San Miguel FAQ

August 10, 2019:

• Extortion closes bars in SMA,
• SMA Government denies extortion,
• Chase Bank forgiving Canadian credit card debt,
• Several Mexico States near Water “Day Zero”,
• Work at the SMA Obraje Bridge,
• Entrepreneur Support Program,
• Occupy SMA Video Screening,
• México’s Golden Age of Cinema,
• Mexico is finally the US’s number-one trading partner,
• ICYMI: In case you missed it ...,
  
  • Stirling Dickinson Escuela de Arte art exhibit,
  • Garage Sale for the Boy's Orphanage in Mexiquito,
  • Street Closure August 12 - 17,
  • La Pulga Flea Market August 18.

Crime gang extortion closes bars in San Miguel de Allende
Cantinas in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, are closing down because of extortion by crime gangs.

Bar owners who spoke to the newspaper El Universal on the condition of anonymity say that suitcases filled with marijuana and cocaine were left in their premises three weeks ago, accompanied by notes saying they had between 22 days and a month to sell the drugs. ...

The owners also said they did not report the extortion to the authorities because of fear of retaliation similar to that which took place earlier this month in the nearby city of Celaya. On August 5, after Celaya business owners staged a demonstration to protest extortion, businesses were attacked and four people were killed.
Mexico News Daily Crime gang extortion closes bars in San Miguel de Allende.

For fear, they closed five canteens, located in the first square of the city.

Anonymously, for fear of reprisals, merchants declared that they preferred to close their businesses before the deadline that came in the handwritten note on a notebook sheet, which in some cases was up to a month, was met.

They have not denounced the authorities for fear and only opted to throw away the bags with the illicit substances and close their businesses. At least 80 people working in these sites lost their jobs.
First reported by Canteens closed for fear of extortion in San Miguel de Allende (sp).

Government of San Miguel de Allende says it is ‘False’ that there are extortions in downtown cantinas
After a review ..., we found 32 nightclubs in operation in the downtown area.

The Municipal Administration communicates that the information circulating about closed canteens, the result of the alleged extortion in the first square of the city, is false. The supervision of the municipality has not received any report of this type of situation ...
Government of San Miguel de Allende says it is ‘False’ that there are extortions in downtown cantinas (sp).

The Municipal Administration informed through a statement that the information circulating about closed canteens, the result of the alleged extortion in the first square of the city, is false. They argue the bars that are closed "do not open constantly". ...

The supervision of the municipality has not received any report of this type of situation; Likewise, it informs the company that if such were the case, such complaints would be channeled to the Attorney General of the State of Guanajuato, who is the body responsible for investigating and resolving said situations. ...

On the other hand, the National Chamber of the Restaurant of Restaurants and Spiced Foods (CANIRAC), San Miguel de Allende delegation, manifested itself in a statement that none of its members has so far been threatened by any organized crime.
Denies extortion municipality. 'Closed canteens do not open constantly' (sp).
See also: Businessmen deny closure of bars in San Miguel de Allende for extortion (sp).

'It's crazy': Chase Bank forgiving all debt owed by its Canadian credit card customers
Bank says this was the best way to exit Canada after folding its Amazon and Marriott Visa cards.

U.S.-based Chase Bank is forgiving all outstanding debt owed by users of its two Canadian credit cards: the Amazon.ca Rewards Visa and the Marriott Rewards Premier Visa. The bank retired both cards last year and said it's wiping out cardholders' debt to complete its exit from the Canadian credit card market.
'It's crazy': Chase Bank forgiving all debt owed by its Canadian credit card customers

Several states of Mexico near “Day Zero”
There are several states in Mexico that could arrive very soon to the so-called “Day Zero”.

“Day Zero” is known at the time when a city runs out of water to meet the needs of all its inhabitants. ...

According to figures from the Aqueduct program, from the WRI, Baja California Sur is the entity with the highest degree of ‘water stress’, with a score of 5 (the maximum possible).

Other states that are in the same range are Guanajuato (4.94) ...
Several states of Mexico near 'Day Zero'

The works at the SMA Obraje Bridge
The Municipal Government through the Directorate of Infrastructure and Public Works, in coordination with staff of the Hotel "Live Aqua", carry out works of dignification of the bridge that is located on the Obraje Road, a side of the José Vasconcelos educational institution.
The works at the SMA Obraje Bridge (sp).

Delivery of Entrepreneur Support Program Certificates 2019
The Municipal Government, through the Directorate of Welfare and Social Development in conjunction with Economic Development, International Relations and NGOs, delivered 245 support with the programs of "Support for Entrepreneurs 2019" and "Let's Start Together" to microentrepreneurs San Miguel, with an investment of 2 million 600 thousand pesos, for the benefit of more than ...
Delivery of Entrepreneur Support Program Certificates 2019 (sp).

Occupy SMA Video Screening Allows You to Meet This Year’s Goldman Prize Winners
Calls to protect the planet are growing louder, but around the world, those defending their land and our environment are being silenced. More than three such people were murdered on average every week in 2018, with attacks driven by destructive industries like mining, logging, and agribusiness. Here in México, 14 environmental leaders ...
Occupy SMA Video Screening Allows You to Meet This Year’s Goldman Prize Winners.

Screening of Seminal Films Celebrates México’s Golden Age of Cinema
By John Wharton For this month of Mexican heritage, Shelter celebrates the Época del Oro or the Golden Age of Mexican cinema, the period from 1936 to 1959. This was when Mexican cinema reached its artistic peak, starting with the classic Vámonos con Pancho Villa (1936), directed by Fernando de Fuentes. This was the first ...
Screening of Seminal Films Celebrates México’s Golden Age of Cinema.

Mexico is finally the US’s number-one trading partner
After a slow and steady rise, Mexico is now the US’s number-one trading partner.

According to the US Census, for the first six months of 2019, the US and Mexico traded $309 billion worth of goods, just over 15% of all US trade. This puts Mexico just above Canada ($306 billion) and China ($271 billion), making Japan a distant fourth ($110 billion).

If Mexico finishes 2019 as the US’s top trading partner, it will be the first time it will be recorded as ending a year in that spot.
Mexico is finally the US’s number-one trading partner.

ICYMI: In case you missed it

What's Happening
DiscoverSMA
QuePasaSanMiguel
Lokkal Events

Stirling Dickinson Escuela de Arte art exhibit
What: Stirling Dickinson Escuela de Arte art exhibit.
Where: University of Guanajuato art gallery San Miguel campus.
When: Grand opening was August 9. Exhibit continues through August 31.
Stirling Dickinson Escuela de Arte art exhibit.

Garage Sale for the Boy's Orphanage in Mexiquito
This Saturday, August 10 there will be a Garage Sale to benefit the Boy's Orphanage in Mexiquito.
Garage Sale.

Street Closure August 12 - 17
Monday 12 to August 17 CLOSURE OF STREETS: Street: Hernández Macías, section: Mesones a Canal. Street: Canal, section: Hernández Macías to Zacateros. Rehabilitation work in the drinking water network and tap replacement.

La Pulga Flea Market August 18
Sunday July 18, 11 am - 3 pm, Salón Los Pinos, Salida a Querétaro #145.
Since 2011. Free admission.
La Pulga Flea Market San Miguel

Google translations. News sites and Facebook pages are on our Links page.

More in the category News and Views.

Register or sign up for our daily email digest.