### The Crisis They Refuse to See
Every day, military personnel, municipal workers, state employees, and federal staff walk past them without a glance. But for the average citizen of Tijuana, they are an unavoidable presence, often causing accidents or exacerbating feelings of insecurity. The Zona Norte area of Tijuana, including the international border crossing and the construction site for the Elevated Viaduct promoted by Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s government, has become a haven for what residents call “zombies.”
Hundreds of men, women, adolescents, and even children, who suffer from homelessness and addiction, inhabit the perimeters of the Rio Zone canal. The PRI party headquarters, Constitución Park, an old shopping center, and streets leading east from Avenida Internacional and around the Zona Centro are practically overrun by people visibly affected by substance abuse.
Similar to scenes from American cities shown in various videos, one can often see individuals with “zombie-like” behaviors—victims of drug use that rob them of mobility, rationality, and dignity. Naked women have been seen wandering in front of the Cathedral, near Padre Chava’s breakfast center, or the international zone, without any assistance from authorities. Sidewalks on First, Second, and Third Streets are occupied by homeless individuals and street vendors selling anything and everything on dirty pavements.
Tijuana is rapidly turning into a city of the homeless, with people claiming sidewalks, streets, vacant lots, and canal sides as their makeshift homes, erecting walls made of fabric or cardboard or digging holes to protect themselves from the elements.
The city, embroiled in an internal power struggle over the upcoming mayoral transition set for October 1, 2024, faces urban chaos marked by addiction and governmental neglect. The State Health Department neither conducts studies nor supports homeless addicts by channeling them to proper care facilities. Neither does the Municipal Medical Services register them for any benefits.
There are no statistics or censuses on addiction, nor government support for the homeless. The current administrations at the federal, state, and municipal levels under Morena have allowed the phenomenon of addiction and indigence to grow unchecked in the streets of Tijuana. The city’s entrance from the United States starkly showcases this issue, but it’s prevalent elsewhere too—polygons of indigence exist in the East Zone and near the beach, where various homeless individuals have overrun the sands.
This neglected crisis, combined with dirtiness and insecurity in the city, forms a vicious circle of vice. Blaming deportations from the U.S. doesn’t address the core issues of addiction and lack of opportunity. There’s no official interest or commitment, not merely to clean the city but to help this population in dire need. These people, often involved in crimes out of necessity or addiction, have become invisible in the political landscape, as they do not form a voting bloc that politicians care to engage. Only the citizens who nearly hit them with cars, give them spare change, or food see them.
The governments at all levels are ignoring this growing issue, contributing to increased insecurity, violence, and urban chaos.
### Related News:
**Tijuana Struggles with Exploding Homeless Population Amid Political Turmoil**
In recent news, the city of Tijuana is grappling with an alarming rise in its homeless population, a crisis further exacerbated by political instability. As reported by various sources, including local advocacy groups, the number of homeless individuals has surged by nearly 20% in the last year alone. Experts point to factors such as pervasive drug addiction and insufficient governmental response as key contributors to this escalating problem.
The outgoing mayor has been publicly criticized for failing to address the issue adequately, focusing instead on political infighting with the incoming administration. Despite repeated calls from the community for more shelters and addiction treatment centers, the municipal government has yet to take significant action.
“We’re seeing more and more people on the streets every day, and it’s heartbreaking,” says local activist Ana Rodriguez. “The government needs to step in and take real action to solve this crisis.”
As the political transition period draws near, the new administration faces mounting pressure to implement effective solutions to restore order, provide support for homeless individuals, and improve the overall quality of life for Tijuana residents.
For continued updates on this developing story, stay tuned to TJGringo.com.