally suspend the sale of fireworks if air quality monitoring systems read a level above the readings allowed by Mexican regulations.
This will especially apply during winter, he said.
“I am worried that in Mexicali, during winter break, authorities allow the burning of fireworks and authorize the opening of retail stores all over the city,” Barraza said. “The smog is caused by an insane concentration of polluting particles produced mainly by burning fireworks.”
The lawmaker said authorities have not launched in Mexicali permanent programs and plans to improve air quality, particularly in the cases of PM 10 and CO, which increase the risk of cardiopulmonary diseases.
Dozens of streets to be repaved
A state agency announced Monday the pavement and rehabilitation of streets in 50 Mexicali neighborhoods, which might decrease pollution regionally.
Secretary of Infrastructure and Urban Development Manuel Guevara said the state will spend over 180 million pesos, or about $10 million, in the project.
He said the amount is three times the expenditure made in past years.
The project includes streets in San Felipe and Mexicali Valley rural towns.
Guevara said residents will pay a fifth of the amount.
State Redevelopment Board Director Raúl López said a 100 percent discount is applied to the poorest residents, while 50 percent discount is offered to retired residents and 15 percent for senior citizens.
Men arrested for robbery
Two men were arrested Monday evening in a rural Mexicali Valley town after allegedly committing a robbery against a store, said the Municipal Public Safety Department.
Authorities said at 6:15 p.m. police officers arrested Rodrigo “Doe,” 22 and Alexis “Doe,” 21, in connection with the robbery against the Corona Market at Ciudad Victoria town.
According to the police one of the suspects arrived on scene with his faces covered with a handkerchief and brandished a .38-caliber revolver to demand money.
The suspect took around 2,000 pesos or $112.35 and left the site along with another suspect in a motorcycle.
Police officers found and arrested the suspects with the money and the firearm and transported them before a prosecutor.
Brexit hits Baja
A federal lawmaker from Mexicali said the Mexican government will cut 110.6 million pesos as part of the series of measures announced by the Mexican Treasury Department to address the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
Congresswoman Gina Cruz, a National Action Party member, said the cuts will impact the state’s budget for science, crime, education, environment and highways.
The impact in the state equals $6.2 million.
Crime prevention and crime against women prevention will get the largest share of the cuts, while full-time schools becomes second and water treatment and environment third.
Even though the world’s economic panorama turned difficult and the government must set measures to protect the Mexican peso and family’s economy, her party’s lawmakers will keep an eye to avoid an additional impact on Baja California residents.
