September 18 – Master Plan Presentation

On September 18, the Master Development Plan for Todos Santos, Pescadero and surrounding areas including Los Cerritos, was formally presented to the community. The meeting had been scheduled for 5 pm at the local high school, but changed at the last minute to 7 pm. Luckily I was able to post signs alerting people to the change. Many attendees thought they would be able to ask questions and voice opinions about the plan, but that was not the purpose of the meeting. It was only to present the plan and start the countdown towards making it law. There have been a lot of rumblings about the fairness and evenhandedness of the plan in the time since then. I don’t really know its current status but I keep hearing rumors that the plan will most likely not be implemented as it currently stands. It is said that some powerful local Mexican groups are against the final document.

At any rate, here are some photos from that meeting.

That’s Profe. Salvador interviewing Victor Castro, the mayor of La Paz.

The restless crowd milling about outside, waiting for it to begin.

There were large maps, coffee, cookies and DVDs available.

The meeting comes to order. From left to right the people present are: Arq. Ramiro Davila C. from the firm developing the plan, Arq. Marco Antonio Dominguez Valles from the municipal government, Ing. Jose Manuel Haro Sanchez also from the municipal government, Profr. Victor Manuel Castro Cosio the mayor of La Paz, Ing. Pablo Cota Nunez the director of urbaning planning in La Paz, and M.C. Maria Elena Yee Savin the president of the local development committee in Todos Santos.

Arq. Ramiro Davila C. walking us through the plan.

Sergio, recording everything!

The room was nearly full with concerned residents but Q & A was not allowed.

Summer Flowers

Yes, it’s a bit late but better than never. Right?

The summer is mostly over here in Todos Santos. The weather changed in early October, at least the night time weather did. We went from hot and sticky nights to cool and dry in a matter of days – from nearly 80 F at night to 70 F. What a relief that was!

Daytime temps didn’t really change until this week.  All October, the sun was merciless, beating down on anyone unfortunate enough to have to remain out of the shade. It was scorching. But right about the beginning of November, that too changed. It’s still hot in the sun but now it is bearable.

Anyway, it doesn’t take much rain to get the desert to bloom. Good thing as we didn’t get much rain this summer. In Todos Santos the only real rain we received came with  Hurricane Henriette and that was only for 2 days. But it was enough…

Passion Fruit Flower, around here called Granada China.

Great colors on this Hibiscus, known here as Jamaica.

Some sort of barrel cactus, sorry I don’t know the name in either language.

A beautiful flowering Yucca.

I have no idea what this is called but it’s sort of cute.