Before you even think about buying property National land titles, ejidos, bank trusts and more...

View Poll Results: KUSI TV Show Poll: What should Woooosh do?
Yes. Do it and fully promote Rosarito Beach 1 4.00%
Yes. Do it but only promote "Baja" not Rosarito. 14 56.00%
NO. We recently found a leg on the beach, Its not safe to come down. 1 4.00%
NO. What we went through isn't worth it and we can't recommended it. 5 20.00%
YES, but not right now. We've gone skiing- catch you in Spring. 4 16.00%
Voters: 25. This poll is closed

Old 01-07-13, 10:39 AM   #1
Woooosh
 
Woooosh's Avatar
 
Status: Moderator
Join Date: 02-19-10
Location: Rosarito Centro
Posts: 1,262

Woooosh is on a distinguished road



Default KUSI TV Show Poll: What should Woooosh do?

KUSI TV Show Poll: What should Woooosh do?

KUSI wants to do a live "Good Morning San Diego" broadcast from our house later this month as part of their showcase of the San Diego Home/Gardens Lifestyles 2013 Homes of the Year.

I don't need to tell anyone on this board the "back story" of our struggle here. Not only has Rosarito not been supportive of our family, they have actively worked against us in our efforts to protect the beach and provide a disabled beach access point. The Rosarito Police have not protected us from violence and the ex-pat community just elected Tila Ortiz to the board (although as a third alternate board member) of the United Society of Baja. Hugo Torres did nothing to help us when he was Mayor; he tries to change the image of Baja with his "Baja Image Committee", but we feel he is part of the problem and his family and political allies supported the land fraud against American Investors with the Playa Bonita Condo as recently as 2011.

I suppose we can support "Baja" in general, but not Rosarito Beach. I could play along and promote Rosarito Beach for the show- but the truth and our back story will eventually hit the newspapers and we'd just look like hypocritical idiots. The truth is obvious to us: Rosarito can't or doesn't want to fix the problems, they just want to project the Image that they have. So if you were us... how would you answer the call?

So what do we tell KUSI?

1. YES. Everything is Beachy in Rosarito! We do the show and promote Rosarito!
2. YES. Our Rosarito experience sucks, but we can support Baja- we do the show with a careful script that omits any support for Rosarito Beach.
3. NO. We found a womans leg on the beach recently. It's not safe here. Just stay away!
4. NO. We accomplished this despite all odds and don't think it's good idea to promote Rosarito or Baja to ex-pats and investors given our experience. A gem in a sewer.
5. YES, But not now. Sorry, Craig and Alonzo are at their Colorado home skiing this month, perhaps we can do a Cinqo de Mayo show from the house in the spring?

What the magazine shows-vs-reality:







The beautiful photos of the house are one thing- watching raw sewage run onto the beach in front of it is another. Not really a photogenic area, even without body parts on the beach. They "photo shopped" us into the photo to cover the area of sewage runoff- but you can't do that on live TV. We're much better off having people think the area looks like the photos- not the ugly reality. If Rosarito gets it's shit together and fixes the street and improves the beach out front- a live show from here in May would be possible. We have been contacted by a filming company who wants to use the house for movies and TV shows- but those people know how to stage everything.

This was a huge opportunity for the "image" of Baja- but Rosarito isn't ready for it. The fact that we have been asking them for help for four years with no answer means it really isn't important to them. So why bother? They got what they wanted- an illegal condo tower on the beach Torres tried to sell fraudulently and taking concession land from the protection of a Mexican family to give to a con-artist Texana to sell. You can't fix stupid and we can't honestly promote it. But what do we say in public?
__________________
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead to JFK (maybe)

Last edited by Woooosh; 01-07-13 at 11:08 AM.
Woooosh
This message has been deleted by Woooosh.
Old 01-07-13, 11:29 AM   #2
BajaGringo
 
BajaGringo's Avatar
 
Status: Queso Grande
Join Date: 02-09-09
Location: San Quintin
Posts: 7,148

BajaGringo is on a distinguished road



Default Re: KUSI TV Show Poll: What should Woooosh do?

After all you have been through...

If you do the show to only show your home and all the hard work you have invested I would have said yes but you know they will try to use this as an opportunity to promote the area as well and why should you give the same community that has not supported you a free ride???

I say go to Colorado on vacation - my sister just bought a home there...
__________________

TalkBaja.com - Where everybody knows your name and nobody stays on topic
...
Old 01-07-13, 12:21 PM   #3
Woooosh
 
Woooosh's Avatar
 
Status: Moderator
Join Date: 02-19-10
Location: Rosarito Centro
Posts: 1,262

Woooosh is on a distinguished road



Default Re: KUSI TV Show Poll: What should Woooosh do?

Quote:
Originally Posted by BajaGringo
After all you have been through...

If you do the show to only show your home and all the hard work you have invested I would have said yes but you know they will try to use this as an opportunity to promote the area as well and why should you give the same community that has not supported you a free ride???

I say go to Colorado on vacation - my sister just bought a home there...
Spoiler alert: I put this poll up on another board and 7 of 10 picked the "gone skiing" option. I'm still open to promoting Baja- there must be some area where Americans are not disrespected and real estate investments are safe.

"why should you give the same community that has not supported you a free ride???" Yeah BajGringo, that's the tough part. They have known about this award for two months and have not acknowledged it. If anyone but Alonzo and I had won this award, Hugo Torres would be here filming a "Baja Image Committee" video promotion- huh? Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

All we did was build a nice house and try to protect the beach out front for the people. OK, we went a step further and installed a Disabled Beach Access and wanted to build a "Beach Fitness Trail". Rosarito Beach had a funny way of saying Thank You and it's all on video no less. We never released a finished YouTube video in English, because I was always hoping if I didn't embarrass Rosarito Beach too much NOB- they would come around. Making one now is like beating a dead horse. We had 14 Mexican families come together and write letters to support our beach projects but Rosarito Beach doesn't care what Mexicans want either. What a shame for the people. It's all about money; until the King's of Rosarito get paid- nothing good will happen for anyone here.
__________________
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead to JFK (maybe)

Last edited by Woooosh; 01-07-13 at 01:39 PM.
Old 01-08-13, 07:10 AM   #4
BigWooo
 
BigWooo's Avatar
 
Join Date: 04-08-09
Location: Southern Baja
Posts: 726

BigWooo is on a distinguished road



Default Re: KUSI TV Show Poll: What should Woooosh do?

Can you use the TV show as a "carrot" or "hammer" to get anything accomplished? If you think it's possible, I'd start some conversation with the players to see if there are any possibilities.

If you don't think you can accomplish anything positive to improve your (or the Cities') situation through the show...I'd move on and forget it all together and go skiing.
Old 01-08-13, 08:49 AM   #5
kate
 
kate's Avatar
 
Join Date: 04-06-09
Location: La Paz, BCS
Posts: 553

kate is on a distinguished road



Default Re: KUSI TV Show Poll: What should Woooosh do?

I'm not familiar with either place, so it's hard to understand why a San Diego station would want to promote Rosarito Beach. Can't you agree to showcase your home (beautiful, BTW) without promoting anything? Maybe you could take the approach that you moved there for family reasons and be noncommittal about the rest.

I love the pic of the dog leaping into the pool!
Old 01-08-13, 10:15 AM   #6
bwall
 
bwall's Avatar
 
Join Date: 12-12-12
Posts: 179

bwall is on a distinguished road



Default Re: KUSI TV Show Poll: What should Woooosh do?

Quote:
Originally Posted by BigWooo
Can you use the TV show as a "carrot" or "hammer" to get anything accomplished? If you think it's possible, I'd start some conversation with the players to see if there are any possibilities.

If you don't think you can accomplish anything positive to improve your (or the Cities') situation through the show...I'd move on and forget it all together and go skiing.
+1
Old 01-08-13, 10:31 AM   #7
Woooosh
 
Woooosh's Avatar
 
Status: Moderator
Join Date: 02-19-10
Location: Rosarito Centro
Posts: 1,262

Woooosh is on a distinguished road



Default Re: KUSI TV Show Poll: What should Woooosh do?

Quote:
Originally Posted by BigWooo
Can you use the TV show as a "carrot" or "hammer" to get anything accomplished? If you think it's possible, I'd start some conversation with the players to see if there are any possibilities.

If you don't think you can accomplish anything positive to improve your (or the Cities') situation through the show...I'd move on and forget it all together and go skiing.
That's interesting. We've been doing the carrot thing for years- but these Mexicans prefer cash to veggies. Delaying the segment until Cinco de Mayo could give Rosarito time and a reason to at least fix the sewage running down the street into the ocean- I'm not sure showing our area of Rosarito as it is now would be helpful to Rosarito attracting tourists or investors. But maybe if we showed the truth: sewage running down the street and the illegal buildings going up in front of peoples "oceanfront" homes it would encourage people to look elsewhere to visit, spend money and invest.

The people of Rosarito are suffering from lack of work. Most moved here to take advantage of the higher wages of the American-focused tourist industry. It is almost twice as expensive for Mexicans to live here as on the Mexican mainland and many just can't survive here right now. Showing the truth doesn't help them, quite the opposite. But they know how corrupt their gov't is and probably have no expectation of that changing- that's why there are 11 million Mexicans in the USA. Mexico is stuck on stupid from what we can see, and our view has been crystal clear.
__________________
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead to JFK (maybe)
Old 01-08-13, 11:52 AM   #8
bwall
 
bwall's Avatar
 
Join Date: 12-12-12
Posts: 179

bwall is on a distinguished road



Default Re: KUSI TV Show Poll: What should Woooosh do?

I like BigWooo's suggestion: 'help me help you!' Watch the intro to "Jerry Maguire" for inspiration.

I'll start the list:

Reasons for Rosarito to Fix the Sewer:

1) We can now show Rosarito in a positive light--promotes tourism, which promotes jobs.
2) We can also mention the person who fixed it (every politician loves to hear their name on TV, right?) perhaps even in another capacity ('working with the city has been difficult but rewarding. My special thank you to X') You will probably have to boost his ego in some capacity. Distasteful I'm sure, but it's how deals get done.
3) It needs to be fixed sometime and it's not going to fix itself. Ignoring it won't make it go away.
4) No more sewage on the beach? Not sure how persuasive this argument is, however.

But, because everyone likes choices, you could also say what will happen if they do nothing:

1) You will still show your house in the best light b/c you are proud of it--very fine Mexican craftsmen, supplies, etc. Talk about the quality of the work, etc.
2) You will tell everyone to stay away b/c it's been a nightmare.
3) You will state your frustration at getting simple things fixed, etc.
4) I think that you can come up with a very long list of 'Hammers' w/o my help.

And then you could speak to the person in charge and tell him you really, really, really, want to talk about the good work this guy is doing, how great Rosarito is, only really want the sewer fixed, nothing else, just some simple stuff, don't want to cause trouble, etc. But, the person has a choice: good press or bad press.

By giving him a choice he will
1) feel empowered and as if he is in control, not be presented with fait accompli.
2) not be surprised when the negative press comes.

Ultimately, it comes down to finding the pressure points and applying pressure 'without passion or prejudice' as they say.

All easier said than done. You are fighting the good fight. Do not give up!
Old 01-08-13, 12:32 PM   #9
Woooosh
 
Woooosh's Avatar
 
Status: Moderator
Join Date: 02-19-10
Location: Rosarito Centro
Posts: 1,262

Woooosh is on a distinguished road



Default Re: KUSI TV Show Poll: What should Woooosh do?

All very good points. If Rosarito or Baja State tourism had responded to even one of our 50 or so letters over the years I would still hold out some hope for hammer therapy. We met with the Rosarito Mayors office when Robles came into office, but nothing. When the city openly acted against Alonzo's legal rights for the beach we filed complaints with the local Sindicatura. Still nothing. They were conned by a lady who swore under oath to be a Mexicana and the long time owner of the land. She had embedded and endeared herself to them by teaching the police English and joining the expat social clubs. When they learned the truth about her they didn't care. She admits she was asked for bribes. How does one fight that level of corruption and dishonesty? You can't. She had the Rosarito Ministerial Police guard her house (with weapons showing) so PROFEPA could not evict her. She has the military come to her house at night to intimidate the neighbors. And she is not even a Mexican. How does one begin to fix that? The revelation she is American-born is new. Perhaps her glow is wearing off but she is the best con artist I have ever met- and having been a casino executive- I have seen many. This lady even asked an auxiliary policeman if he knew someone she could hire to hurt us- and that is in an official PGJE charge we filed agaisnt her- but nothing ever happened. They love her. Maybe it's us.
__________________
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead to JFK (maybe)
Old 01-08-13, 12:58 PM   #10
bwall
 
bwall's Avatar
 
Join Date: 12-12-12
Posts: 179

bwall is on a distinguished road



Default Re: KUSI TV Show Poll: What should Woooosh do?

ok .. . .those are very good points. . . . I can see why the hammer therapy might not work. . . .. .I guess that is the fundamental root problem: how to make the politicians responsive to citizens' requests? How to solve that problem?
Old 01-08-13, 01:27 PM   #11
CDN_JOHNNY
 
CDN_JOHNNY's Avatar
 
Join Date: 05-18-11
Location: La Paz
Posts: 227

CDN_JOHNNY is on a distinguished road



Default Re: KUSI TV Show Poll: What should Woooosh do?

Woooosh

I guess the big question for you is: "Will it ever change here in Rosarito?"

Keep in mind that typically what hits the air is not your choice and they do alot of editing before it hits the air.

I think if it was me I would be asking a whole bunch of questions and subject to the answers would probably be "On Vacation elswhere" / "No Signed Release, No Showcase of my house!"

PS: I agree with Kate that is a 9.5 for the Doggie dive into the pool! :)
Old 01-08-13, 01:35 PM   #12
Woooosh
 
Woooosh's Avatar
 
Status: Moderator
Join Date: 02-19-10
Location: Rosarito Centro
Posts: 1,262

Woooosh is on a distinguished road



Default Re: KUSI TV Show Poll: What should Woooosh do?

The answer to that is dollars. That simple. Everyone has told us we need to pay bribes- even to do good things for the people. Hard for me to wrap my brain around that. Our family won't pay bribes and we haven't been asked for one- only had it "suggested" to move things along. We find it repulsive and a cousin of Alonzo was beheaded for not paying a bribe for his restaurant.
__________________
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead to JFK (maybe)
Old 01-08-13, 02:33 PM   #13
bwall
 
bwall's Avatar
 
Join Date: 12-12-12
Posts: 179

bwall is on a distinguished road



Default Re: KUSI TV Show Poll: What should Woooosh do?

Well, ok, I guess I meant to pose the question 'without bribes'. . . . .

How to get the government to be responsive even without paying bribes?

After some consideration, I remember hearing about a woman in Juarez (?) who was protesting the death of her daughter outside a government building. She was very brave and courageous. She had more balls than most men I know. Her protest lasted over a year, then one day they came and killed her in front of the government office. She knew her life was in danger as she had received death threats. Her response was 'You've already taken my daughter. There is nothing else you can do to me.'

As you put very well, Wooosh, 'how does one begin to fix that'? Dunno. . . .
Old 01-08-13, 04:13 PM   #14
Woooosh
 
Woooosh's Avatar
 
Status: Moderator
Join Date: 02-19-10
Location: Rosarito Centro
Posts: 1,262

Woooosh is on a distinguished road



Default Re: KUSI TV Show Poll: What should Woooosh do?

Quote:
Originally Posted by bwall
Well, ok, I guess I meant to pose the question 'without bribes'. . . . .

How to get the government to be responsive even without paying bribes?

After some consideration, I remember hearing about a woman in Juarez (?) who was protesting the death of her daughter outside a government building. She was very brave and courageous. She had more balls than most men I know. Her protest lasted over a year, then one day they came and killed her in front of the government office. She knew her life was in danger as she had received death threats. Her response was 'You've already taken my daughter. There is nothing else you can do to me.'

As you put very well, Wooosh, 'how does one begin to fix that'? Dunno. . . .
They usually "fix it" by silencing the messenger. That, they know how to do. The Spanish taught them corruption and cronyism and they won't give it up to save their own country from the narcos- let alone revive tourism. No one wants to be the last one to take a bribe I suppose.
__________________
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead to JFK (maybe)
Old 01-08-13, 05:17 PM   #15
Marty Cortez
 
Marty Cortez's Avatar
 
Status: `
Join Date: 05-08-09
Posts: 3,676

Marty Cortez is on a distinguished road



Default Re: KUSI TV Show Poll: What should Woooosh do?

You won't need a good memory if you don't tell a fib...

I voted #4.
Old 01-08-13, 06:50 PM   #16
Woooosh
 
Woooosh's Avatar
 
Status: Moderator
Join Date: 02-19-10
Location: Rosarito Centro
Posts: 1,262

Woooosh is on a distinguished road



Default Re: KUSI TV Show Poll: What should Woooosh do?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Marty Cortez
You won't need a good memory if you don't tell a fib...

I voted #4.
Yup. It would do no good anyways- everything we went through is either on YouTube or in the 7,000 posts I've made on the local boards. No turning the truth back now. We thought thousands of people reading, seeing and knowing the truth would make a difference; but they really don't care in Rosarito Beach- there is no shame in being crooked or even violent to get ahead. That bothers most of us- and it certainly isn't in the "Please Move to Baja" brochure. I appreciate the feedback with your vote Marty. Thanks.
__________________
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead to JFK (maybe)

Last edited by Woooosh; 01-08-13 at 07:06 PM.
Old 01-09-13, 08:48 AM   #17
BajaGringo
 
BajaGringo's Avatar
 
Status: Queso Grande
Join Date: 02-09-09
Location: San Quintin
Posts: 7,148

BajaGringo is on a distinguished road



Default Re: KUSI TV Show Poll: What should Woooosh do?

Looks like Rosarito Beach isn't getting much empathy from this group...
__________________

TalkBaja.com - Where everybody knows your name and nobody stays on topic
...
Old 01-09-13, 05:44 PM   #18
Woooosh
 
Woooosh's Avatar
 
Status: Moderator
Join Date: 02-19-10
Location: Rosarito Centro
Posts: 1,262

Woooosh is on a distinguished road



Default Re: KUSI TV Show Poll: What should Woooosh do?

Quote:
Originally Posted by BajaGringo
Looks like Rosarito Beach isn't getting much empathy from this group...
I'm surprised by that too. Support for Baja, but Rosarito Beach- not so much ... so far.

I was hoping Rosarito Beach could benefit from this "2013 Homes of the Year" award and the "nascent Rosarito renaissance" (a comeback) the article heralded. What a great springboard I gave them; we'll see if there's water in the pool. We went out of our way to promote Rosarito Beach including the names and web-links for the builder and all the Rosarito craftsmen on Blvd. Popotla (The Artists Boulevard) . Hopefully they get a lot more work from it. They were all very appreciative of the gesture.
__________________
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead to JFK (maybe)

Last edited by Woooosh; 01-09-13 at 05:55 PM.
Old 01-09-13, 07:38 PM   #19
BajaGringo
 
BajaGringo's Avatar
 
Status: Queso Grande
Join Date: 02-09-09
Location: San Quintin
Posts: 7,148

BajaGringo is on a distinguished road



Default Re: KUSI TV Show Poll: What should Woooosh do?

And that is the truly sad part in all of this. There are many well intenioned, honest and hard working people n the Rosarito Beach area trying to change things for the positive but they seem to be drowned out by the more wealthy/powerful/politically connected who have contrary interests.

I definitely think that Rosarito is "stuck on stupid"...
__________________

TalkBaja.com - Where everybody knows your name and nobody stays on topic
...
Old 01-09-13, 08:09 PM   #20
Woooosh
 
Woooosh's Avatar
 
Status: Moderator
Join Date: 02-19-10
Location: Rosarito Centro
Posts: 1,262

Woooosh is on a distinguished road



Default Re: KUSI TV Show Poll: What should Woooosh do?

Yet they certainly want the "image" to change. If they spent as much effort actually changing instead of having committees and PR companies trying to make us think they have changed- they'd be a lot better off. They don't seem to see corruption and cronyism as a problem. To Americans at least, a level playing field is fundamental for investment to occur.
__________________
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead to JFK (maybe)

Last edited by Woooosh; 01-09-13 at 08:39 PM.





Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
KUSI Amputated Baja: Petition BluChunx General Discussion 11 07-04-11 05:13 PM
Poll johnhearst General Discussion 1 01-25-11 08:23 PM