Businessmen demand action

Businessmen demanded the state to stop the criminal wave that has impacted communities all over Baja California.

In a prepared statement, members of the Entrepreneurial Coordinating Council asked officials to stop saying crime are caused by a war among organized crime groups.

“This is false and we do not agree with authorities’ continuous statement since it is not valid,” the group said. “The average resident seriously suffers from this criminal wave.”

Robberies, burglaries and blackmailing have seen an increase in recent times, they said.

The business group demanded a unique centralized police command led by the Army in order to control and attack organized crime.

This proposal has been in limbo due to legislative issues, the group said.

“There is no time to waste. This issue cannot wait until tomorrow,” the businessmen said. “There are other issues in the national agenda that can stay at the waiting room, but not this one.”

The entrepreneurs blamed congress for the increase in crime rates in every state of the country during the past months.

Several bills to address this issue were introduced in November and are still waiting for approval.

They said Gov. Francisco Vega and city mayors have been unable to coordinate their efforts to decrease criminal rates, especially due to problems within the Department of Public Safety and the Attorney General’s office.

The group expressed its willingness to support and provide potential solutions, but at the same time they demand every public agency deliver results.

Businessmen recalled the 2008 crisis was addressed along by authorities and community groups that might lead to positive results this time, especially in terms of crime prevention.

According to the document law enforcement agencies have been playing games that had caused criminals to stay on the street.

The group asked authorities to train police officers and to keep criminals behind bars.