Apparently Presidente Fox visited TJ and is trying to cut down on the whoring, drugs, and crime. He has made city close the clubs at 3am.
All the whore-bars abided to this this past weekend to the minute. Supposedly this is going to last for the next few weeks. What does this mean?
1) At 3am, TJ is total chaos and flooded with police.
2) The girls you used to see after midnight are now working day/evening shifts.
3) Police are looking for any excuse to bust gringos for anything. I had to pay a $25 fine for stopping 1 foot over a white line of a stop sign....ridiculous, but I'm not going to argue with police.


I would think someone might know more about this current situation. This was only my observation this past weekend and think it something worth mentioning for those who get down to TJ late.

I did notice all of last week CC chicas being punctual all of a sudden and several AB chicas switching from grave yard to night shift.

Coming from a local's perspective, Pollo's implication #2 is sweeeeet. I go home at night and don't stay over much, so I am looking forward to more variety, earlier. Yeah!

Unfortunately, now that Fox is gone, it will probably be business as usual in a few weeks.

Actually, in reality Fox is extremely conservative and his cabinet has an agenda of attempting to match the judicial, legal and zoning structures of the U.S. to facilitate NAFTA. He's a Harvard graduate with aspirations of seeing to it that Mexico flourishes economically in the future. Unfortunately part of his agenda will be the eventual banning of legal prostitution in Mexico. It will happen much sooner than later. So enjoy yourselves now and inform your favoritas to save, save, save.

Yea, my favorita told me last Sat. night it is part of a bargain struck between Fox and Bush! Supposed help relieve crime and drunk driving in both SD and TJ. She is pissed! and yes maximum policia presence as of last weekend.
SB

Don't worry guys. Drug trafficing and DWI are sure to be higher on the list than controlled prostitution with Fox and Bush - just ask Clinton.

Salsa_Boy, yet another theory to add to my list of reasons I have heard for the 3 AM closing time. It is just amazing how hard it is to get to the real reason. Personally, I find it highly improbable that Dubya personally had anything to do with it.

Chud, I agree that they should be higher, but I find that cops and politicians usually go for the easy targets first.

Blazers, I would say that an eventual ban is far from certain, but your facts are otherwise in agreement with what I have read. I think it all depends on what is most politically expedient, as opposed to what Fox really wants and believes. Of course, I would say that for almost any other politician, as well.

I spent last weekend in Nogales and the 3am closing was in effect there as well. So this is something broader than some accomodation to Fox during his TJ visit. Meanwhile, TJ favorita tells me this is permanent "by order of the President of the Republic". Fortunately, I don't rely on her for political and legal analysis. Even in Mexico, it is not conceivable that the President can decide what time the bars will close.

Eliminating prostitution is part of the agenda the PAN party of Fox would like to set. Fox has shown some remarkable independence from the party trying to build a broad policy mandate (his electoral mandate was NOT policy based, but merely one for "change"...i.e. elimination of "corruption"). However, Hippie put his finger on it, prostitution is an easy target, and going after it is an easy way for Fox to keep PAN firmly behind him even as he pursues other policy initiatives less in line with PAN's ultra-conservative leanings.

Say it ain't so Uncle Erip!

As you know nephew Aardvark, nothing in Mexico is what it seems or declared to be.

That same night SAT @ 3:00am i saw many health inspectors in there leather (black) jackets labled "DSMM" checking chicas health cards.
SB

Erip:

In my experience the bars in Nogales have always closed around 3 in the winter time. The latest I have ever seen them close is around 4 in the summer.

(Xen)

Man, this is so jacked up. I can't believe they are trying to take away our right to hookers. I'm having nightmares here! How soon do you guys think it could happen? A week, a month, a year? Even if they did make it illegal, do you guys think it would actually stick? Calle Coahuila comes to mind, remember how they switched it to one-way for a while, then realized how dumb that was, then switched it back? Hopefully they won't take away our hookers, but if they do, they will give them back after a short while. Also, I've heard that the bars are ultra-packed after 10pm, any truth to this? Should I stick to Sun-Wed? Should I just start stocking up on phone numbers?

-Mr416

Xenono,

I believe the 3am closing time is universal throughout Mexico...at least according to the extensive surveying I did with the girls, waiters and a couple of cab drivers.

One funny reflection I have on watching the 3am closing time Thurs night, was the weird transformation of the girls into their civvies. Not only the fact that the plain clothing, hair and lack of makeup took away a lot of the flash that get's our cash, but they all turn into little people! In tennies and such they pretty much all lose a good 4-8" from those stilts they wear. Kinda bizarre when you're burnt out...both from the nights various energy draining activities and a lifetime of abusing your psyche with as many chemicals as you could get your hands on.

Xenono,
I do not believe the law to say the bar must close at 3 AM.

The reason I say so is in Veracruz an amiga of mine works for a Romanian that has openned up a romanian bar/restaurant with his Mexican wife. He caters to merchant marines and keeps music for every country in the world. He usually closes around 1 AM but will close earlier if their are no customers - also he keeps the place open 24 hours if people are eating and drinking. Last July he had a lot of Russian sailors in port and 24 hours was the standard. They were drinking and dancing all night.

He also is located across the street from a small police station, and the police don't bother him (no mordida also according to him).

Consider yourselves lucky. Juarez clubs close as early as 11 PM El Paso time. THAT is a pain in the ass.

Xenono, I don't think this was a standard 3am closing time at the clubs' discretion. Me and a buddy were hanging out at the clubs on the other side of the tracks, then walked over to Placers at 3:15 am. The hosts were out on the street telling us that the police had ordered them to close the clubs at 3am and they didn't seem too happy about it.

"...they all turn into little people!"

Now that's really funny! When I'm walking with mi amiga especial in her "ropa de dia" (day clothes) I feel like the "mas alto" part of Mutt and Jeff. But she always tells me to stand up straight. She loves to stand on the bed and look down at me.

Redongdo,
I still don't know why you've been ragging on me, but since we've never met it has to be my "palabras" (words). I think it's the word "especial" (special) as in amiga especial.
It would be easy to simply "negative hallucinate you", but then you'll slip in something really funny and it makes me laugh. You have flashes that are better than many stand-up comics I've seen. Ever try it out?

Regards,
RickFeliz

One night I was on Constitucion about 3:30 a.m., and a gaggle of SGs was heading home. They seem to have a casual uniform, much like the have a working uniform: jeans, blouse, casual jacket, backpack and tennies. With their hair pulled back and their little backpacks, they all looked like the neighbor's daughter, or junior college coeds. I couldn't get over how wholesome they looked. Especially compared to an hour earlier in their miniskirts and pushup bras. Packaging is everything.

Matiz,
Absolutely packaging is everything. I have seen some of the street girls come to work with there normal outfits and go to the hotel and change.
Some of the girls can look very classy - Angie has leather jackets and leather skirts when she comes to work.

Wendy on Constitution was dressing after our session into some nice clothes. I asked her why and she said she was going home for dinner. I said so what? Wendy said she did not want the neighbors to know that they lived next door to a puta.

The 3:00 AM closing has definitely had an impact on the Saturday daytime action at Adelita. I don't ever recall seeing such an assemblage of talent at AB at 4-5 PM on a Saturday. Very interesting.

Blazers' comments about Fox criminalizing prostitution sent chills up my spine. Where does this information come from, or is it just speculation?

Of course, I know that there is no atrocity that right-wing fanatics are not capable of. If you enjoy the finer things of life, you should know by now that anyone in a position of political power whose platform is based upon faith in higher beings is your enemy. I just hope that the Bush/Fox duo doesn't push Noth America back into the Dark Ages.

Bro Kendricks,
Generally, agreed, though it ain't just the "right wing fanatics" who base it all "upon faith in higher beings"--the left-wing fanatics just call their higher being "government." They's ALL the enemy, my brother.

Re: Fox and getting rid of prostitution and reforming Mexico generally--GOOD LUCK, MY BROTHER, YOU GONE NEED IT! Better men than you have had their shot at 'cleaning up Mexico', and they spirits lookin' down on the zona right now goin' "Damn, that shit KICKED my tired little ASS, but good!" Have faith in the unorganizability (my own word, use it and think of Ritmo) of Mexico and the ferocious ability of every Mexican to find ways around doing what the state and the church tells him in order ta get his groove on (i.e., drink and fuck).

Ritmo, I am no left-wing asshole either - it's just that the bible thumpers are posing the greatest threat at the moment, north and south of the border. And, whatever you may think of the PRI, at least they didn't fuck with the zona!

You have a great point, though - mexicans are nowhere near as easily led and controlled as gringos are, which is one reason why I fucking love mexico. They remind me of the old-school italians I used to hang with as a kid in new york, who would rather die than let some ass-head tell them how to run their life.

Viva la anarchia,

kendricks

a long-winded analysis based on my half-assed understanding of the situation.

baja has been in the PAN camp for some time, & the 3am curfew last year was consistent with their conservative agenda. at that time the response was what we have all come to expect in tj, spotty compliance to start, and a general drift to ignoring the whole thing. probably a certain amount of baksheesh involved. that was when PRI was still in power nationally. now PAN is in control of the government, corruption is a major target (at least they are saying so) & the legal/law enforcement institutions are under a microscope. the curfew was a law on the books not being enforced, conspicuous & easy to target - as are zonas de tolerencia in general. the question is whether the old patterns are being eliminated permanently or if this is just another short term upheaval.

this is new territory for just about everyone. some significant political changes are taking place in mexico right now, & we are experiencing
some of the fall out. the changeover from PRI to PAN has been described as similar to the collapse of the communist party in eastern europe. PRI was a one party centralized, authoritarian regime for just about as long as the communists were the same in the FSU & satellites. right now fox & PAN are throwing out all kinds of plans & promises & PRI is pretty disorganized. fox has raised a lot of expectations along the way. it remains to be seen if he can deliver. the chances of a romanian style bloodbath are reasonably remote (we won't allow it on our doorstep), but a less violent czech style changeover is certainly possible. five years in transition is not unreasonable. look at russia today.

however, revolutions (even peaceful ones) break a lot of rice bowls, with some very powerful interests involved - the kind that might react pretty strongly. someone's income is taking a hit in la zona, and whoever they are, they are used to getting their way. be prepared for a bumpy ride for the foreseeable future. if the US economy tanks, maybe very very bumpy.

Thanks for your insight. About the only thing I could add is that it appears Bush and the US government in general really want Fox and the PAN in power. I just hope Ritmo is right, and the inherent unorganizability of the Mexican people keep TJ from becoming like just another boring US city.

I was at Adelita 2 weeks ago on a Friday and Saturday night and the DJ clearly said that they close at 6am. Does this mean that this isn't so?

Notice a few months ago I was asking about the election of Fox and the possible effect on La Zona. Seems I was right to ask...

Hey Cityog, thanx for the tape! I wish it had a playlist. I'd like to download some MP3s and make a CD of it!

How's AB and CC on Monday nights? Good selection of chicas? Many mongers? Plus, will any of the gals from AB or CC go to a room at the hotel above Las Chevelas?

I am planning to be in TJ on Sunday, 9/16, which I notice is Dia de la Independencia. Will ZN bars be shut down?

Not for the holiday.

I was planning a trip to TJ this week, but in light of what's been going on today, I'm not really sure. Do you think it will be business as usual down there or what? Will the bars in the Zona be closing early or not even opening up at all? What about the border situation?

The border was open all day today. There was more security than normal so more time was needed for crossing than normal.

Nothing was said on the news today about closing the border.

Security is tighter at the border. However, it is still open. It might be a wise idea to bring IDs proving you are a US resident when leaving the country.

Can be a very long wait trying to cross back in. Tuesday was up to 2 hours.

Rb1,
Was that walking or driving?
hacm

Two & 1/2 hours walking - arrived at the line at about 6pm Wednesday night. The plus of this. The girls are all saying "No hay cliente" (There are no clients.) It's time to bargain hard, guys.

hi

poor girls now they will only bring home 600 to 800 instead of 1,200 to $ 1,500 this week

so you got a bargain did you ?

walking back is a horror show during some hours

i will be going this fri , sat and sunday

i will try to get back before 4 or 5 am

milkman

Where does the bus back into the US normally pick up?
What is the walk back like after 11:00 pm?

there are a few buses

mexicoach picks up and drops off at border parking- first parking off the 805

the walk back around 11pm thru 3am should be light

a lot of people i know are not heading into tj tonight

so do not expect the crowds like an average weekend

milky

This is specifically to Luhrker but obviosuly for all.


First off, all this talk about Fox being in "control of the government" is poppycock. He is in control of the executive branch but PRI still controls the legislative.

Also, this talk about PRI being "one government control" and likened to monolithic rule is wrong. Yes, the PRI is one party, but it has always been a party with 3 major factions. Right, center, and left. For roughly 75 years different factions have controlled the government and moved in directions as different as we see between Democrats and Republicans here.

Now im no expert on latin America or its politics but im justs starting to get into it and im seeing a lot of wrong generalizations here. I dont know what Fox's stance on Prostitution is but I would HIGHLY doubt it ever came up between Fox And Bush. Whats interesting is that Mexico is a very socially conservative country. As you might know, abortion is illegal. Still, once a nation goes legal I think its hard to go back. Brings in alot of money and it will exist anyway. Nevada is a pretty conservative state in the US and its the only place with partial legalization. So Conservatism and Conservative government does not necessarily mean ant-prostitution laws.

From the little I know I like Fox. He seems to be the forward looking, pro-business, law and order type that Mexico needs to get a shot in the arm from. He seems to be an American in Mexican clothing, and god knows latin America can definitely take a couple pages from our books. I hope people like him are not a blip on the radar but a new face of Latin America.