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Dave Good
Marty Graham
Moss Gropen
Andrew Hamlin
Dorian Hargrove
Garrett Harris
Ken Harrison
Patrick Henderson
Tam Hoang
Eve Kelly
Dryw Keltz
Eva Knott
Thomas Larson
Ken Leighton
Matthew Lickona
Mike Madriaga
Bill Manson
Scott Marks
Bob McPhail
Walter Mencken
Joseph O'Brien
Sheila Pell
Ian Pike
Matt Potter
H.G. Reza
Dave Rice
Elizabeth Salaam
Jay Allen Sanford
Julie Stalmer
DJ Stevens
Matthew Suárez
Amanda Tascher
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Tom Gatch
Tom Gatch
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Votes
Mexican government working to allow foreign ownership of beach property
Ándale pues! ;-)
— May 14, 2013 1 p.m.
A TALE OF TWO LEGENDS
Sadly, this horrific event mirrored another similar yacht race tragedy that occurred only a few weeks before on April 14th 2012. In that instance, the accident occurred at the Farallon Islands off the coast of San Francisco, killed five sailors, and led the Coast Guard to temporarily suspend racing in the Pacific Ocean off Northern California. Both events speak to the fact that boat racing, whether under sail or motor power, can be both an exhilarating and deadly pursuit.
— May 4, 2012 3:52 p.m.
Stone to Rogue Beer Tour Companies: You're Cut Off!
A well intentioned friend of ours took us there on the last trip up to the states a little over a month ago, but it was such an overcrowded and overpriced 'zoo' that we decided to go somewhere that might treat us more as valued patrons rather than cattle. A quick drive over to Fish House Veracruz in San Marcos solved the problem. The kicker is that I was still able to enjoy a delightfully chilled pint of Stone's brilliant I.P.A. along with my exquisite piece mesquite grilled baquetta fillet that had just been flown up fresh from the Sea of Cortez. Definitely a 'win - win' conclusion to our initial dilemma.
— May 4, 2012 11:03 a.m.
Ensenada Police Department: An Open Letter of Thanks
Yes, and there have also been several high profile cases involving law enforcement officers in southern California who have been charged for committing felonious acts over the past year as well. However, neither that statement nor yours has any type of connection or relativity regarding the positive and impressive experience that we had with members of the Ensenada Police Department. Is the glass half empty or half full? Interestingly, several of those who posted comments on the Baja Nomad website after reading my S.D Reader piece had a different response:
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=59…
— April 5, 2012 1:36 p.m.
Rosarito Beach Sportfishing, Alive and Well
Oh, do you know Hugo Torres? Well, I have known him and have worked together with him for years to bring more tourism to Baja Norte, so I might be in a little better position than you to tell the complete story of the structure’s history. It was, in fact, true that the original business plan to justify the substantial expenditure necessary to build the pier was initially based upon the erroneous belief that passengers could be successfully ferried from cruise ships to a land based platform that would allow them to spend some shore time in Playas Rosarito. Nonetheless, the construction of a sportfishing pier near the hotel was something that Hugo has dreamed of since he was a very young man; a place where both serious and occasional anglers would have a chance to take advantage of what is still a productive regional fishery. And prior to the economic downturn on both sides of the border, there has even been a plan in the works to augment the rocky outcroppings at the end of the pier with an artificial reef made of quarry rock and transplanted kelp to further enhance the marine life and adjacent ecosystem. Although that plan is currently on hold until such time when economic conditions will support it, the belief that it is a viable concept has never been abandoned. As one who has personally fished there often I can assure anyone who is interested in the subject that, at least to the hundreds of kids and families who leave the Rosarito Beach Hotel’s Sportfishing Pier every year with broad smiles on their faces whether they have any fish in their bucket or not, its building was one of the best things that has ever happened in providing a wholesome, highly accessible recreational option for their community.
— April 1, 2012 8:57 a.m.
when I first moved to Tijuana
Playas is a cool location because you are both extremely close to downtown Tijuana, and you can still enjoy the beach life as well as a killer view of Islas Coronados. But coastal rents are also quite reasonable from Playas Rosarito to down past Ensenada near Punta Banda at the southern end of Bahia de Todos Santos. Playas Rosarito now boasts a large Commercial Mexicana, a Wal-Mart and a Home Depot, as does Ensenada. We’ve lived down here for several years, but I’ve been coming to Baja Norte on a regular basis to fish, camp and otherwise recreate since the late 1950’s. As things continue to deteriorate both economically and socially north of the border, we are seeing more and more Americans choosing to relocate down here; particularly if they are near retirement age. LOTS of benefits in doing so, but probably one of the most tangible to San Diegans right now is the $2.98 price of gasoline. <:)/////><
— March 30, 2012 8:46 a.m.
La Bufadora, Baja – Escape from SoCal Sprawl
LOOKING FOR YET MORE INFORMATION ONLINE? GOOGLE: Tom Gatch Baja
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/mar/2…
— March 23, 2012 1:24 p.m.
La Bufadora, Baja – Escape from SoCal Sprawl
Thanks Tony, I'm glad you enjoyed reading it. You can read more of my Baja entries by following this link:
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/staff/tom-gatch/
Click the BAJA-4-U link near the book photo to access the complete blog. <:)////>< T
— March 23, 2012 12:59 p.m.
La Bufadora, Baja – Escape from SoCal Sprawl
Hola Joe, Please remember that my piece was focused on the wild land near the end of the peninsula, adjacent to La Bufadora and its famed blowhole. That area is still blissfully separated from the nearby populations in the poblados of Punta Banda, Esteban Cantu and the outskirts of the Ensenada further east. I am, however, sadly familiar with the debacle that occurred out on the Punta Banda Estero spit over a decade ago when dozens of American and Canadian residents were rousted from their homes by unscrupulous individuals, whose names I know but will not share here, who deliberately misled the victims of the scam into thinking that they had some sort of legal title to the properties where they resided. The then used their legitimate title and the existing Mexican legal system to unfairly evict the poor folks irrespective of how much they had invested. Although this horrific event got an inordinate amount of press coverage in southern California that continues to cloud our region to this day and devastated the lives of many foreign residents that were either retired or getting to retire, it did prompt the Mexican government to create a legal vehicle, the Fido Comiso. This is actually a bank trust, in which a certified Mexican bank acts as trustee and hold the title for the foreign resident in question. Since all Fido Comiso’s require that all of the property’s title and ownership documentation be verified prior to its acceptance, it offers a rock solid vehicle for foreigners living in Mexico to enjoy virtually all of the rights associated with outright ownership. The Fido Comiso can also be inherited by a pre designated heir. Additionally, foreign corporations can now be legally formed in Mexico without a partner who is a Mexican citizen. This offers a great opportunity to have your company’s name on the actual title, but it is an option that is only available to those who are truly operating a business. In regard to leasing land, Mexican law now only allows leases to run 10 years in length; not less, not more. Remember, all contracts in Mexico must be written in Spanish to be valid. Using a reputable real estate attorney in Tijuana or Ensenada is also highly advised. Just as it is north of the border, caveat emptor is a phrase that is essential to remember when purchasing anything. Thanks for your very valid comments, I hope that my response clarifies the range and limitations of the ethereal microscope that I employed when originally writing the piece. ~ Tom
— March 23, 2012 12:46 p.m.
Rock Fishermen do it with Mussel!
Of course anyone who has lived in California for any length of time knows that I wasn’t referring to taking mussels there within the last lines of my response to your previous comments, but rather, I was alluding to the ‘citation’ oriented mindset of California’s authorities working with the general public out in the field, as opposed to those who perform the very same job in Baja Norte. Once again, irrespective of your quotations, the casual use of a few mussels taken for bait by visiting anglers is not really a burning concern for Conapesca, they fully realize that the practice exists. They are FAR more focused on true threats to the ecosystem by those Mexican nationals fishing commercially who harvest valuable resources like spiny lobster or abalone illegally, out of season or without a valid license and then sell the product on the black market for a lower price. Of course, if you possessed very much knowledge about the way things really work on a day to day basis down here, you would have already known that. By the way, my numerous writings that promote Baja as a great place to travel, recreate, vacation or eventually retire are well known and are very much appreciated by many of those who are in prominent positions within Baja California’s governing body. They fully realize that my work is important, because it offers a viable counterbalance to the negative barrage of comments that generally come from folks such as you.
— March 21, 2012 2:09 p.m.
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Dryw Keltz
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Ken Leighton
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Joseph O'Brien
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This Week’s
Reader
This Week’s
Reader
Mexican government working to allow foreign ownership of beach property
Ándale pues! ;-)— May 14, 2013 1 p.m.
A TALE OF TWO LEGENDS
Sadly, this horrific event mirrored another similar yacht race tragedy that occurred only a few weeks before on April 14th 2012. In that instance, the accident occurred at the Farallon Islands off the coast of San Francisco, killed five sailors, and led the Coast Guard to temporarily suspend racing in the Pacific Ocean off Northern California. Both events speak to the fact that boat racing, whether under sail or motor power, can be both an exhilarating and deadly pursuit.— May 4, 2012 3:52 p.m.
Stone to Rogue Beer Tour Companies: You're Cut Off!
A well intentioned friend of ours took us there on the last trip up to the states a little over a month ago, but it was such an overcrowded and overpriced 'zoo' that we decided to go somewhere that might treat us more as valued patrons rather than cattle. A quick drive over to Fish House Veracruz in San Marcos solved the problem. The kicker is that I was still able to enjoy a delightfully chilled pint of Stone's brilliant I.P.A. along with my exquisite piece mesquite grilled baquetta fillet that had just been flown up fresh from the Sea of Cortez. Definitely a 'win - win' conclusion to our initial dilemma.— May 4, 2012 11:03 a.m.
Ensenada Police Department: An Open Letter of Thanks
Yes, and there have also been several high profile cases involving law enforcement officers in southern California who have been charged for committing felonious acts over the past year as well. However, neither that statement nor yours has any type of connection or relativity regarding the positive and impressive experience that we had with members of the Ensenada Police Department. Is the glass half empty or half full? Interestingly, several of those who posted comments on the Baja Nomad website after reading my S.D Reader piece had a different response: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=59…— April 5, 2012 1:36 p.m.
Rosarito Beach Sportfishing, Alive and Well
Oh, do you know Hugo Torres? Well, I have known him and have worked together with him for years to bring more tourism to Baja Norte, so I might be in a little better position than you to tell the complete story of the structure’s history. It was, in fact, true that the original business plan to justify the substantial expenditure necessary to build the pier was initially based upon the erroneous belief that passengers could be successfully ferried from cruise ships to a land based platform that would allow them to spend some shore time in Playas Rosarito. Nonetheless, the construction of a sportfishing pier near the hotel was something that Hugo has dreamed of since he was a very young man; a place where both serious and occasional anglers would have a chance to take advantage of what is still a productive regional fishery. And prior to the economic downturn on both sides of the border, there has even been a plan in the works to augment the rocky outcroppings at the end of the pier with an artificial reef made of quarry rock and transplanted kelp to further enhance the marine life and adjacent ecosystem. Although that plan is currently on hold until such time when economic conditions will support it, the belief that it is a viable concept has never been abandoned. As one who has personally fished there often I can assure anyone who is interested in the subject that, at least to the hundreds of kids and families who leave the Rosarito Beach Hotel’s Sportfishing Pier every year with broad smiles on their faces whether they have any fish in their bucket or not, its building was one of the best things that has ever happened in providing a wholesome, highly accessible recreational option for their community.— April 1, 2012 8:57 a.m.
when I first moved to Tijuana
Playas is a cool location because you are both extremely close to downtown Tijuana, and you can still enjoy the beach life as well as a killer view of Islas Coronados. But coastal rents are also quite reasonable from Playas Rosarito to down past Ensenada near Punta Banda at the southern end of Bahia de Todos Santos. Playas Rosarito now boasts a large Commercial Mexicana, a Wal-Mart and a Home Depot, as does Ensenada. We’ve lived down here for several years, but I’ve been coming to Baja Norte on a regular basis to fish, camp and otherwise recreate since the late 1950’s. As things continue to deteriorate both economically and socially north of the border, we are seeing more and more Americans choosing to relocate down here; particularly if they are near retirement age. LOTS of benefits in doing so, but probably one of the most tangible to San Diegans right now is the $2.98 price of gasoline. <:)/////><— March 30, 2012 8:46 a.m.
La Bufadora, Baja – Escape from SoCal Sprawl
LOOKING FOR YET MORE INFORMATION ONLINE? GOOGLE: Tom Gatch Baja http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/mar/2…— March 23, 2012 1:24 p.m.
La Bufadora, Baja – Escape from SoCal Sprawl
Thanks Tony, I'm glad you enjoyed reading it. You can read more of my Baja entries by following this link: http://www.sandiegoreader.com/staff/tom-gatch/ Click the BAJA-4-U link near the book photo to access the complete blog. <:)////>< T— March 23, 2012 12:59 p.m.
La Bufadora, Baja – Escape from SoCal Sprawl
Hola Joe, Please remember that my piece was focused on the wild land near the end of the peninsula, adjacent to La Bufadora and its famed blowhole. That area is still blissfully separated from the nearby populations in the poblados of Punta Banda, Esteban Cantu and the outskirts of the Ensenada further east. I am, however, sadly familiar with the debacle that occurred out on the Punta Banda Estero spit over a decade ago when dozens of American and Canadian residents were rousted from their homes by unscrupulous individuals, whose names I know but will not share here, who deliberately misled the victims of the scam into thinking that they had some sort of legal title to the properties where they resided. The then used their legitimate title and the existing Mexican legal system to unfairly evict the poor folks irrespective of how much they had invested. Although this horrific event got an inordinate amount of press coverage in southern California that continues to cloud our region to this day and devastated the lives of many foreign residents that were either retired or getting to retire, it did prompt the Mexican government to create a legal vehicle, the Fido Comiso. This is actually a bank trust, in which a certified Mexican bank acts as trustee and hold the title for the foreign resident in question. Since all Fido Comiso’s require that all of the property’s title and ownership documentation be verified prior to its acceptance, it offers a rock solid vehicle for foreigners living in Mexico to enjoy virtually all of the rights associated with outright ownership. The Fido Comiso can also be inherited by a pre designated heir. Additionally, foreign corporations can now be legally formed in Mexico without a partner who is a Mexican citizen. This offers a great opportunity to have your company’s name on the actual title, but it is an option that is only available to those who are truly operating a business. In regard to leasing land, Mexican law now only allows leases to run 10 years in length; not less, not more. Remember, all contracts in Mexico must be written in Spanish to be valid. Using a reputable real estate attorney in Tijuana or Ensenada is also highly advised. Just as it is north of the border, caveat emptor is a phrase that is essential to remember when purchasing anything. Thanks for your very valid comments, I hope that my response clarifies the range and limitations of the ethereal microscope that I employed when originally writing the piece. ~ Tom— March 23, 2012 12:46 p.m.
Rock Fishermen do it with Mussel!
Of course anyone who has lived in California for any length of time knows that I wasn’t referring to taking mussels there within the last lines of my response to your previous comments, but rather, I was alluding to the ‘citation’ oriented mindset of California’s authorities working with the general public out in the field, as opposed to those who perform the very same job in Baja Norte. Once again, irrespective of your quotations, the casual use of a few mussels taken for bait by visiting anglers is not really a burning concern for Conapesca, they fully realize that the practice exists. They are FAR more focused on true threats to the ecosystem by those Mexican nationals fishing commercially who harvest valuable resources like spiny lobster or abalone illegally, out of season or without a valid license and then sell the product on the black market for a lower price. Of course, if you possessed very much knowledge about the way things really work on a day to day basis down here, you would have already known that. By the way, my numerous writings that promote Baja as a great place to travel, recreate, vacation or eventually retire are well known and are very much appreciated by many of those who are in prominent positions within Baja California’s governing body. They fully realize that my work is important, because it offers a viable counterbalance to the negative barrage of comments that generally come from folks such as you.— March 21, 2012 2:09 p.m.