Villalobos charging fee for admission to Tenacatita Beach

Villalobos

TENACATITA, Jalisco, Mexico - An article in El Occidental (LINK: El Occidental) says that Jose Villalobos - the wealthy Guadalajara developer who violently seized the Tenacatita Beach area and evicted nearly 800 persons August 4, 2010 with a force of 130 armed men - is now defying an order by PROFEPA to open to the beach to the public.

And in the same story, it is reported that he is charging for people to enter (100 pesos per car and 20 pesos per person). In addition, there apparently are toilet facilities now available - if people are willing to pay.

Admission is only granted after an interrogation by the state police guarding the acreage seized by Villalobos.

First, interrogation, then pay a fee

Since Villalobos has not allowed free public access, the story says a notario will be dispatched to witness that the beach is still closed to document what is going on. Further legal action - filed by the state government, might follow.

Villalobos claims he owned 42 hectares of Tenacatita, including the beach on the bayside and much of the Pacific Beach side, too. When he seized the land, however, he took more than twice that and is denying access to all the people who formerly lived there - or who say they have a claim of ownership of land in the area.

Many non-Mexican citizens hold federal titles to the lands now controlled by armed guards and police under the direction of Villalobos. Lawsuits against Villalobos are working their way through the court system in Guadalajara.

Since Villalobos seized the land, most of the structures that had been in place - palapas, restaurants, bathroom facilities and tiendas - were all bulldozed

Destroying buildings on Tenacatita Beach

Oregon benefit for Tenacatita nets more than $1,600 USD

DEADWOOD, Oregon, USA - A fundraiser held here for the 800 people evicted at gunpoint from Tenacatita by wealthy Guadalajara developer Jose Villalobos August 4, 2010 raised more than $1,600. And the party that night went on past 2 a.m.

The event had about 100 people attend, with locally grown organic beef donated by Allen and Kristi Guse, said Felisa Rogers, one of the event organizers. There were $5 taco dinners with an additional $250 worth of food was donated by Kamari Moeller and Tom and Becky Gannon. Karen Moeller made and donated the desserts.

'Coco Open' attire

"People made a sliding scale donation of $5 or more to see The Crow Quill Night Owls, an excellent band that plays old-timey jazz and jug band music," Felisa said. "The band played three sets and was very popular with the crowd (lots of dancing)."

Anyone familiar with the 30-year-old tradition called the 'coco open,' held annually on the Tenacatita Beach would have been right at home. Some people dressed in lingerie or golf attire to honor this ancient Tenacatita cultural tradition.

"We had a pinata for the kids and a costume competition with me and our neighbor Michelle Holman as MCs," she said.

Felisa also gave a slide show about the situation. LINK: Tenacatita presentation

Gary Thomas of Mendocino brought Tenacatita t-shirts.  A number of people from Seattle and Portland attended the event, including many former visitors to Tenacatita.

"The raffle was a particular success--we sold hundreds of $1 tickets. Prizes included a massage by Angela Adamski LMT and a custom made bikini by Shady Lady designs," Felisa said. "One of the prizes was cash. Half of the pot was intended for the winner and the other half for the Tenacatita Fund. Greg Hertzbach won the prize, and donated his winnings back to the fund."

Here is a video of the band playing at the fundraiser:



Here are some additional photos from the event, sent to the Tenacatita Bay Bugle by Felisa Rogers:

SEMARNAT tells Rodenas and Villalobos - open the beach

TENACATITA, Jalisco, Mexico - A report out of Tenacatita says that for the first time, a part of the federal government of Mexico is trying to lay down the law and get Jose Villalobos to open the Tenacatita Beach to the public.

Villalobos

Villalobos seized the beach by force August 4, evicting families and landowners, claiming that the area was his.
He says he owns 42 hectares in the area but seized close to 80 hectares, including land along the Pacific Beach owned by Mexicans, Americans and other non-nationals.

SEMARNAT delivered an 8-page document to Villalobos, according to Dobie, who lives in Rebalsito and who has been instrumental in trying to get their land back.
Much of the land seized by Villalobos - with the help of the state police - is federally titled.
The SEMARNAT document says that if Rodenas wants to keep the concession to the beach he has to "abstain from doing anything to impede free access to the beach."
The terms of the concession say it is prohibited for Villalobos to put up any fences or impede free pedestrian access to the federal zone.
A violation of that will be cause for revocation of the concession.

Tenacatita Beach access point

Dobie said that Villalobos had five days to open the beach.  Because he hasn't, a notary has come to the beach as a witness that access is still being denied.
"This is a big step forward," she said. "It is the first time a federal agency (or any agency for that matter) has actually taken official, legal action."

Members of the fishing cooperative have filed a demanda against Rodenas and Villalobos for violation of their constitutional rights and loss of income. Dobie accompanied some of the members of the cooperative to Guadlajara recently the help with the filing.
"The lawyers are feeling very positive," she said.

The August 2010 eviction process