Assembly Speaker Benjamín Gómez urged Baja California Governor Francisco Vega to deliver his missing yearly state of the state report.
The lawmaker said a letter was sent to the state executive in order to comply with the law.
Gov. Vega had to deliver the document on Aug. 1 after state law was modified and enacted on Oct. 2014.
Gómez said although the law contains loopholes it sets the date for the report.
According to state law the governor must deliver his report at the opening day of the legislative session.
“The law is very clear regarding the date the report must be turned in,” Gómez said.
Secretary of Government Francisco Rueda said the law applies to the next Governor.
Rueda also said an agreement was approved by members of the legislative Political Coordinating Council to allow Gov. Vega to deliver his report until Oct. 1, as has been legal in past years.
Assemblyman Catalino Zavala, of the National Regeneration Movement, said the agreement is illegal as it was not approved unanimously, which goes against protocol.
Unemployment rate increases
Baja California’s unemployment rate, that for years has kept a diminishing path, increased during the month of July, according to a report released by a Mexican agency.
The National Institute of Statistics and Geography said the state’s unemployment rate climbed from 2.3 percent in July 2016 to 2.9 percent last month.
The figure puts the state in eleventh place nationwide.
By contrast, last year Baja California was third in Mexico with the lowest unemployment rate.
Mexico’s Department of Labor released the number of workers registered with the Mexican Institute of Social Security.
According to the report the state reported 1,880 new jobs in July, for a total of 39,452 new jobs in the year, an average of 5,636 jobs per month.
July’s figures are a third of the monthly average.
“The ability to create jobs positions the state in second place in the northern border and sixth nationwide,” said Secretary of Economic Development Carlo Bonfante, “This keeps a positive perspective in job creation.”
In a press release the secretary said since Dec. 2013 the state has reported 167,157 new jobs.
Manufacturing has created 53 percent of new jobs during this year, he said.
Bonfante added that the unemployment rate reported last month is the second lowest in the northern border.
Taxi drivers, officials meet
Taxi drivers met Thursday with law enforcement officials in order to address public safety issues.
League of Chauffeurs Secretary General Ricardo Aguilera acknowledged the operations held by authorities in the last weeks in high crime rates areas.
Aguilera asked authorities to keep those operations, especially the Navigator Operation that has been successful in arresting criminals.
Assistant Attorney General in Mexicali Fernando Ramírez acknowledged drivers concerns regarding public safety issues, especially at night and early morning.
The parties agreed to create WhatsApp groups to keep direct communications.
Authorities agreed to train drivers and asked company owners to be aware of new hires.
Kidnapping suspect arrested
A Sonora, Mexico man was arrested Thursday in southern Mexicali for his alleged involvement in a kidnapping case, said the Attorney General’s office.
Authorities said the suspect was identified as Reyes Martín “Doe,” who also goes under the names of Gregorio and Jesus Aurelio.
The individual was arrested in a residence located at Fraccionamiento Villas Lomas Altas neighborhood.
Authorities said the suspect had an arrest warrant out of San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora, Mexico for kidnapping and extortion.
The agency said the suspect was involved in the kidnapping of a real estate agent who was kidnapped July 17.
The victim was kept captive for two weeks, when suspects released the businessmen to collect the money requested.
The victim was threatened by suspects with kidnapping relatives if the money went unpaid.
Reyes Martin was in charge of feeding the victim.
The suspect was arrested and turned to his home state.
