Municipal dump burns of January 2008 bring outrage and action from Los Zacatitos residents

Text and Photos by Al Razutis - Additional Photos by Roberta Booth

The Palo Escopeta road municipal dump burned extensively the night of January 14th covering the coast and Los Zacatitos with dense and toxic smog the morning of January 15th. This seemed to be the 'last straw' for residents who had endured the smog from October of 2007 (and even earlier, to 2001). The January 14th burns prompted an exodus of people for the day to escape the toxic smog, and immediate and vocal response to the government from a number of residents of Los Zacatitos, Santa Cruz de los Zacatitos and surrounding areas.

Gene and Terri Crain launched a letter writing campaign to government officials in early January and were joined by others calling for government action. But Brian Anderson carried it further with a public protest on January 16th and 17th (sorry, no photo) at the intersection of the East Cape road as it comes into downtown San Jose del Cabo. He posted large signs on his truck for all-day viewing. His actions and request for meetings with government officials resulted in a meeting the following day (Friday January 18th) with the Director of Public Services, his managers, and approximately a dozen affected Los Zacatitos residents at the Direccion de Servicios Publicos offices.

This first (8 a.m.!) meeting was followed the same day with a meeting with an administrator at the President of the Municipality offices, and a meeting with the Ecology Department heads. The following Monday, January 21st, over 20 Los Zacatitos residents gathered and met with the President of the Municipality (the Mayor), 6 of his department heads and staff members, at City Hall. The President declared that the dump burns would stop, and that Ecofenix was contracted to provide a new sanitation, distribution and recycling faciity for Los Cabos, scheduled to open in March, 2008. He further confirmed that the Palo Escopeta dump would be permanently closed at the end of March, 2008.

A general 'information' meeting of the community (see photos below) on Friday, January 18th, at Surfside Market, Los Zacatitos, provided up to date information for all to discuss.

There are many people who contributed with letters, petitions, contacts, complaints, and representations to the government and a call for action. Chief among them were Gene and Terri Crain (who made a number of written and personal representations early on), Brenda and Peter McGonagle (who contacted the government a number of times, and over a number of years, and conducted on-site help to put out the fire and document the dump burn), Patricia de la Borbolla (a spokesperson appearing on radio on behalf of the community), Josh and Pauline Child (who created the loscaboscontaminacion.com site and spearheaded the actions of the Concerned Citizens for Clean Air group, and others whose contributions will be archived as they become available.

Loszacatitos.net and its webmaster/administrator (Al Razutis), has maintained archives and a public profile on the dump burn with archives going back to 2000 and 2001. We continue to support and encourage community action and self-determination when it comes to healthy and enjoyable environments, and to foster communication and cooperation between government and people, whether they be visitors, full-time residents, whether they be US or Mexican citizens. We're all in this together.