**IEE Faces Tight Timeline to Call June 1 Plebiscite**
The State Electoral Institute (IEE) of Baja California may need to make a quick decision within the week to initiate a plebiscite scheduled for June 1. This measure would allow citizens to vote on the grant for constructing toll lanes on Boulevard 2000. This urgency stems from a request by opposition groups challenging a recent decree from Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda issued on January 17, granting a concession for the construction without public consultation.
The opposition, which includes notable figures like Federal Deputy Evangelina Moreno and former mayoral candidate José Ángel Peñaflor, submitted over 18,000 signatures on March 26 to fulfill the requirement for holding the plebiscite during the upcoming judiciary elections.
According to Baja California’s Citizen Participation Law, plebiscite procedures must be publicly called no less than 60 days before voting. Thus, IEE is under pressing time constraints to authenticate signatures, work with the National Electoral Institute for verification, and announce the plebiscite if they wish to adhere to the legal timeline.
Historically, past plebiscite and referenda requests in the region, such as the Constellation Brands case, have taken between 39 to 70 days to process. Meeting the current deadline legally would require this process to be completed in under a week – typically a lengthy procedure expected to take two to three months.
**In Other News**
**Infonavit to Build Affordable Housing in Baja California Amid Legal Challenges**
March 28, 2025: In a strategic response to growing housing needs, particularly for low-income workers in Baja California, Infonavit announced plans to construct 35,000 new homes. This initiative aligns with broader efforts to provide affordable living arrangements in areas with increasing population density, such as Tijuana. However, the development has encountered legal barriers, with Infonavit preparing lawsuits against unjust eviction practices that have affected over 373,000 individuals across Mexico.
These construction plans are part of the wider State Housing Plan which, despite its ambitious scope, faces spatial challenges. The Mexican National Association of Real Estate Developers (CANADEVI) has already expressed concerns regarding the limited space available in Tijuana for such extensive projects.
In parallel efforts, the revocation of the concession to host the Californias Fair is in process. This shows a recurring theme where governmental and private enterprises face public scrutiny and legal obstacles in Baja California. As these situations develop, both housing and public infrastructure projects remain under the watchful eye of authorities and the communities they aim to serve.