A tale of dumb and smart phones and better days

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February 8, 2025

online banking — Smartphones are the cornerstone of our modern existence. But Sarah Devries remembers a day not so long ago when things were different. (Sabermassermas.com)

I am stating this again, as though I often do, to provide context for my situation: I have been in Mexico a very long time.

And while this isn’t an “how times have changed” article, you’re in luck! I am also going to talk about how times have changed. We like to talk about it because so many of the changes have taken place so dizzyingly fast that at least I sometimes wonder if the pre-smartphone days were just a dream.

A person scrolling down through their smartphone — In the good old days, phones were dumb and we walked uphill both ways. In the snow. (Alicia Christin Gerald/Unsplash)

Like most people, my relationship with my cell phone has gone through several stages. I was a late adopter, holding out before buying one until 2005. Phones back then were “dumb,” though I did really like that game Snake.

Besides that game, I really only used my phone to make calls and send messages. I got good at texting fast, my muscle memory bringing up how many times I had to press each button to get to the letter I needed.

Pretty soon I upgraded, and had a series of flip phones that could take pictures.The pictures were grainy and only a handful fit in the phone’s storage, so I had to make them count. I worked hard at curating the perfect pictures for my screen background.

Next came a kind of slide-y phone with a bigger, clearer screen. And it was pink! There was a bit more room for photos, and I was able to customize my ring tone. So far, so good: it was convenient and fun, but not so fun that I couldn’t leave it alone. Looking back, I’d say that was probably peak cell phone utility plus convenience.

Young fruit seller looks at his cell phone in Mexico City — There is no escape from modern smartphone use, even on the street. (Cuartoscuro)

The phones after that one were all smartphones. I started with an Android, and remember a feeling of wonder at trying out a touch keyboard for the first time. I was slightly grouchy that my excellent texting skills would now be obsolete, but the satisfying vibration with each letter helped to ease my pain. I went through a series of these, as they’d usually get super slow after a year or two of use. These phones were my first experiences with apps as well, and I remember one day in particular having a lot of fun downloading and playing with them. Interestingly, I don’t remember being as glued to my phone back then. Had the apps not been made that addictive yet?

It wasn’t until 2016 or so that I got my first iPhone. It was the SE model, and I loved it and haven’t looked back from Apple since. It didn’t get slow or bogged down, and I’ve only upgraded when I’ve run out of space or the operating systems became obsolete.

Memories of lying in bed and scrolling out of boredom or avoidance are more recent. A handful of apps have typically been the culprits for me. I recently deleted both my Facebook and Instagram accounts, two obvious wastes of time. But I’m still on my phone too much: there’s still the news, my email, WhatsApp, YouTube… and there I am in front of it, like a dummy.

I’m not alone in this, of course. I feel certain that in 30 years we’ll all take the obvious harm of these always-connected addictive devices as a given, the same way we take the harm of cigarettes as a given today: “Well, obviously it was bad.” The image of a bunch of tech people high-fiving each other when they thought of notifications literally makes me sick.

Mexico City father and daughter dressed in fan gear at a Cruz Azul soccer game — Cruz Azul might not be doing so well at the moment, but come on, enjoy the game and get off your phone? (Edgar Negrete Lira/Cuartoscuro)

And just like that, before we knew it, our phones were indispensable. Need a ride? Use an app. Need to tell a friend something? They’re not going to answer the phone, man. Send a message. Need directions? There’s your maps app. Want to listen to music or a podcast? All can be found on your phone!

Increasingly, being without a phone is impossible. But the most insidious way it’s taken over is the dawn of the sign-in confirmation, which was the bane of my existence for years.

I’ve maintained financial connections to the United States. I have a bank account there, and credit cards. Conveniently, I’ve been able to do most of my banking tasks online.

Until I couldn’t. You see, I’ve always had a Mexican phone and a Mexican phone number. And guess what? U.S. banking institutions and increasingly other official places want to verify your identity through sending a code to your phone.

But guess what? It has to be a US cell phone. Not only that, it must be a real cell phone, not an online number like the kind you can get through Skype or Google.

When I inquired about a U.S. cell phone several years ago on a trip home, I was told that it would eventually be deactivated if I were out of the country for more than three months. But this time, I tried again. And people, I am so happy to report: it worked!

Most phones now are nw dual-SIM, meaning you can have two numbers on them. I took my phone to T-Mobile, and walked out with a working US number, at long last! I chose their cheapest plan at US $15 a month, and so far, so good. I don’t know for how long it’s been that simple, but I’m glad it is now. I needed it!

Most people haven’t been in Mexico since before you needed a cell phone for everything. But if you have, know there is hope: in the shape of a dual SIM! If you’re out of Mexico, be sure to ask about it before you come. If you’re in Mexico already and need a U.S. number, take your Mexican phone; most all of them are “unlocked” and can accept a new physical or e-SIM.

With your phone addiction, unfortunately, I can’t help you. Or myself. For that, we’re on our own.

Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, https://sarahedevries.substack.com/

Is Los Cabos too expensive?

By

Chris Sands

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February 8, 2025

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Port of Cabo San Lucas as seen from the sea — By almost every metric, the municipality of Los Cabos has Mexico's highest cost of living. What is life like for residents? (Thelmadatter/CC BY-SA 4.0)

Is Los Cabos too expensive? The answer to this question is that there’s no objective answer. Los Cabos has much to offer, from year-round sunshine and gorgeous beaches to world-class resorts, restaurants, spas and golf courses. If the expense of enjoying these various attractions as a resident or vacationer is within your means, then it’s not too expensive. If they’re not, then it is.

However, it’s objectively true that Los Cabos is the most expensive destination in Mexico. That’s true based on virtually any metric you care to use. For example, its home prices are the most expensive in the country. So are the rates for its hotels. Its cost of living may or may not be the highest in a given year, but it’s always near the top.

Los Cabos. Is Los Cabos too expensive? — Cabo San Lucas is a tourist paradise, but how are locals affected by soaring tourism rates? (Los Cabos Tourism Board)

Pick a category and Los Cabos likely leads the way relative to expense.

The high cost of visiting Los Cabos

Average nightly rates above US $500 didn’t occur until 2023, and the steep upward climb is somewhat recent. For example, the average room rate in 1998 was only about $120 per night. Rates gradually rose over the next two decades but didn’t surpass the $300 average until the pandemic year of 2020, but then shot over $400 by 2022 and crested $500 by February 2023.

But this wasn’t simply a post-pandemic surge. It was decades in the making. In 1991, Ignacio López Bancalari, the regional director for Fonatur, Mexico’s tourism development agency, laid out the plan for the destination. “Once the Conrad Hilton is open, other hotels — Marriott, Hyatt and Sheraton — will come in here. For many years the hotels here have been family-operated, basically 50- to 60-room hotels. We’re approaching a different scale.”

That was the quantitative approach. That a more qualitative approach was fast-tracked post-2010 seems obvious by the upscale shift in hospitality brands: from Marriott, Hyatt and Sheraton to Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons and Waldorf Astoria. Plans for a Ritz-Carlton were first announced in 2011, for the first of two Four Seasons properties in 2016 and Waldorf Astoria took over the existing The Resort at Pedregal in 2019. More luxury brands have followed as the region has consciously shed its fishing-and-partying past to embrace the high-end market.

Beach at Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal at sunset. Is Los Cabos too expensive? — The Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal is one of many high-priced ultra-luxury resorts in Los Cabos. (Waldorf Astoria)

That’s the context, but the fact is that Los Cabos has the highest hotel rates in Mexico and it’s not particularly close. The average US $560 room rate in Los Cabos by the end of 2024 was five times higher than that for hotels in Mexico City and more than double the cost for those in popular resort destinations like Cancún and Puerto Vallarta.

Of course, it’s not just room rates that are exorbitant. The 18 and counting golf courses are also expensive, as are the pampering spas and the celebrity chef-helmed signature restaurants, one of which now has a Michelin Guide star and a dozen more of which have achieved Michelin recognition.

Meanwhile, good luck playing golf for under US $400 a round, at least at the most acclaimed courses. There are a handful of publicly accessible loops for less. But aside from the venerable nine-hole Vidanta course, the first course ever built in the area, there are no tee times for a full round available for under $200. Affordable golf no longer exists in Los Cabos.

The high cost of living in Los Cabos

Affordable housing is also in short supply, whether for short-term or seasonal rentals or primary residences. For instance, Airbnb rentals in Los Cabos are at least partly responsible for the housing crisis for locals but have been among the most affordable accommodation options for tourists. Yet Airbnb rentals in Los Cabos have also reportedly risen to become the highest in Mexico.

Ocean view at Solmar Golf Links with cacti in foreground. Is Los Cabos too expensive? — The 17th hole at Solmar Golf Links, one of the most recent local golf courses to raise their greens fees to over US $400 per round. (Solmar Golf Links)

Housing costs in Los Cabos are likewise the most expensive in Mexico. The real estate boom that began after Hurricane Odile in 2014 has seen demand drive prices ever higher so that by 2024, the Federal Mortgage Corporation’s (SPH) housing cost index index reported prices in Baja California Sur as the highest among Mexican states, and those in Los Cabos the tops among cities, besting even Cancún and doubling the national average.

However, not all the costs can be so easily quantified. The intense demand in the real estate sector has proved extremely profitable to those selling but has also brought significant challenges for lower-income residents. Meaning, that just as Airbnb is forcing out long-time residents by shrinking the inventory of available rental properties while simultaneously driving up prices, the high demand for homes is having a similar displacing effect, forcing people to move outside Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo to find more affordable options.

In 2024, land parcels in San José del Cabo increased in price by 54%, while the average price for the 552 homes, 673 condos, and 516 land parcels sold during the year increased by nearly US $100,000, rising from $678,107 to $768,554.

Los Cabos saw slight improvements in the cost of living in 2024

In 2023, Los Cabos also had the highest cost of living in Mexico. But thanks to improvements in economic categories like food and transportation — at least relative to other destinations in the country — Los Cabos climbed out of the cellar in 2024, finishing behind Puerto Vallarta, Monterrey and Mexico City. So it’s not all bad news for budget-strapped locals. That’s at least one ray of light… at least until the 2025 results are announced.

When is it too much?

I noted that answering the question “Is Los Cabos too expensive?” ultimately boils down not to facts, but to one’s individual opinion. For my late friend Juan, a Mexico City native, a taquería became too expensive when tacos cost more than 10 pesos each. Those days are long gone. For me, Los Cabos crossed the Rubicon around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Before then, it was an expensive destination by Mexican standards, but it was still possible to live affordably. In 2025, that’s no longer the case.

Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.

Mexico’s champion boxers: The world title holders dominating men’s boxing

By

Ajay Smith

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February 8, 2025

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460026768_1072712087555905_5790541184216508676_n (1) — (Saúl "Canelo" Álvarez/Facebook)

Mexico is a proud boxing nation and a key part of the sport’s heritage. The country currently boasts seven Mexican world champions across all divisions of men’s boxing.

But it can be difficult for casual observers to understand the many championships that exist within boxing or keep track of its most decorated athletes. Let’s examine which titles are most important, how each of Mexico’s current champions reached the summit of the sport and what to expect from them in the year ahead.

Understanding boxing’s titles

Boxing has 17 weight classes, also known as divisions, and a range of sanctioning bodies. Four of these sanctioning bodies — the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF — are unanimously regarded as the ones that matter, and each has their own world champion in every division. The sanctioning bodies that boxers and fans deem relevant have changed throughout the history of professional boxing, hence the term ‘four-belt era’ when referring to the present-day incarnation of the sport.

In addition to these titles is the coveted Ring Magazine belt, which is available in each division. With rankings determined by the magazine’s editorial board, and strict criteria determining those eligible to compete for the title, Ring Magazine champions have enjoyed enhanced acclaim since the award’s introduction in 1922. In other words, although we’re living in the four-belt era, there are actually five belts that count.

A boxer who possesses just one of these titles is a world champion. A special few Mexican boxers hold several of them.

Ángel Ayala

The youngest of Mexico’s world champions, Texcoco-born Ayala competes in the 112-pound flyweight division. When a string of victories and two regional titles earned him a shot at the IBF Flyweight Championship last August, he dutifully took the opportunity, knocking out the previously-undefeated Dave Apolinario to seize the title.

At just 24 years old, Ayala has become a world champion without ever boxing outside of Mexico. In 2025, he’ll hope to impress on the world stage.

Rafael Espinoza

“I broke my ankle,” Espinoza told his trainer, Manny Robles, after being knocked down and landing awkwardly in the fifth round of his first world title fight, in December 2023.

“Do you want us to stop it?” asked Robles.

“No,” Espinoza replied. “I don’t want to stop. I’m going to be champion of the world.”

So Rafael Espinoza — already an underdog against his opponent, the well-schooled Cuban champion Robeisy Ramírez — returned to the center of the ring. He completed the final seven rounds with such heart and proficiency that, by way of the judges’ scorecards, he fulfilled his own inconceivable prophecy.

It’s rare for an Espinoza fight to be left to the judges; prior to that night, all but three of his 23 professional victories had come via knockout. But it took going the distance to claim the WBO crown.

Since then, the knockout run has resumed. Espinoza has made two successful defenses of his title, including a rematch with Ramírez, in which he ruthlessly obliged his opponent to quit. The logical next step is another title, whether at featherweight or in a higher weight class. Whichever Espinoza decides, it should make for compulsive viewing.

Rey Vargas

At 34 years old, Vargas is a veteran of the lower weight classes. After winning his first world title in 2017, he successfully defended his status as WBC Super Bantamweight Champion five times before claiming a second WBC belt at featherweight in 2022.

But subsequent years have been fraught with professional adversity. In February 2023, Vargas attempted to become a three-division champion, moving up again to face the undefeated O’Shaquie Foster and enduring the fist loss of his career. His next bout, back at featherweight, saw him narrowly retain his title with a draw against Britain’s Nick Ball, in a fight that most observers besides the adjudicators believe he lost. He has not fought again since.

Nobody can outrun time, least of all Vargas, who is now sidelined after breaking his leg in a training accident. The prolonged layoff, for a fighter more than two years removed from his last win, has prompted the WBC to make him Champion-in-Recess and allow other combatants to vie for divisional supremacy.

Whoever holds the belt will be mandated to face Vargas when he returns. But with a long road back to recovery and nothing left to prove, it remains to be seen if the State of México native wants — or is capable of — one last shot at glory.

Emanuel Navarrete

His remarkably high punch output, relentless pressure, unconventional shot selection and defensive vulnerabilities have earned Emanuel Navarrete a reputation as a purveyor of compelling fights. He’s also a three-division world champion, having picked up titles at junior featherweight and featherweight before acquiring the WBO’s junior lightweight prize.

2024 was a mixed year for the champion, who hails from the state of México; Navarrete also set out to conquer another weight class and failed. He did, however, find redemption in an impressive comeback win. Upon returning to junior lightweight, he successfully defended his title against talented fellow Mexican Óscar Valdez. It was an enthralling second meeting between the pair, with Navarrete adding a sixth-round knockout to his 2023 decision victory.

So what’s next? While Navarrete has expressed a desire to challenge at lightweight again, his promoters may have other ideas; Top Rank, who also represent Rafael Espinoza, have floated a possible meeting between the Mexican champions in 2025. If it materializes, it will be a fight to make boxing fans salivate.

José Valenzuela

At just three years old, José Valenzuela was the victim of a hit-and-run that almost killed him. “It took me nearly a year to learn how to walk again,” he subsequently recalled in an interview with Premier Boxing Champions. “It’s a miracle that I survived.”

22 years later, the Los Mochis native became champion of the world.

Predictably, in a sport as harsh as boxing, Valenzuela would benefit immensely from his innate powers of recovery. After suffering two shock losses in 2022 and 2023, he demanded an immediate rematch with the opponent who’d inflicted his second defeat, brutally knocking him out in the return bout to reaffirm his status as a contender.

The reward was a title shot against countryman Isaac Cruz. Like several of the champions on this list, Valenzuela entered the ring for the biggest fight of his life as the underdog, then proved the whole world wrong. He outclassed Cruz before an enraptured crowd at Los Angeles’ BMO Stadium, on his way to claiming the WBA belt.

Despite the surprise nature of his victory, Valenzuela’s team believes this is more than a flash in the pan. He makes his first defense against former U.S. Olympian Gary Antuanne Russel at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center in March.

Gilberto Ramírez

One of boxing’s most famous southpaws, the Mazatlán-born “Zurdo” Ramírez is the first Mexican to win world titles in the super middleweight and cruiserweight divisions. But he took the scenic route to get there. Despite an impressive 47 professional victories, the world title eluded Zurdo at light heavyweight, causing him to go eight years between obtaining the WBO Super Middleweight Championship and achieving glory in another division.

Ultimately, it took an ascension to cruiserweight; since joining boxing’s 200-pounders, he’s looked better than ever, snatching the WBA belt from experienced champion Arsen Goulamirian before adding the formidable Chris Billam-Smith’s WBO title in November.

A further unification fight with IBF champion Jai Opetaia is high on most boxing fans’ wish lists for 2025, and both fighters have conveyed an eagerness to make it happen.

Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez

The “Face of Boxing” and a four-weight world champion, Canelo requires little introduction.

He started boxing professionally aged just 15, fighting fully-grown men as he accumulated the first of his 62 victories, before claiming world titles at junior middleweight, middleweight, super middleweight, and light heavyweight.

For many fans, Canelo’s long and storied career will be remembered most for 11 miraculous months: four fights, between December 2020 and November 2021, over which he won the WBA, WBC, Ring Magazine, WBO and IBF super middleweight titles and became the first undisputed super middleweight champion of the four-belt era.

At his peak, he was the pound-for-pound king of boxing. Even now, as he nears the end of his career, he remains the sport’s biggest pay-per-view star.

After fighting professionally for almost 20 years and spending much of that time at boxing’s pinnacle, what’s left for Canelo to achieve? Nothing. Yet a fight with fellow pound-for-pound great — and undisputed champion in both the junior welterweight and welterweight divisions — Terence Crawford looks set for 2025.

On paper, it’s a big undertaking for the smaller, albeit supremely talented, Crawford. But such is the extent of Canelo’s appeal: legacy-defining victory if you win, inconceivable riches even if you don’t. Should the fight be made, it will undoubtedly be the biggest event of the year’s boxing calendar. But with Canelo, it often is.

Ajay Smith is a freelance journalist and ghostwriter from Manchester, England, now based in Mexico City. His areas of specialization include boxing, soccer, political history, and current affairs. Samples of his work can be found at ajaysmith.com/portfolio.

Stop deporting Catholics: A reader’s perspective

By

Stephen Rice

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February 8, 2025

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Immigrants wave American flags at a U.S. citizenship ceremony — Immigration is in the headlines across North America. What does that mean for U.S. communities where Mexican immigrants have put down roots? (KE/Unsplash)

A friend of mine is Irish Catholic — in Chicago, what we sometimes call “proud southside Irish Catholic.” Church every weekend. His actions embody his faith. But southside Irish Catholics are not just religious; they also tend to have a great sense of humor.

Yesterday we were at lunch, talking about the news of late. The top U.S. headlines were about immigration. Specifically, they were about the increasing arrests and deportations.

My friend seemed to briefly digress from the topic. He related that when he was at church that past weekend, he passed a car in the church parking lot with a bumper sticker. He couldn’t recall the exact content of the sticker, but he said that it evoked the anti-immigrant sentiment that is currently viral in the U.S. (and not just the U.S., if you follow international news).

The thing is, he explained further: “When you go into my church, you are surrounded by immigrants. There are Hispanics to the left; Hispanics to the right; Hispanics front and back. And some non-Hispanic immigrants as well.” And reflecting back on the bumper sticker in the parking lot, he then said: “I want to get a bumper sticker that says this: ‘Stop deporting Catholics’”!

Now our group at lunch laughed at that, as was my friend’s intent. Only it then occurred to me that while the story was quite funny, it was also completely apropos. Let me explain.

First, there is an obvious truth that gets easily obscured by heated political rhetoric: Most foreign-born individuals in the U.S. — and the census reports over 22 million noncitizen immigrants, or about 7% of our total population—are not actively committing criminal offenses. What’s more, very few of them are committing violent criminal offenses. Yes, many people violate the law when they enter the country without permission. Does this make them “criminals”? In my eye, not more than the people flying by me on the interstate at 85 mph. A lawbreaker does not a criminal make—at least not in the truest sense of the word “criminal.”

A highway at night with streaks of headlights captured by a long-exposure photo — As is the case with drivers over the speed limit, not every lawbreaker is a criminal in the typical sense of the word, writes Stephen Rice. (Jake Blucker/Unsplash)

What source do I have for my claim that most noncitizen immigrants are not actively committing crimes? That would be plain common sense. My friend perceives that he is surrounded by immigrants at his church. We are all surrounded by these same people in our everyday lives. They are working in every restaurant we visit; they are present on every construction jobsite; they make up the lion’s share of all employees at landscaping companies; they fill the ranks of the cleaning staff at the building I work in, and certainly in the buildings you work in. And I could go on. The food we eat? We may not see their involvement, but any cursory review of farming news or food processing is replete with references to immigrants. I speak regularly with the maintenance staff at my building, many of whom are Mexican. The crew that re-sided my house and repaired my leaking roof? All Mexican.

Second, with unemployment consistently under 5% for the last ten years — excepting the pandemic spike — immigrants are plainly not “taking” jobs from U.S. citizens. Economists consider unemployment under 5% to be “full employment.” There are jobs for those willing to work. Deporting Catholics does not foster employment — on the contrary.

Finally, I will not belabor the standard lines about immigrants being hard-working, inventive, and providing our society continuous growth and renewal. You may reject all of those assertions, and even still, we should not be threatening them with mass-deportation. Such threats are cruel. And such threats harm us as a people economically, socially, and importantly: morally. You need not be southside Irish Catholic to appreciate that.

Immigration policy in the U.S. has been a disaster for many years. There is much to criticize on a bipartisan basis. Writer David Frum did so in a wide-ranging critique of U.S. policy in a 2019 article in The Atlantic, provocatively titled “If Liberals Won’t Enforce Borders, Fascists Will.” I recommend the lesson, because it foretold the recent history of the Americas, where populations seem to be moving like tides on the sea. Of course, the moon does not create these human waves, but rather the rhetoric of U.S. leaders does. For at least a decade and across the political spectrum, that rhetoric has had a manifestly negative effect on our social cohesion.

Even still, cruelty is not the answer. Close the border — fine. Return people to their country of origin before they have settled — OK. But rounding up our friends, neighbors and those who provide us countless daily services? This is far too reminiscent of what dictators do in countries we rightly condemn. Such actions also risk destabilizing countries to which we in the U.S. have close and abiding economic and social ties, such as Mexico. If we don’t want our own house catching fire, we should not be kindling the abode of our neighbor.

In this spirit, I have ordered the bumper sticker my friend envisioned:

Stop deporting Catholics.

In a time of tumult, I think that my friend’s humorous phrase captures the perspective we need. If you want one, email me at [email protected] and provide me your postal address.

Stephen J. Rice is an attorney who lives outside of Chicago, Illinois.

Sheinbaum declares 2025 as Year of the Indigenous Woman: Friday’s mañanera recapped

By

MND Staff

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February 7, 2025

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Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum at her morning press conference, where she declared 2025 as Year of the Indigenous Woman — Wage garnishment and Pemex oil production levels were topics of discussion Friday. (Presidencia)

President Claudia Sheinbaum opened her daily press conference on Friday by celebrating Indigenous women before addressing a broad variety of political issues, legislative concerns and legal items.

Also getting a mention was news that Sheinbaum’s pressers — officially titled “La Mañanera de Pueblo” (“The people’s morning report”) — was the most-viewed streaming program in Mexico.

Mexico’s Year of the Indigenous Woman

Before ceding the podium to Culture Minister Claudia Curiel de Icaza, Sheinbaum said one of her administration’s priorities is to reaffirm the important role Indigenous women have played throughout Mexico’s history. To start, she designated 2025 as the Year of the Indigenous Woman.

Curiel then outlined the lengthy series of events, exhibitions and activities Mexico is sponsoring at home and abroad. Among the most important is a September exposition in Madrid entitled “Mujeres mesoamericanas: Gobernadoras mexicanas” (“Mesoamerican women: Female Mexican governors”).

“We want people who live in Spain to understand the richness and greatness found in Mexico … before the Spaniards invaded our country,” she said. “The best way to demonstrate this is through our culture.”

Curiel said that it is impossible to understand Mexico without recognizing the daily contributions of Indigenous women both in the past and present.

Nadia López García, a young morena woman wearing a huipil over a black long-sleeve shirt, stands at the National Palace podium — Nadia López García, the director of the INBAL’s National Literature Department. (Presidencia)

“We can not understand a pluricultural country such as Mexico without recognizing the important role of Indigenous women … the grandmothers, mothers and daughters … and the part they play in transmitting ancestral knowledge,” she said.

Nadia López García, a director at the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (INBAL), said that special attention is being devoted to giving resonance to the voices of Indigenous women, their histories and their identity, particularly since there is a woman in the National Palace for the first time in Mexico’s history.

López García said the declaration of 2025 as the Year of the Indigenous Woman is an important step in the fight to defend Indigenous languages, the land, national memory, Mexico’s cuisine and its people.

Turning attention to the legislative process

As Mexico’s Congress reconvened to open its spring session this week, Sheinbaum briefly discussed some legislative initiatives she has submitted. She saved her most extensive comments, however, for a bill that she promised to veto should it be approved.

A Senate bill co-sponsored by her own Morena party would allow employers to garnish up to 40% of an employee’s salary to pay certain credits, including retirement funds, housing credits and per diems, or to reimburse the employer for loans or advances.

“Let me be clear: We are not in agreement here. Wages are untouchable,” Sheinbaum said. “I hope the Senate does not approve [this bill], but if it does I will veto it.”

There are other ways for credit companies and institutions to collect their funds, she said.

President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico stands at a podium in front of a presentation related to the salaries of workers registered with the IMSS — Sheinbaum said on Friday that she would veto a bill allowing wage garnishment, if passed by Congress. (Presidencia)

The president then outlined a few of her legislative proposals, including a bill to restore the prohibition against re-election that was enshrined in the 1917 Constitution.

Other proposals include a bill to crack down on nepotism, legislation to prohibit the cultivation of genetically modified corn, and an initiative to streamline the bureaucracy while reducing corruption.

The administration will also seek to make regulatory changes related to the importation and transportation of petroleum-based fuels as part of the government’s effort to eliminate rampant theft.

Defending her administration’s Pemex policy

When asked by a reporter about the nation’s low oil production figures in comparison to earlier administrations, Sheinbaum accused Presidents Vicente Fox (2000-2006) and Felipe Calderón (2006-2012) of being irresponsible.

“You can’t compare our policies with those followed in 2004,” she said, labeling Fox’s policies as being particularly excessive.

Sheinbaum said Fox — and later Calderón — overexploited oil fields and contaminated them by relying on the practice of injecting nitrogen to facilitate extraction.

Alkylation unit at the Olmeca Refinery — With nearly US $100 billion in debt, Pemex is the most indebted oil company in the world. (Refinería Olmeca-Dos Bocas/X)

So while production figures were quite high then — as much as 3.4 million barrels per day in 2004 — the result was that future production was compromised, she said.

“This policy of overexploitation [was short-sighted] and wells that might still be producing were used up prematurely,” she said.

In addition, this strategy makes it exceedingly more difficult — and more costly — to extract the entire deposit.

Sheinbaum also said that the overproduction produced significant profits, though much of it was not accounted for. “[This strategy] produced oil supplies and revenues but where this went we still do not know,” she said.

Current oil production sits at 1.7 million barrels per day, in line with the policies established by her predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador (1.8 million bpd) in an effort to maintain steady production. A portion of the profits are designated for renewable energy development.

The president also said that most of the oil produced now is targeted for domestic needs, unlike Fox and Calderón who focused on exporting Mexico’s oil.

President expresses gratitude to her online fans

On Thursday, the Streams Chart platform, a service that collates and registers viewers of streaming platforms, announced that the most popular stream within the YouTube Non-Gaming section in January was Sheinbaum’s daily press conference.

The “La Mañanera de Pueblo” registered 2.74 million listeners, according to the Streams Chart data.

Sheinbaum thanked those who listen to “La Mañanera de Pueblo,” helping her to become the most viewed YouTube streamer in the world, but deflected credit.

“[The popularity] has to do with the government and what we think and what we are doing,” she said.

As an example, the president’s press conference held at the National Museum of Anthropology on Jan. 7, hit a peak of 88,845 concurrent live viewers. The mañanero was staged at the museum to celebrate the opening of a new exhibition hall.

With reports from Infobae and Milenio

Mexican peso drops after weak U.S. jobs report

By

MND Staff

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February 7, 2025

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A Mexico City sign showing the value of the Mexican peso, which lost value against the US dollar after a US employment report — With inflation, U.S. jobs and Mexican interest rates all on the decline, the peso is facing pressure from all sides. (Graciela López Herrera/Cuartoscuro)

The Mexican peso continued a volatile week, falling sharply at the beginning of trading on Friday after U.S. employment data showed job losses in January that were much bigger than expected.

This week’s unpredictability highlights ongoing fluctuations as the market responds to economic factors impacting the currency’s valuation.

Among the factors impacting Mexico’s currency were tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump that were resolved at the beginning of the week and an interest rate decision by Mexico’s central bank on Thursday.

Friday’s news that the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 4% in January from 4.1% the month prior, but that only 143,000 new jobs were created in January supported the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision to hold stable on interest rates.

This buoyed the US dollar even though the number of new jobs created was less than the 170,000 expected by economists (and lower than the 307,000 seen in December). Still, the news settled nerves that had been rattled by the potential of a trade war.

As a result, the peso weakened to 20.61 to the US dollar from Thursday’s close of 20.46, a decline of 0.49%. It was unable to significantly recover before closing at 20.57 Friday evening.

The peso recovered somewhat in early trading on Tuesday, but at 11:45 a.m. Mexico City time, it was trading at 20.81 to the dollar. — The peso closed at 20.57 to the US dollar on Friday. (María Ruiz)

“Today, the peso is impacted by the strengthening of the dollar and Mexico’s inflation figures which confirm the downward trend of inflation which in turn could justify another reduction in Banxico’s interest rate,” wrote the Monex financial institution, according to the newspaper El Economista.

The peso entered Friday on a three-day losing streak, a drop that marked a cumulative loss of approximately 1.5%.

The slump occurred after an up-and-down Monday that saw the peso close up 1.5% after Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum struck a deal to avoid tariffs on exports to the United States. Mexico’s currency had weakened by 3% against the dollar heading into Monday’s trading day before climbing on the news of the agreement.

The peso fell for a second straight day on Wednesday even as trade war fears began to fade. The anticipation of upbeat U.S. jobs data exerted pressure on the Mexican currency, which had failed to capitalize on broad US dollar weakness.

Mixed investment data and an anticipated rate cut by Banxico put further pressure on the peso.

The peso surged momentarily on Thursday following the rate cut but could not make up for earlier losses.

Higher interest rates are generally positive for the Mexican peso as they lead to higher yields, making the country a more attractive place for investors. On the contrary, lower interest rates tend to weaken the peso.

With reports from El Economista and El Financiero

Undefeated Mexico prepares to face DR in Caribbean Series championship

By

MND Staff

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February 7, 2025

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A baseball pitcher in a red Mexican uniform throws the ball at a Caribbean Series Mexico vs Dominican Republic game — Trevor Clifton pitches against the Dominican Republic earlier this week, in the game that won Mexico its spot in the finals. (Charros de Jalisco)

Undefeated Mexico needs just one more victory — in tonight’s championship showdown against the Dominican Republic — to win the Caribbean Series, a tournament for Latin America’s best winter league baseball teams.

The Serie del Caribe, as it is known in Spanish, is being played this year in Mexicali, Baja California, at the Estadio Nido de las Águilas, better known as El Nido, or the Eagles’ Nest. It started a week ago.

A Mexican fan in a luchador mask shows off his jersey at a Caribbean Series championship game — A Mexican fan in a luchador mask shows off his jersey on Monday at Mexico’s game against Japan. (Charros de Jalisco)

Tonight’s championship begins at 9 p.m. Mexico City time and will broadcast in English on MLB.TV and MLB Network for subscribers in the United States. In Mexico, the game can be seen on ESPN Deportes.

The series, which dates back to 1949, is for teams that win championships in their respective professional winter leagues in Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.

In the past, teams from Cuba, Panama and other baseball-loving countries have participated. This year, however, organizers took a novel approach and decided to invite a team from Japan — which didn’t go over well after the baseball-rich nation sent an “all-star” team of mostly amateurs that got outscored 32-5 in four games.

Competing teams are generally identified by country, but they are actually city-based teams that compete in their respective country’s winter leagues from October through January.

The Jalisco Charros celebrate after beating the Culiacán Tomateros — A win against the Culiacán Tomateros earned the Charros the Mexican Pacific League title, as well as the chance to represent their country in the Caribbean Series this week. (Charros de Jalisco)

Mexico’s representative is the Jalisco Charros, who play in Zapopan, near Guadalajara. This past season, the Charros tied for third place in the 10-team, West Coast-based Mexican Pacific League (LMP), then beat the Culiacán Tomateros in January’s playoff finals.

In Mexicali, the Charros rolled through round-robin play with a 4-0 record, outscoring their opponents 19-4, although a couple of victories were nearly too close for comfort — 2-1 over Venezuela (represented by the Lara Cardenales) and 2-0 over the Dominican Republic team, Leones del Escogido.

In the semifinals, the Mexican squad scored three times in the bottom of the first and held tight for a 3-1 victory over Puerto Rico (Mayagüez Indios). Puerto Rico went on to beat Venezuela 7-4 in Thursday night’s third-place game.

The Dominican Republic — a baseball-obsessed nation that has produced Hall of Famers Pedro Martinez, Juan Marichal and David Ortiz and Hall-of-Famer-to-be Albert Pujols — advanced to tonight’s final with a 5-4 win over Venezuela in 11 innings. The Leones squad is managed by Pujols, who retired from MLB in 2022 after hitting 703 homers, a total eclipsed by only three others.

In the “modern stage” of the series, dating back to 1970, the D.R. is the leader with 22 titles, followed by Puerto Rico (12), Mexico (nine), Venezuela (eight), and Cuba, Panama and Colombia (one each). Last year’s series, contested in Miami, was won by Tiburones de La Guaira from Venezuela.

This year’s Charros are managed by Benji Gil, who led Mexico’s national team to third place in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. That squad’s exhilarating run included a stunning 11-5 victory over the powerhouse U.S. and a 6-5 semifinal loss to eventual champion Japan — a thriller in which the Shohei Ohtani-led team won only by scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth.

The Charros are composed of top Mexican professionals (some who play in the 20-team Liga Mexicana de Béisbol during the summer); pro players from Major League Baseball and the U.S. minor leagues looking to gain experience; and assorted others from Latin America, the Caribbean and beyond.

Two Mexican baseball players high-five — The Charros’ roster is a mix of Mexican and U.S. players, led by Mexican veteran Benji Gil. (Charros de Jalisco)

The Charros who made the series’ all-tournament team, announced Friday, are second baseman Michael Wielansky, shortstop Jack Mayfield, center fielder Billy Hamilton, left fielder Rudy Martin Jr. and relief pitcher Trevor Clifton. Mexican players snagged six of the 12 spots, including the Tijuana-born Gil as top manager.

Gil, 52, has won five championships as a manager in the LMP, but has never won the Caribbean Series in four previous attempts. However, the man who played eight seasons in “Las Grandes Ligas” (MLB’s nickname in Mexico) as an infielder, winning the 2002 World Series with the Anaheim Angels, is confident things are about to change — even against a team seeking its nation’s 23rd title.

“We’re going to lift that trophy,” Gil said Thursday. “We know it’s going to be a tough game against the Dominican Republic, where everyone will give their all. I’m telling you with all the confidence, with our team playing our baseball, we’re going to lift this trophy.”

Mexico’s five games in Mexicali have each drawn a crowd announced as a sellout of 17,000. But with a stadium capacity of 18,500, maybe tonight’s championship will draw even more.

Mexico News Daily

US to pursue ‘total elimination of cartels;’ Sheinbaum says they should start at home

By

MND Staff

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February 7, 2025

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U.S. troops and a tank at a San Diego Border Patrol station in late January. — U.S. troops deploy to a San Diego Border Patrol station in late January. (Omar Martínez/Cuartoscuro)

After the U.S. government announced on Wednesday that it intended “to pursue total elimination of Cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations,” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum encouraged Washington to first address U.S. domestic issues related to drug trafficking.

On Feb. 5, the U.S. Attorney General’s Office published a memo for all Department of Justice (DOJ) employees announcing that President Donald Trump had issued a directive urging the federal government “to revise existing national security and counter-narcotics strategies.”

Sheinbaum responded during her Friday morning news conference, saying “They should start with their own country; of course, we are going to coordinate and collaborate, as I said on Thursday — never subordination or interference; it is coordination.”

The memorandum stated that the DOJ “must harness [its] resources … and empower federal prosecutors throughout the country to work urgently with the Department of Homeland Security and other parts of the government toward the goal of eliminating these threats to U.S. sovereignty.”

Ioan Grillo, a Mexico-based journalist who focuses on crime and drugs, lauded the notion of hitting cartels hard in a social media post, but expressed wariness about the absolutist language.

“Total elimination of cartels sounds like an impossible task,” he wrote, explaining that “campaigns to totally eliminate drugs … or terrorism often fall short.”

The US Attorney General’s office issues memorandum calling for the “total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations.”

I agree with hitting cartels hard, but I’m wary of such absolutist language. “Total elimination of cartels” sounds like an impossible task. pic.twitter.com/u5Y9rFTquZ

— Ioan Grillo (@ioangrillo) February 6, 2025

The Trump administration memo also set forth mandates and initiatives, including charging priorities, removing bureaucratic impediments to aggressive prosecutions, and enhancing enforcement efforts against human smuggling and trafficking groups by empowering existing joint task forces.

In addition, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Office of Legal Policy and the Office of Legislative Affairs were directed to advocate legislative reforms to improve counter-narcotics efforts.

On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, while criticizing the Mexican government’s alleged ties to drug cartels. He also declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, allowing the U.S. Department of Defense to deploy armed forces to the region.

Sheinbaum has objected to Trump’s characterization of Mexico as a narco-state, and on Friday, she said the U.S. must share responsibility.

Two photos, one of U.S. President-elect Trump and another of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum — President Sheinbaum has objected to the Trump administration’s characterization of Mexico as a narco-state. (Gage Skidmore via Flickr/Cuartoscuro)

“They have a lot to do in the United States; how does fentanyl or any other drug … get there? Who brings it across the border?,” she asked. “Who operates the distribution of the drug? Who sells the drugs in the U.S. cities that have caused so much tragedy?”

But U.S. authorities appear more focused on Mexico.

Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Tom Homan said on Thursday that President Trump won’t hesitate to use the U.S. military against Mexican cartels, if necessary.

Speaking in the context of the increased U.S. military presence at the Mexican border, the U.S. border czar said troops “need to protect themselves,” insisting that Trump would send a warning to the cartels if any U.S. soldiers are harmed.

“I think the cartels would be foolish to take on the military, but we know they’ve taken on the Mexican military before,” he told ABC News Live. “But now we have the United States military.”

In an interview with MVS Noticias, Grillo dismissed rumors that cartels are planning to attack the U.S. military and warned that the aggressive stance being taken by the U.S. could result in a diplomatic crisis, or worse, a large-scale conflict.

“They could go in and kill 30 or 40 cartel operatives, but this won’t make much difference when there are 180,000 people working for the cartels,” he said.

The bigger concern, he said, is the chance that civilians could be caught in the crossfire.

With reports from ABC News, Anadolu Agency, El País and MVS Noticias

A Valentines guide to Mexico City’s hottest lingerie boutiques

By

Bethany Platanella

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February 7, 2025

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CDMX lingerie — It's the most intimate time of the year, so why not make sure you look the part, too? (Etsy)

Spicy. Tantalizing. Bold. Steamy. If you thought I was referring to Mexico’s seductive cuisine, you’re clearly not looking at the calendar. Valentine’s Day is hurtling toward us at breakneck speed. For those hankering to kick things up a notch after a romantic rooftop dinner with your honey, our latest list of lusty delights and satin surprises are sure to fulfill that fantasy.

Not that a partner is necessary to don these treasures on V-Day. There’s nothing wrong with celebrating your truest love — you — by slipping on a lacy number, popping a bottle of bubbly, and binging on rom-coms and Mexican chocolate truffles while friends text you about their uneventful Bumble dates on arguably the most awkward evening of the year.

So whether you’re shopping for a special someone, surprising your Galentines, or treating yourself to some self-love, these boutiques promise to wrap you in comfort, confidence, and a healthy dose of “caliente.” So pucker up, buttercup – it’s time to fall in love with lingerie, Mexico City style.

Farfalla Lingerie

Located in Cuahtémoc at a dangerously close distance to Churrería El Moro — who does that? — this women-owned, LGBTQ+ friendly shop has an always-changing window display and same-day delivery. They specialize in premium fabrics and modern cuts, focusing on comfort and confidence-boosting designs. Whether you’re in the market for a flirty school girl number, a lacy nightie or very fitted men’s boxer briefs in a variety of colors and patterns from collaborator Mundo Unico, odds are it’s in store at Farfalla.

Calle Río Lerma 165 B, Cuauhtémoc, Cuauhtémoc

Intimamente Citlali

Bodacious bods, rejoice! There’s finally an undergarment shop that caters to your curves. Intimamente Citlali is an entrepreneur-owned, appointment-only lingerie shop with a wide range of sexy yet practical sets. The store’s hashtag #lamagiaestadentrodeti — #TheMagicIsInsideYou — promotes self-confidence amongst the women who wear its wares.

Circunvalación 505, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc

ERIK MAR

If delicate, lacy lingerie sounds more boring than watching grass grow, stop what you’re doing and head to ERIK MAR, a Zona Rosa staple for a quarter century. Within its walls is aphrodisiacal attire to satisfy the most peculiar of palates. Surprise your honey as the sexy superhero or passionate priest you truly are beneath the everyday garb and make this Valentine’s Day outshine any other.

Londres 106 Colonia Juárez, Cuauhtémoc

Be Meow

A well-rounded selection of unmentionables for all body types and tastes, Be Meow’s collection runs the gamut from sheer to shiny, corsets to clips, to a line of barely-there Disney princess delicates. With more than 2,000 clients offering feedback, their reviews are both abundant and stellar, and prices surprisingly reasonable for the quality promised.

Monterrey 8, Local 2, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc

Yamamay

Before spiraling into a Valentine’s panic over Victoria’s Secret’s absence in Mexico City, know that there’s a very viable alternative. Located in the upscale Polanco district, Yamamay blends Italian elegance with contemporary design and features an extensive collection of lingerie, swimwear and loungewear that encompasses comfortable and sexy. Yamamay’s designs feature eco-friendly materials and cutting-edge technology, and the brand is dedicated to enhancing and supporting the natural forms of a woman’s body.

Avenida Presidente Masaryk 336, Polanco, Miguel Hidalgo

Marika Vera

In 2010, the first true designer line of lingerie in Mexico City opened with a store with a collection of 100 percent silk intimates. As the brand grew, so did their offerings, and today Marika Vera is the go-to for fashion-forward customers looking for trousers and blazers to pair with the company’s line of sensual bodysuits. Their collections feature bold, contemporary styles that celebrate femininity and self-expression and encourage a sex-positive perspective for women all over the world. Check out the erotic shop for something simple yet seductive to unveil on Valentine’s.

Guanajuato 131, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc

Proyecto República

Celebrate love while supporting this made-in-Latin America brand that specializes in high-end, unconventional everything. If at all possible, weave your way past the curious jewelry and one-of-a-kind knitwear to their lingerie section. Proyecto República’s unique, artisanal approach to women’s intimates and bra and panty design sets them apart, offering customers one-of-a-kind items crafted with attention to detail and quality. Most pieces are designed by Colombian designer Suki Cohen, who uses women as her muse to create fresh and seductive underthings.

Avenida Yucatan 96, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc

Armario Obscuro

This little hidden gem in La Juárez offers a curated selection of lingerie that’s equal parts provocative and elegant. The wide selection includes daring dresses — think Bianca Censori at this year’s Grammys — and full-body fishnets, guaranteed to spice up your Valentine’s Day. Nationwide shipping is available with Armario Obscuro, making it easy for anyone in Mexico to indulge in their seductive side.

Nápoles 79, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc

All Handmade

All Handmade is an online-only lingerie shop based in CDMX that ships nationwide. They specialize in bespoke, handmade intimate pieces, allowing customers to order custom-fitted items tailored to their specific measurements and preferences. Classic and sexy with enough practicality that you could wear it any time of year, this is your go-to line when stocking up on gifts for a Galentine’s party.

Brujas y Puntadas

Another online-only lingerie shop, Brujas y Puntadas focuses proudly on crafting handmade pieces with knitted elements while adhering to environmentally friendly practices. Everything about their line is incredibly feminine, with frills and flowers, bows and buttons, and looks exactly like the set you want to slip into while lounging around the house, sipping tea and reading a good romance novel. Alone.

Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog or follow her on Instagram.

As Carnival approaches, Mazatlán seeks to reactivate its tourism sector

By

MND Staff

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February 7, 2025

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Mazatlán, Sinaloa beachside cliffs — A seaside esplanade along the Mazatlán malecón. (Jaime Florian/Unsplash)

Less than a month out from one of Mexico’s largest Carnival celebrations, the port city of Mazatlán, Sinaloa, is seeking to reactivate its tourism economy with a new campaign called “A Sea of Stories.” Tourism in the beach town has declined sharply as the state faces a security crisis.

The campaign, which will be launched in Mexico and abroad, aims to promote Mazatlán as a destination for sporting events, business meetings, weddings, fishing tournaments and more. Notable events held in the resort city include the Mazatlán International Carnival, the Delfino Maza Surfing Tournament and the Polanco Jazz Festival.

A Carnival "monigote" statue in Mazatlán, Sinaloa. — A Carnival “monigote” statue in Mazatlán, Sinaloa. (Tina T./Unsplash)

The head of the Tres Islas Hotel Association, José Ramón Manguart Sánchez, celebrated the move, which he said might be the turning point the city needs.

Sinaloa, located on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, is currently going through a security crisis that began in September after the arrest of Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. The arrest kicked off a feud between factions within the cartel, that has impacted the lives of residents and the local economy.

“We’re collaborating with the security committees, the governor, the municipal government, the federal government and the private sector,” Manguart said. “Carnival represents a great opportunity for Mazatlán, and we are fully focused on that.”

Tourism Minister Josefina Rodríguez Zamora stressed the federal government’s commitment to support Sinaloa and assured that these actions are aligned with the national goal of “shared prosperity.”

Hotels in Mazatlan Bay, Sinaloa. — The port city’s economy has taken a hit in Sinaloa’s ongoing security crisis. (CGAphoto/Wikimedia Commons – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0)

“Mazatlán is much more than a tourist destination. It is a place where each visitor can immerse themselves in an ocean of unique and memorable experiences,” she said.

Sinaloa, located on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, is currently going through a security crisis. According to the Employers’ Confederation of Mexico (Coparmex), violence has resulted in economic losses for the state amounting to 18 billion pesos (US $875 million).

For many residents of Mazatlán, especially those reliant on the tourism sector, the late February Carnival festivities present a vital chance to lift the local economy after the outbreak of violence that began September last year. An internal struggle within the Sinaloa Cartel has led to murders, confrontations between armed groups and the army, carjackings and kidnappings across the state.

The state capital of Culiacán has been especially hard-hit by the conflict, with the restaurant and event industries greatly affected by insecurity. While Mazatlán has seen less action in the cartel war than some areas, tourism has dropped steeply since the conflict began. Businesses and residents who depend on the tourism industry hope this year’s Carnival will turn the economic tide.

With reports from El Economista and Punto Mx