A state lawmaker proposed Thursday to audit the state Electoral Institute, or IEE in Spanish, amid allegations brought on media reports about misspending of funds.
Assemblyman Luis Moreno calles his colleagues to address the reports that pointed fingers on the IEE’s anomalies in contracts, hirings and other expenditures incurred on in 2013 that might have impacted state coffers.
The legislator said the institute might also have benefitted certain employees.
The audit will also cover consultant agreements, labor lawsuits and staff hiring, among other issues.
Moreno said after the massive protests and the notorious discomfort among residents must make public officials address issues like this and to remain vigilant on what public agencies do.
“We must address the allegations that are made public in order to correspond to the trust deposited on us by the people of Baja California,” Moreno said. “It is fundamental that the state Electoral Institute works in a virtuous manner in order to recover trust from residents.”
Bicycle bill enacted
The state of Baja California enacted Friday a bill that seeks to protect bicycle users through the publication of the measure’s content on the State Periodical, the equivalent of the U.S. Federal Register.
The bill for Cycling-inclusive Mobility was launched three years ago by organized residents in order to change three laws— Buildings, Vehicle Service Control and Transportation laws.
With the measure the organizations seek to promote respect of bicycle users’ rights and the culture of a traffic culture for safe and respectful coexistence of different vehicle users.
“This bill was introduced by bicycle users from all over the state in order to have cleaner and more efficient cities in the state and have the same rights and obligations to circulate comfortably and safe that seem to be reserved to automobile drivers,” said Denahí Valdez, a member of the MXLIBICI collective.
City councils must modify local regulations in accordance with the new law.
Border funds announced for Mexicali
A Mexican lawmaker announced the appropriation of funds for state cities included in the national Border Fund approved last year.
Congresswoman Nancy Sánchez, a Mexicali member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, said Baja California cities will receive about 122 million pesos or $7.1 million.
Of those funds Mexicali got entitled to 33.5 million pesos or close to $2 million.
The Border Fund was erased from Mexican budget last year, but lawmakers were able to reintroduce it, Sánchez said.
The lawmaker added that the funds must be used next to a border crossing or in areas used by immigrants.
Cities have a deadline for June 30 to acknowledge the Mexican government of the use of funds.
