Just saw this article posted in the Arizona Republic: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0814border-crime14-ON.html

Essentially, they're stepping up the police presence to try and crack down on crime. Given this - "crimes have included the dismemberment slayings of four women and a shootout at a busy shopping center" - it's not hard to understand why they want to at least look like they're doing something.

There is another element to this. A few of the "outgoing" city council memebers initiated and promoted a "public safety" general crackdown on street dealing, prostitution, hawking, etc, etc.
This was on the behest of the current US political administration, who have promised to withhold border related funding, should not the local and state mexican government not cooperate in a timely manner.

I'm all for cracking down on most street crime, I do not, as most here would agree, that street prostitution is a crime.
The US does though, and it is to their definition of crime, that Mexico must adhere to. Therefore we have a "crackdown"

All this really means is that there will be an increase in police corruption. It is a trasdition in Mexico that whenever there is a outside mandated "crackdown", it is a good time and a great opportunity to shake down those who would prefer to retain the status quo. The police will arrest a few street hustlers and shake down dozens more who want to keep in business.

The sad part of this is that a murder (s) or street shoot out in Nogales or other parts of Mexico merits critical attention by our press, when it is an abberation. Nothing is said of the dozens of murders, arrests, shooting that go onalmost daily in Nogales, Az or Tucson. Generally you will find that crime rates are notoriously lower in Nogales than , lets say, So. Tucson.

I am far more comfortable walking down a lit street in Nogales Mexico, than a lit street in So. Tucson.

OG