Baja California Governor Marina Avila delivered her first State of the State report last Sunday before the Assembly
On Sunday, Baja California Governor Marina Avila submitted her first state of the state report at the Assembly.
For years, governors left the turning of the report to their Secretaries of Government in order to avoid facing demonstrators.
Although Gov. Avila made her way through the Center Civic square state, city officials deployed a security operation that shut down several blocks around the area.
The document was turned to Assembly Speaker Alejandra Ang.
Later Sunday, the governor held an event in which Avila announced the payment of overdue teacher salaries and benefits. The state said the payment will be made on Monday, when a teacher union had previously announced a strike.
Gov. Ávila also listed several actions held in the first year of her administration, however, no mention was made regarding crime.
Incomplete payment
As promised by Governor Marina Avila during her State of the State Speech, Baja California’s Department of the Treasury began Monday the payment of due settlement money to retired teachers.
However, the money was just for 2021 due payments.
Secretary of the Treasury Marco Antonio Moreno said the state still has pending payments for teachers.
Gov. Avila made a pledge Sunday to pay 3 billion pesos of about $150 million USD owed to teachers after years of unfulfilled promises of past administrations. Days later the governor insisted no payment was due.
“We are paying with state funds produced through improved state management,” Sec. Moreno said. “We have increased revenue and have saved funds.”
Moreno said it is not possible to pay all monies due to teachers.
For years retired and active teachers have demanded the payment of salaries and retirement settlement. In some cases beneficiaries have died without receiving their payments.
The Local 37 of the National Union of Education Workers called over the weekend to a strike to demand the state to pay due monies.
The union said even though teachers got paid during the week the state still owes benefits, with some due since 2015.
Sec. Moreno expects that by next year the state will be able to keep raising funds to cover due payments while spending additional funds for school infrastructure.
Crime increases
The state Chairman of the conservative National Action Party said crime increased 13 percent during the first year of Governor Marina Ávila’s administration.
In a recent press conference, Chairman Mario Osuna responded to the governor’s first State of the State speech by saying no mention was made regarding crime and transportation issues or the raise of payroll taxes and water fees.
«She neither spoke about the possible credit loan of 2 billion pesos ($10 million USD) that will soon be requested to the Assembly,» Osuna said.
According to the state Chairman crime is not addressed with advertising or lack of coordination among law enforcement agencies.
National Action Party Assemblywoman Alejandrina Corral said the legislature’s Political Coordinating Board failed to notify lawmakers about the governor’s delivery of her yearly report, which prohibited legislators from speaking about the state of the state.
Assemblywoman Amintha Briseño said crime rates increased 13 percent between January and September compared to last year’s same period.
The state recorded 76,000 crimes this year, more than the 68,000 of 2021, Briseño said.
Te puede interesar: Governor’s approval rate declines
