I am sure you have heard the warning about travelling to Mexico because of the increased violence associated with the drug gangs. On behalf of AMPI (Association of Real Estate Professionals), and the Rocky Point Times (RPT), we are providing the following information to safe guard anyone that travels to this area.
In 2008 we had over 2.6 million visitors to our area as it is the prime vacation destination for Arizona, and an important destination for the rest of the US, and Canada. Our goal is to provide you with clear facts and the right information to keep everyone that travels here safe while enjoying your ocean beach vacation.
Peñasco is perfectly safe to visit and we are not experiencing the drug and gang problems that other cities currently are. Nor have there been any reports from people driving from here to Sonoyta (US border) and vice-versa. In fact, several of us have just crossed back and forth this week without incident as we do quite often. We are not a border town and why the media groups us in with cities like Nogales, Tijuana and other cities, is beyond us - newsworthy I guess. Peñasco does not have the violent crime like many other cities. Our biggest problem has been petty theft and our local police - both which have gotten much better since our new police chief took over in December. Our biggest complaint - ever - has been the local police trying to bribe visitors for traffic or other violations. Most people are scared so they pay on the spot - or have been drinking, so it is easier (in their minds). The Commandante (police chief) was brought in, by a special request of Governor Bours, to clean up our police department. He is from Magdalena and is known for cleaning house. He said in a meeting last week, to about 300 of us, that since he has taken this post, he has fired 12 officers and put 1 in jail.
Most of us are full-time residents, we feel pretty confident saying that we are safer than ever before due to what is happening around us. A lot of money has been poured into our economy for development and the government officials are making every effort to make sure that we continue to be safe. The only thing we have noticed, since all of this started, is an increase in Federal and State police and Federales. Perhaps scary to some, but really a comfort since they are here to protect us and keep the drugs, guns and cartels out of our city. Believe us, if we thought we were in any danger, we would be the first ones out of here.
The biggest problem we have around spring break are the kids drinking and driving, getting drunk and starting fights and doing things like urinating in public or being loud and unruly - they present more of a danger to themselves than anyone here. What we always tell everyone is just use your common sense. We have laws here too, and they are to be followed. Don't drink and drive, even if you are going a mile. Watch out for your friends and don't let one of them wander off with someone they just met - or leave them anywhere because they have had too much to drink or because everyone else wants to go to another bar or party. Be aware of your surroundings, don't leave valuables in your car - just the obvious stuff that we all do every day. It is a foreign country so it goes without saying that the laws are different, but people seem to think we have none. You follow the rules, have a good time, and you have no trouble.
Though our local police problem seems to have gotten whole lot better, we are asking people to know where the police station is and how to get there from where they are staying, or where they are going - that way you can follow the police directly to the police station. They are not going to brandish firearms and go crazy, so follow them to the police station and pay their fines, if they have committed an infraction. If they have not, they will still most likely go to the police station, but they need to file a complaint. The police chief has asked us to let everyone know this because without a formal complaint, he can really do nothing.
We all value our livelihood and our safety and are all working hard to make sure that we remain safe and that all visitors know we are still a safe, peaceful and calm place to visit. We just cannot stress that enough and don't know how to get the message across. Most of us who have lived here for a number of years actually feel safer here than we do driving around parts of Phoenix or Los Angeles (where a number of us are from). People are definitely taking more of a risk living in or visiting Tucson, Phoenix, LA, etc., than you are visiting here according to the crime statistics.
We are in the process of sending out this letter through emails, to you and your peers at each university and as many schools as we can get the word out to, so we can reassure your students that the news reports are not accurate for Puerto Peñasco - and to tell them to be safe, smart and take precautions. Please pass out our email addresses to anyone who has concerns - this includes students and parents.
Our personal email addresses are:
•· lannettephipps@gmail.com (Blackberry with me all the time)
•· wmlcorcoran@gmail.com (Blackberry with me all the time)
Please send this letter around to anyone considering travelling to Puerto Penasco if you feel we have addressed your concerns.
Please let us know if you have any questions or need any specific detailed information and we will try to get the answers for you if we do not know.
Lannette Phipps - Rocky Point Times
Wayne Corcoran - AMPI VP of Ethics & President Elect
Hello, I was planning on a family vacation in June and thought about going to Rocky Point. My husband is concerned it is not safe. So is it??
I am planning a trip to Puerto Penasco in late Feb early Mar. Were nervous about being safe durring the drive from Phoenix and having a rental car etc any suggestions? its a group of 4, 2 couples.