Tenacatita Fully Open to Public

Any citizen old enough to vote knows that politicians rarely fulfill their campaign promises. But we’re happy to report on one who did: On November 21, Aristotle Sandoval, governor of the Mexican State of Jalisco, sent in state police to reestablish public use of the two-mile-long northwestern portion of Tenacatita beach, which had long been a favorite camping and recreation site for both Mexican citizens and travelers, prior to this area’s seizure by the development group Rodenas Corporation and its private paramilitary contractors. 

Three years ago, armed Rodenas employees swept the popular beach with aggressive dogs, chasing away longtime residents and visitors alike, and destroyed long-established beachfront businesses, before fencing off access. The property has remained in limbo ever since, while court proceedings inched along, although beaches in the rest of the five-mile-wide bay were accessible.

Last week’s bold reversal of the situation comes in the wake of Hurricane Patricia, the most powerful hurricane ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere, which ravaged this area of the coast. In fact, Patricia’s eye passed only 10 miles north of Tenacatita. 

"Tenacatita has always provided the life blood to this community with tourism and the employment for many," wrote a blogger named Sparks last week on the Tenacatita blogsite. "As with this struggle, the road back is a slow uphill climb."

Since the devastating storm hit late last month, contributions have been trickling in to assist those whose homes were destroyed, and to replace lost supplies in local schools. If you’d like to be part of this relief effort, email Mary Ann Hammond here.