Reverse migration

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audsley

Guest
Now some might consider this a thread hijack, but I don't think so.

Who can tell us the story about the Mexican military takeover of the desalination/shrimp plant owned and operated by Coca Cola / University of Arizona / University of Sonora or some such paternership/conglomeration, next to Las Conchas, possibly in the building that now houses the marine life exhibits? I believe this happened back in 1980, and some people were pretty shaken by it at the time. I believe the effort ended with a Mexican version of a special ops or SWAT team pointing guns at a bunch of scientists and technicians.

Now I suppose this question could have gone into a Rocky Point history thread, but whenever someone brings up the subject of owning land in Mexico, I think of cases like this. My understanding of what happened is a little vague, but I recall some people being seriously outraged.

If the Mexican government can decide it's OK for Americans to own coastal land and enact a statute enabling it, can't they also decide later that it's no longer OK and force an American citizen to sell?
 
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mis2810

Guest
mexicoruss said:
http://www.theyucatantimes.com/2013/11/mexico-new-immigration-law-and-why-you-should-act-now/
"The intent of all this is to say that the Mexican government, people and economy are focused on growth, expansion and positive motion targeting a pent up market that is hungry for a better lifestyle in a more relaxed atmosphere at a much more affordable cost."
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I'm working on mine right now! I can't wait to take the Mexican citizenship test and get a Mexican passport!
 
mexicoruss

mexicoruss

Lovin it in RP!
Audsley, governments can do anything they want to do at any time they want to . It's been like that for thousands of years.....who cares? If you want to buy property in Mexico now you can. If you think that Mexico is less stable than the USA (ha ha) then maybe stay where you are. Mexico is making strong movements into a more global economy. I think the long term plan is simple. Grab the Americans escaping from the USA and give them a nice place to live and at the same time capture the wealth and brain trust that they bring to the table making a richer country for all. By far it's not perfect , nothing is but it is a step in the right direction.
 
mexicoruss

mexicoruss

Lovin it in RP!
If you would like audsley I can find articles of land grabs handed to USA residents by the US government too. Don't get too comfortable with where you are right now, the story is about to get very interesting!
 
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audsley

Guest
I'm looking forward to your stories, but can anyone tell me about the 1980 incident involving the shrimp/desalinazation plant next to Las Conchas?

And yes, any government can do those things. But the things governments do are long remembered. The incident I'm referring to happened in 1980, and it happened in Rocky Point, which makes it appropriate for discussion on the general forum. I'm not sure you could say the same about things the USA has done around the world.
 
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audsley

Guest
Yes, I read that one, but all I could find was Part 1. Couldn't find any Part 2 if it even ever existed.

I remember some friends being really horrified at the time, and one of them mentioned it again just the other day. But I their explanations seem to be pretty speculative, and I wondered if anyone on this forum knows the full story or close to it.

I did manage to find this old video that shows what Coke and the universities were doing in Rocky Point. It precedes the government takeover by four years.

Dr. Carl Hodges was still living as of 2011.

Doesn't anyone know what caused the deal to blow up, and how the Mexican government explained its actions?
 
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audsley

Guest
Thanks for running that one down, Terry C. Now I at least know what the ruckus was about. And I wonder what Rocky Point would be like today if the partnership venture had succeeded.
 
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MIRAMAR

Guest
I remember the federal government taking back cabins and property on Hawley Lake in Arizona, Madera Canyon, and Mt. Lemmon. I'm glad Mexicans can now stay in Mexico to support their families.
 
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audsley

Guest
For the record, the federal govt. did not take back cabins and property in those places. The owners had built cabins on land that didn't belong to them and were given the option of either abandoning the cabins or removing them from Indian reservation or forest service land.

I encourage people to visit Mexico, but I would never encourage a US citizen to buy any property there they aren't prepared to walk away from. The Mexican legal system is a black box with little transparency, and property rights do not get the same respect as in the US.
 
ben21

ben21

Guest
After reading those articles, this 1980 incident wasn't nearly as dramatic as originally described. Additionally, it mentions that it all blew over and the research continued.

Maricopa County residents are no strangers to SWAT teams. Sheriff Joe brings them in (along w/ news crews) every time he makes a simple arrest. Here area some great examples of how SWAT teams are used right in our own backyard.

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/arizona-sheriff-arpaio-and-steven-segal

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2004-08-05/news/dog-day-afternoon/full/

http://www.workers.org/2008/us/arpaio_1106/
 
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audsley

Guest
I disagree that it all blew over and that research continued.

"Today, the U of A Rocky Point research facility is no longer in operation..." (from Part 2)

Yes, the version told by Steve Schwab was a bit less lively than what I'd heard, but that isn't the point. The point is that one day there can be an amicable relationship with good intentions on both sides, and then the next day it can end suddenly and rudely.

I have nothing against SWAT teams, either here or in Mexico. It's all about context. Some folks don't seem to do context very well.
 
ben21

ben21

Guest
"After some chest puffing, apologizing and whatever other inducements are needed for negotiating, all was well once again in Rocky Point, with the facility returning to normal by the end of the week and the U of A researchers returning to work."

Of course the place isn't operating today, but it sounds like that is due to Coca Cola investors, not the SWAT team...
 
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JimMcG

Guest
Perhaps someone from Las Conchas could expand upon this, but my recollection was that the HOA and residents lost substantial amounts of money in trying to build a desalination plant for their own use, when the contractor and others failed to perform, leaving it defunct. I'm not aware of any military involvement in this particular situation.
 
playaperro

playaperro

El Pirata
JimMcG said:
Perhaps someone from Las Conchas could expand upon this, but my recollection was that the HOA and residents lost substantial amounts of money in trying to build a desalination plant for their own use, when the contractor and others failed to perform, leaving it defunct. I'm not aware of any military involvement in this particular situation.
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Actually it was the Hoa CEO's, acting as a contractor, ripping off the residents, never a dull moment with Francisco Hernandez taking property with the hoa's blessing.
 
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Arizzzona

Guest
And this past week...

http://www.azfamily.com/news/Military-training-exercises-underway-in-skies-over-Valley-232604101.html

Now, if this was going on in PP there'd be quite a ruckus about it.




ben21 said:
After reading those articles, this 1980 incident wasn't nearly as dramatic as originally described. Additionally, it mentions that it all blew over and the research continued.

Maricopa County residents are no strangers to SWAT teams. Sheriff Joe brings them in (along w/ news crews) every time he makes a simple arrest. Here area some great examples of how SWAT teams are used right in our own backyard.

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/arizona-sheriff-arpaio-and-steven-segal

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2004-08-05/news/dog-day-afternoon/full/

http://www.workers.org/2008/us/arpaio_1106/
Click to expand...
 
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