### Council Members Accuse Tijuana Mayor of Abuse of Authority
On August 7, 2024, Tijuana’s opposition council members filed a complaint against Mayor Montserrat Caballero Ramírez with the Baja California State Prosecutor’s Office, alleging “abuse of authority.”
The complaint was filed by council members Mónica Vázquez, Miriam Patricia Echeverría, Edgar Montiel, Marisol Hernández Sotelo, Erwin Areizaga, Alejandro Cabrera, and Claudia Casas. This group, including three members of the same political party as the mayor, presented their case under report number 0204-2024-33330.
The council members issued a joint statement: “Unfortunately, the council members of Tijuana’s XXIV City Council are experiencing abuse of authority by Mayor Montserrat Caballero Ramírez. She utilizes public resources to publicly belittle us because we oppose decisions that we believe harm the citizens of Tijuana. She has resorted to public insults through social media, her office, local media, and banners featuring our images to discredit us. We have repeatedly requested respect, but it seems she either ignores this principle or fears the repercussions of pending budgetary decisions involving 462 million pesos.”
Further explaining their decision to file the formal complaint, they stated: “We accuse her of political visual violence, vexation, and misappropriation of public funds to damage our image. We have provided evidence and requested precautionary measures to stop her conduct. We hope for a thorough investigation to determine if her actions constitute crimes that should be punished under the Penal Code.”
### Origin of the Conflict
The tension between the council members and the mayor began when the council members did not attend several City Council meetings scheduled throughout June and July. These sessions were intended to discuss the purchase of land for Fire Station No. 1 and the waiver of property tax fines and interest, which the council members claimed were a “smokescreen” for budgetary shifts totaling 462 million pesos. They also argued that the meetings aimed to transition public properties to private ownership, a move that cannot be executed due to the forthcoming administration change on October 1, when Ismael Burgueño Ruiz will take office as the new mayor.
The situation escalated to the point where Mayor Caballero threatened to remove the council members from their positions. “Even if it’s on the second to last or last day, I will remove them from office because they do not deserve to remain, given that they continue to receive their salaries. I revoked a minor privilege—access to an elevator—and that upset them, resulting in a meeting with me where they only complained about the loss of this privilege,” declared Caballero after a failed City Council session on July 22.
Subsequently, amid the ongoing disputes, firefighters from Station No. 1 were evicted from their premises on 5th Street, leading Caballero to place a banner with photos of the seven council members, plus Rogelia Arzola, in Plaza del Policía in Area 3 on Avenida Aguascalientes in the Cacho neighborhood, which is reportedly the new location for the fire station.
### Additional Context
**Council Members Boycott City Council Sessions, Affecting City Governance**
Previously, the council members’ absence from multiple City Council sessions led to governance paralysis in Tijuana, as key decisions on public safety and budgetary matters could not be addressed. According to Mayor Caballero, the non-attendance was a deliberate tactic to delay crucial decisions, sparking further conflict in the city’s government.
**Firefighters Evicted Amid Political Turmoil**
On July 27, 2024, firefighters from Fire Station No. 1 were evicted, leading to public outcry and further straining relations within city governance. Mayor Caballero cited safety concerns and the building’s poor condition as reasons for the eviction, but the timing amid political disputes raised suspicions of ulterior motives among the council members.
**Mayor Seeks to Revoke Absentee Council Members’ Positions**
On July 22, 2024, Mayor Caballero initiated steps to potentially revoke the positions of absentee council members, accusing them of dereliction of duty. She argued that their continuous absence hampered the city’s legislative process, obliging the mayor to take drastic measures.
For more updates and detailed stories on this ongoing issue, stay tuned to TJGringo.com.