Thursday, September 11, 2025

Baja governor keeps the heat on against feds over disputed toll plaza

Baja California Governor Jaime Bonilla Valdez continues his battle with the federal government over a toll plaza and is calling for President López Obrador to intervene.

On Tuesday, Bonilla issued a decree wresting control of the toll booths on the Playas de Tijuana-Rosarito highway from the federal government and announced that the state was taking over and that tolls would no longer be collected. 

Baja California Government Secretary Amador Rodríguez Lozano declared on Wednesday that Bonilla’s decree favors the safety of Baja’s citizens over “the collection of money to defray the expenses of the federal government. The option is very clear, to be in favor of citizens,” he said, noting that the governor’s resolve was firm and that tolls would not be reinstated.

“We care about the public. There are others who are not from here and who have only been interested in taking money to take it to Mexico City. We are not interested in that; we believe that the governor’s decree is based on law,” Rodríguez said.

Bonilla’s coup was short-lived, however. Just after 3 a.m. on Thursday soldiers and members of the National Guard moved in and returned federal employees to their posts, in what Bonilla described as a “gangster” move. 

The Federal Highways and Bridges Agency (Capufe), which is in charge of the toll plaza, called Bonilla’s decree “illicit,” and accused him of violating federal laws and the constitution. 

Although he could be facing legal action and fines, Bonilla continued his toll booth battle on Thursday, calling for the resignation of the of Communications and Transportation Minister Javier Jiménez Espriú if the toll booths are not swiftly returned to Bonilla’s control 

“I told (federal Security Minister) Alfonso Durazo that … if they do not do something quickly the president should ask for the resignation of the minister of communications because this is unforgivable abuse,” Bonilla said. “Here, Baja California will never forgive you.” 

Yesterday afternoon groups of activists gathered at the toll plaza in support of the governor, and three arrests were made. 

Tolls on the 27-kilometer stretch of highway are 39 pesos for passenger vehicles, around US $1.73, and affect around 12,000 residents of the area on a daily basis, the governor said.

Source: Reforma (sp), La Jornada (sp)

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.
luz del mundo church with poster of Naason Joaquín García

Family of Naasón Joaquín García, leader of La Luz del Mundo, charged with sex trafficking

0
Joaquín, his mother and his nephew are charged with running "a wide-ranging racketeering and child exploitation enterprise" that preyed on young members of the La Luz del Mundo Church over many years.
washed up gray whale in Tijuana

92 gray whales have washed up dead in Baja California Sur, the worst die-off in decades

2
Scientists say malnutrition is to blame — not poaching or ship strikes — after most carcasses were found decomposed and showed no signs of direct human harm.

Annual inflation rose in August, but remains within central bank’s comfort zone

0
After easing in June and July, the consumer price index accelerated by 0.06% from July to August, a modest rise that leaves the door open to another possible interest rate cut on Sept. 25.
BETA Version - Powered by Perplexity