A state lawmaker demanded the state to incur in similar budget cuts the Legislature has announced and approved in recent weeks under a re-engineering process.
Assemblyman Bernardo “Bernie” Padilla, a Tijuana member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI in Spanish, said the state should apply a similar process that protects workers’ rights by adjusting the government with a General Fund reduction and increasing investment in key areas.
“Let’s change expenditures in a reasonable and urgent way, given the citizens’ claims are clear,” Padilla said.
According to the lawmaker, the 101 million pesos or $ 5.3 million cuts approved at the assembly mean 13.6 percent reduction of the Legislative budget but barely 0.22 percent of the state’s budget.
“I celebrate and incorporate to the effort, but it is not enough,” he said.
Padilla said state detectives cannot perform appropriately due to lack of funds, while patients receive service at hospitals’ corridors and schools do not have enough restrooms for children.
“Let’s do the same with the Executive Branch. Residents demand it,” Padilla said. “Baja California demands an efficient government and needs it with urgency.”
Thousands of new jobs reported
A Mexican agency said Baja California reported 7,400 new jobs last month, for a cumulative 62,744 in the year.
The Mexican Institute of Social Security said the state was second with the most job openings along the northern border and fifth nationwide.
The maquiladora industry was responsible for 53 percent of the new jobs reported, followed by trade with 15.6 percent and private services with 14 percent.
Tijuana businesses created 68 percent of the new jobs with Mexicali second statewide with 16.4 percent and Ensenada third with 11.2 percent.
The state has observed the opening of 8.45 percent of all new jobs created nationwide, said Secretary of Economic Development Carlo Bonfante.
The total number of employers registered at the Mexican Institute of Social Security in the state has increased in 978 during the year, especially in service, construction and maquiladora sectors.
Man found dead
The body of a man was found dead Monday afternoon inside a ranch in a rural Mexicali town, said the Municipal Public Safety Department.
Authorities said at 12:15 p.m. police agents located the corpse of the male of around 35 years of age at Rancho Las Truchas, close to an irrigation canal.
The man had short hair cut and was dressing a blue denim short pant, a black long sleeve shirt and had no shoes.
The victim had several facial punches and had barbed wire around the waist.
According to the preliminary reports police officers found around the body several blood stains on rocks and on the ground.
No more details were reported.
Man arrested with vehicle reported stolen
A 25-year-old man was arrested early Tuesday in possession of vehicle that was reported stolen, said the Municipal Public Safety Department.
Authorities said at 1:40 a.m. police officers observed the driver of a Nissan vehicle pushing a blue 2000 Honda CRV with plates G85NRF7 at Plaza Carranza, located at Lázaro Cárdenas Boulevard and Carranza Boulevard in eastern Mexicali.
Police agents attempted to stop the drivers, but the one on the Nissan fled while the other one tried to flee on foot.
Police officers arrested Ramón “Doe,” who was transported to the police headquarters under charges of possession of a vehicle reported stolen.
