Mexicali Brief

 Emergency super center approved.

State Assembly members approved, with an 18-6 vote, a bill that creates a new super emergency center named C5i.

The bill was introduced by Assemblywoman Iraís Vásquez. Lawmakers with the governing National Action Party and of the Institutional Revolutionary Party voted for the controversial bill that had sparked criticizing from business associations and activists.

The center includes hundreds of surveillance cameras, panic and emergency buttons and other preventive features.

According to the bill’s text, the goal is to reduce the record-breaking crime rates.

The new super center will cost 690 million pesos or $38.3 million over the next decade.

Leftist lawmakers Claudia Agatón and Rocío López voted in favor of the bill. State Secretary of Government Francisco Rueda congratulated lawmakers for approving the center.

Members of the Mexicali Resiste movement protested at the Legislative building when the bill was under consideration. The Assembly has approved all bills sent by Gov. Francisco Vega, Rueda said.

The Citizen Public Safety council said the state needs more police officers and appropriate protocol to address public safety issues before building a new emergency center. Social Encounter Party spokesman Aaron Pallares said the state incurs in additional debt by privatizing public safety.