Baja California legislators called the Auditor’s Office to audit water fee collection held during the past state administration
State lawmakers approved a resolution that calls the Auditor’s Office to hold a water fee collection audit from the past administration.
The audit report of Romafam Company, formerly known as Fisamex, is due Feb. 15.
The company was hired during Governor Jaime Bonilla administration in 2020 and 2021.
Lawmakers seek to consider the next steps to be taken based on the audit findings.
The resolution was introduced by Assemblywoman Maria Adame, who chairs the Political Coordinating Board and voted 20-2.
Assembly members Marco Antonio Blásquez and Sergio Moctezuma Martinez voting against the proposal.
However, the audit was first proposed by Assembly members Daylin Garcia and Diego Echevarría in past months.
The company was able to collect 1.8 billion pesos or about $90.6million USD in due fees from 3,248 private businesses.
Fisamex charged the state 20 percent of fees collected.
Previous reports say these companies owed the state over 6 billion pesos or around $300 million USD.
Several charged company owners filed complaints and lawsuits against the state.
The audit seeks to determine fee collection was legally and fairly held.
Water rate increase protest held
Dozens of Mexicali residents led by former Mexicali Mayor Guadalupe Mora held a demonstration to protest against the water rate increase approved by the Assembly.
The protest began at 9 a.m. in the Vicente Guerrero monument at the Civic Center.
Protestors called Governor Marina Avila and lawmaker’s betrayers for increasing water rates.
“We cannot once more allow arbitrariness from lawmakers who increase taxes and especially water rates, which is a human right,” resident Gerardo Romero said.
Mexicali resident Guadalupe Montoya criticized the Governor for her way of holding acts in her administration.
“They are not following the policies of the president,” Montoya said. “We see Marina Del Pilar is making significant expenses — mainly in advertising.”
“She is corrupt and a spendthrift Governor,» protestor Maria Quiñónez said.
Former Mayor Mora asked officials to find funds and be creative instead of raising taxes and fees.
“I was in the (municipal) presidency and it is possible,” Mora said. “There are many resources but instead they (public officials) prefer to spend more and fit the nail on citizens.”
Lawmaker insists on driver sexual harassment bill
A state lawmaker insisted on the need to enact a bill that would include penalties in Baja California law to taxi drivers and bus drivers who are convicted or sexual harassment.
Assemblyman Miguel Peña said since day one a bill to reform the state’s Penal Code was introduced in order to address this issue.
Now, the bill has become more relevant given the recent death of a 23-year-old Mexico City woman who jumped from a taxi whose driver declined to stop.
“It is not possible that we still have this type of issue and nobody does anything,” Peña said. “Let’s not wait until something like this happens in Baja California to do something.”
The lawmaker said the bill was introduced after increasingly sexual harassment cases from drivers affect women and female minors.
Peña proposed to include convicted drivers in the State’s sexual assault list.
The lawmaker said although not all drivers harass women his duty is to address the issue.
The lawmaker called women to make sure taxi cabs and bus drivers are appropriately registered.
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