SINALOA INVITES FOREIGNERS TO BRUNCH

By Jackie Peterson

It was an unheard-of occasion. Jesus Aguilar Padilla, the governor of the State of Sinaloa, invited members of Friends of Mexico to brunch. However, the invitation came with a scheduling conflict. It was set for the Saturday morning of Mazatlán Marathon weekend. The unfortunate timing meant that numerous members of the foreign community simply could not get there. The brunch was at 10:00am at the El Cid Clubhouse, but Avenida Camarón Sábalo and Avenida del Mar were tied up until noon. Among those living in El Cid and adjacent neighborhoods who did manage to attend, the question was: What’s the catch? It turned out there was no catch. The powers-that-be in state government headed by Jesus Vizcarra, the state’s Secretary of Economic Development (representing the governor), simply wanted to extend a welcoming hand and acknowledge the existence of a large group of English-speaking foreigners who live in Sinaloa all or most of the time. According to the figures compiled by the local Department of Immigration, about 3,000 American citizens and 1,000 Canadian citizens live in the state of Sinaloa, with the largest number making their part or full-time homes Mazatlán. Friends of Mexico, a club for English-speaking foreign residents, has 400 members and a mechanism with which to reach them, so the governor’s invitation went out through the

club’s channels as well as two local English-language internet forums. The state foresees the possibility of a good many more retirees from the baby boomer generation deciding to settle here, and while Sr. Vizcarra didn’t actually come right out and say so, the message seemed to be: “Tell your friends how great we are.” As part of the program Enrique Vega, the city historian, gave a brief rundown of Mazatlán’s past illustrated with maps and slides. This was followed by an illustrated report on the state’s economic progress since Gov. Aguilar took office the first of this year. Those in attendance were asked to direct their comments and questions to the various officials in attendance. These included Raul Llera, the state’s tourism chief; Fortino Borquez, the assistant attorney general for the South of Sinaloa; Adolfo Rojo Montoya, the head of the local office of Immigration, and Secretary Vizcarra himself. Comments ranged from frustration over the mordida system to petty crime, but in general the group agreed with a speaker who said she felt perfectly secure in her year-around home here. The event ended with the officials handing out framed certificates to foreign residents in recognition of their service to the community. Those who received certificates from the State were Henri Jarrat, Kather-ine Kolyer, Jackie Peterson, Nancy Blakeslee and Michael & Maricha Veselik.

 

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