From the Publisher's Desk
Business is Looking Up
Although we know this is an election year for the State of Sinaloa, and as a result frozen funds have suddenly been released for municipal works projects, nonetheless things are looking up for business in Mazatlán.
 
On the municipal side, the recent upgrading of the Malecón along Avenida del Mar has injected a sense of pride in the city. Work has begun at the south end of Avenida Camarón Sábalo in anticipation of widening the most congested street in the Golden Zone. The heavily pockmarked Av. Insurgentes was finally re-paved. Johnny-on-the-spot toilets have been placed on the populous North Beach. It´s a beginning.
 
In the business community, the Mazatlán Marina project, stalled by the devaluation of the peso in 1994, has been reactivated. The mega-project will include condominiums and an 18-hole golf course. The rumor is that a Hilton Hotel may be the project´s anchor.
 
Along the new-look Malecón, work on the Las Gavias condominium venture continues with sales in the pre-construction stage. Several established hotels on the Malecón have recently gone through a face-lift.
At Estrella del Mar golf & beach resort, new owners have jumped in to revitalize what is one of the prime pieces of land in the area, with an emphasis on real estate sales. More sales means more people. More people means a boost to the community´s economy.
 
It is heartening to see business investment coming to Mazatlán. Once the mega-projects are completed, we expect to see prices rise as more affluent visitors arrive to take advantage of new upscale accommodation. In our opinion, this would be a good year to invest in Mazatlán — before the projects are completed.
 
Elections will also take place this year in the States. In November, American citizens will go to the polls to elect a President. If the incumbent President Bush is re-elected American tourists will continue to travel. His policies are a known quantity. However, if candidate John Kerry should win, tourists may delay or postpone travel plans while they wait to see what policies a new administration will implement.
 
The Sinaloa State Governor election, the Mazatlán mayoralty election and the American Presidential election will have an economic impact on Mazatlán. We sincerely hope it is a positive one.
 
On a personal note, I would like to thank everyone who wrote, phoned and came into our office to express support for the Pacific Pearl after reading our March editorial “Who´s in Charge?” and the anonymous letter of denunciation it generated. The Pacific Pearl will continue to comment on life and times in Mazatlán with honest reporting.
Michael J. Veselik
Publisher