(From recent newsletter)
In 1938, Mexican President Lazaro Cardenas nationalized
the petroleum industry in Mexico using article
27 of the 1917 Mexican constitution. Article 27 declares that the nation
(Mexico) is vested with the direct ownership of all natural resources
of the national territory. The move came after labor unrest that could
not be resolved
with the foreign-owned companies that controlled the oil industry at
the time.
This obviously infuriated those foreign companies involved, but President
Cardenas did not back down and promised to compensate the companies
through a nationwide
fund raising effort. The companies were compensated, but the American
and British governments
boycotted all oil produced by the newly-formed Petroleos Mexicanos
(PeMex).
News from the US consulate
in México Dear Hoa and vecinos de la Cholla,
I have recently been called to serve as Warden for the US consulate
in México. My Job consists of reaching every US citizen in time
to alert them of any disaster or warning issued by the consulate for
foreign travel. I will keep you informed in case of an emergency and
will be prepared to offer assistance in case you are stranded, lose passports,
or become ill and are seeking help from the US embassy or consulate.
What I need from you in order to help is for every US citizen to register
with the US consulate and state that you have a second home in Rocky
Point. And whenever you are traveling, please take the time and advise
the consulate so that they can inform wardens all over México
to be able to assist or find you in case you are in need. Please go to
the following web site and enter your information: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/registration/registration_4789.html.
Sandy Beach Resorts
Aron Benjamin Brown
Mexico Office~638-383-0600
US Direct~623-298-4813
______________________________________________
WATER
Working with Cholla's developer, SBR, the
water delivery system to Cholla has been improved.
The water main valves to each of
the Sandy Beach developments have been replaced
with valves that equalize the pressure
delivered to each user. Before this improvement,
Cholla, being at the end of the line, often had a trickle of
water being delivered to the water trucks. With the new valves,
each user has the same water pressure. This improvement
has significantly decreased the time required to fill the water
trucks! In a cooperative
governmental effort, a water distribution system has been
installed in the Mexican area of Borracho Flats. The Mexican
federal government contributed 70% of the cost. The local
municipal government paid 15% and the individual
homeowners paid the remaining 15%. This 15% cost amounted
to approximately $140 per home. With the water system installed,
running water is delivered to each home for about $10
per month.
_______________________________________
WIFI NOW AVAILABLE AT CLUBHOUSE
In response to a suggestion by a Vecinos member, the Vecinos Board
has made WIFI available to HOA members at the Community Club
House. The signal is named ChollaBayHOA and is strong enough to
reach the North patio, Clubhouse and library. There is no access password.
We believe there is enough bandwidth and speed to accommodate
multiple users. Please use your clubhouse, libary and WIFI made possible
by our annual
dues assessment.
_______________________________________
PROPERTY TAXES
Property taxes are due and payable on January 1st of each year. Although
you may pay your taxes quarterly, you will receive a 10% discount
if you pay for the entire year by the end of February. The City
Treasurer's office in Puerto Peñasco has not mailed tax notices
in past
years. We do not anticipate notices this year. The tax must be paid at
the
City Treasurer's office on the first floor in the municipal building at
the corner of Benito Juarez
(Main street) and Fremont (Las Conchas turn-off). The Treasurer's office
is open on weekdays
only from 8:00AM-3:00PM. Bring your 2009 tax notice or your block (Manzana)
and lot number.
The City does not give the best peso/dollar exchange rate, so bring cash
pesos to get the most
for your tax dollar. Please remember taxes are YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS OF
THE DATE
OF SALE NOT THE DATE OF THE TRUST. Many Vecinos may not know this as they
wait years
for their trust and accrue interest and penalties along the way.
________________________________________
Federal Zone
The mysterious “Federal Zone” is actually a very simple part
of the Ley General de Bienes Nacionales (general law of national goods).
This law establishes a strip of land (Zona Federal Maritimo Terrestre) around
the coast of the entire country reserved for the use of the Mexican government.
It originally was intended to preserve the sea shore, acilitate military
defense and faciliate maritime navigation. The ZOFEMAT (federal zone) measures
20 meters wide from the mean high tide back to the property lines. No one,
Mexican citizen or foreigner can “own” the ZOFEMAT. However,
a concession (permit) can be obtained for its use. (Read more)
_______________________________________
Bank
Trust News
As many of you know there are a lot of ‘Pending” trusts
for our homes in Cholla Bay. Confusion has been out there as how the process
works, at least from the standpoint of when we start at SBR and they end
up submitting to the Bank.
The company has put together a procedure so that you can understand how
and what they do to get the “package” to the bank. (Read
more...)
Aquiring Power on new lots in Cholla
There has been much confusion for new homeowners as to how they acquire
power to their lots. The company has had complaints that they go to CFE,
don't speak Spanish, and then nothing happens. Others get a letter from the
company, CFE goes out and there is no meter pole on the lot. Others go to
the company, get the letter, and never go to CFE, then come back months later
and expect to see power! (Read
more...)
Border
Crossing
Effective June 1, 2009, some proof of citizenship
wll be required
to return to the USA from
Mexico. The best form
of proof is an American
passport. A birth certificate
or naturalization certificate is proof
as well. A driver's license is NOT proof
of citizenship!!
________________________________________
_______________________________________
ChollaBayHOA web site is organized in 2 departments.
At the ChollaHOA Office you will find
news/information from the Homeowners Association.
At the Cholla Community Center you will find Cholla
Bay news, resources and the ChollaCentral Community Forum/Information
Center. In today’s
internet environment, we refer to ChollaCentral as the “Cholla
Bay Blog”.