**Residents of Ampliación Moderna Park Rally in Support of Neighbors Accused of Trespass**
Ensenada community members from the Ampliación Moderna neighborhood are standing in solidarity with fellow residents who are facing legal accusations from a real estate company. Accompanied by their legal representative, the group visited the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) on October 14th to express their support for three residents charged with trespass by Inmobiliaria El Vigía.
The residents gathered again on October 15th, armed with banners and wearing themed t-shirts, to demonstrate outside the FGE. Among them was Dina Montoya, a representative of the Ampliación Moderna Neighborhood Committee. She explained that their primary aim was to gain access to the investigation files to better understand the situation, emphasizing that three residents, including herself, share the same legal predicament.
The controversy started in September of the previous year when Inmobiliaria El Vigía attempted to enclose and claim land that the community contends is designated as a public green space, as evidenced by historical deeds and documentation. Despite a definitive suspension currently in place by a court, the developers maintain control over the area, heightening tensions within the neighborhood.
Ramón Campos, a criminal defense lawyer, argues this legal action is a tactic to intimidate the community into relinquishing the park. He insists the criminal accusations lack substantial grounds, as the conditions for preventive detention—such as flight risk or lack of community ties—are not met according to national penal code standards.
The community fears the developers are pushing for a reparative agreement that would mean handing over the park, a significant loss for public spaces in the area. As they continue to review the case files, Campos and his legal team aim to bolster their defense strategy to protect the residents’ interests.
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**Related Developments: Tensions in Ensenada Over Public Spaces**
In recent developments related to community-led land disputes in Ensenada, there has been an outbreak of controversies involving displacements intended for real estate developments. A similar scenario occurred in a neighboring sector where another real estate company attempted to fence off land that had served as a communal recreational space for decades. Respondents have voiced their intent to legally contest these claims, urging the local government to recognize and protect public spaces to prevent further loss.
Moreover, this surge in land conflicts is sparking broader discussions on urban development and the accountability of city planning departments. The rising number of residents defending what they consider public spaces reflects a growing resistance to handing over land to private corporations without proper consultations and mutual agreements with the community. Local officials are being called upon to mediate and find equitable solutions that align with public interest and sustainable urban planning principles.
The community’s collective activism is anticipated to influence future policymaking regarding land use and the preservation of shared community environments, potentially setting a precedent for other regions facing similar challenges.