Bullshit on Articulo 123

[Andielep]

You have heard SG'S,BG's other people in Tijuana call Mexican-American plasticos?

When i slamed a chica on west end of the callejon of Coahuila ,as i was going to pay for the hotel. The Hotel wanted to charge me $6 ,but the chica told the hotel attendant ,'el es Mexicano". So they charged me $4 instead. But the chica knew i was Mex-American.

Mexican-American gangbangers in Calif are called Cholos,Pandilleros,maybe Pachucos by old timers.

 

[Nicole_x]

Crazy, is it safe in the Callejon Coahuila?

 

[Lore]

I haven't heard anything for weeks about muggings on the streets.

I haven't been in TJ for a couple of weeks, and I'm due. But when I was there the last times, it looked perfectly safe at night, and there has been a police presence when I visited, and sometimes they have too many police if you ask me.

One thing that is worth mentioning about "shoe shine" guys, is sometimes they seem to have a lot of knowledge, about gang bangers and criminal activity.

But that's because they are usually convicted felons who got deported from the US, and if they are speaking fluent English, you could pretty much be sure they have a criminal record.

Now a couple of guys that have shined my shoes, seemed pretty harmless, but at least two of them, told me they were arrested, jailed, and then deported, and that's why they are in TJ.

The only real trouble I had with shoe shine guys, is they charge me too much. They beg me, offering me a real low price like $2 dollars, and then they tell me it's $2 dollars a shoe....I was going to give them more than $2 dollars anyways, but I don't like scams.

But I don't think most shoe shine guys are a threat, but if your going to talk about safety and taking cabs everywhere. Then maybe you should be concerned about the shoe shine guy too?

 

[brookie1977m]

I agree walking back to the states by way of the bridge at night could be a little dangerous. I have never walked back, because I'm usually too tired, and have been drinking and been with the chicas. I have walked to the zona many times on the bridge, and never had any problems, but had a scare once thinking the TJ cops were going to stop me, but instead got other guys, but you do see lots of street bums hanging out under the bridge and that's not good.

I think any time it get dark and isolated with you being alone it could be dangerous, and your better off paying the taxi $ 3 to $ 5 dollar, The bridge is ok to walk during the day when it has lots of people, but when it turns dark, very few people are on the bridge, and you never know who is watching you.

The thing about ART 123 being not dangerous is because it's full of people and full of Mariachi guys hanging out. I think it's very doubtful some mugger is going to rob you in front of all these people in the area, and just think the danger reputation persists because this street was dangerous at one time many years ago, and myths from prostitution boards usually last for years because members like to rehash old stories, and sites sometimes have a 'girl scout' camp mentality where they like to tell scary stories.

 

[~Dumb Blonde~]

Pocho is used for Mexican-Americans in Mexico. I never heard of the word plasticos,until i came to this message board. It must be a word used in Tijuana.

How did you meet this so called Cartel Associate?

 

[www.envylacewigs.com]

I respect everyone’s opinions here and I am only giving you the inside scoop I learned today.

I get my shoes shined right on this same intersection. As I was there today, I noticed several 'gangster' like individuals with tattoos all over their bodies just walking around back and forth.

I told the guy that was shinning my shoes that I overheard one of them say, “he was hiding from a car that had US plates because it was a cop looking for him". It was two skinny guys and a large female (kind of blonde).

The shoe shine guy indeed confirmed that there are days, that if you sit around this same intersection, you will see these acts of crime with your bare eyes. NO BS! The cops will not even do anything if they witness the act.

There is a bar/hotel on one corner, a pharmacy on two others and I forgot what is on the fourth. But ask inside and see what they tell you.

All I was told was to watch out for these 'cholo', 'gangster' like individuals.

My suggestion is to be safe and spend $5 on your cab and not walk that intersection unless you have to. I personally will take a cab there, get my shoes shined and then take a cab again.

I like that shoe shiner because he charges only 20 pesos ($2) and the shine lasts almost a month or more! Awesome job!

 

[Alicia Renee]

To add to this thread, I think that TJ generally is going to be hard hit for the foreseeable future.

First, the spector of drug violence has most Americans scared of Mexico. This drug war is not likely to end anytime soon.

Second, swine flu is viewed by many Americans to be a serious problem in Mexico. In reality, swine flu is now an international pandemic. But, it will continue to be viewed as a Mexican problem by Americans.

Third, passport requirements at the border will significantly (and permanently) reduce tourism.

Fourth, the recession has caused a drop in business.

Already, there are fewer girls in the Zona. Some of my favorite chicas have moved on due to slow business. Eventually, some of the bars and other businesses may fail. Things will not be the same in TJ for years to come. I think that we will see TJ businesses that adapt in one way or another and others that fail. Hopefully, some smart providers will improve the quality of service (more GFE in the Zona) to attract business.

 

[Beckster]

The people living in Tijuana use the term "Plasticos" against the South Siders and the non-gang bangers that they call plastic, because in their eyes they are "fake Mexicans". That is why I find it hard to believe that the Southsiders have any relation with the cartels....they want to use Mexicans and they don't consider Plasticos as Mexicans.

I do have some small(very small) association with a "cartel member" or an associate of the cartel. He controls the entire Zona Norte drug trade, and I never feel comfortable in his presence. I don't know, nor do I want to know any of his other repsonsiblilities.

 

[John S2005]

Makes sense, since Mexican gang-bangers in the US know how to use guns, and the gang bangers in Tijuana, don't use guns, rather using only knives and choke holds, as the US gang-bangers are self-trained in drive-by shootings.

I also wouldn't put professional drugs lords and the people who work with them in the same camp with street gang-bangers who do low level crimes. I don't think they would have the animosity towards Mexican-American as would local Tijuana gang bangers would, as usually racism and prejudices are more common among the poorer lower educated members of society. ( I'm not talking just Mexico)

KingTijuanero, I'm glad I'm not the only one who wonders about this term "Plasticos" when used in Tijuana. Evidentially, it's a derogatory term used by Mexicans in Tijuana to refer to Mexican-Americans, pochos, who they consider plastic or fake! I already know many Mexican nationals consider Mexican-Americans fake, who either don't want to speak Spanish, or can't, or the people from Mexico, think the Mexican-Americans believe they are superior or are better than Mexicans living in Mexico, so in turn the Mexican nationals, think they are better than the Pochos who straddle the fence of both the US and Mexico.

But I guess according to Sampson, and even a few others living in Mexico, plasticos is also used to refer to Mexican, or Mexican-American gang bangers, the 'SouthSiders" in Tijuana. It would seem the people who live off the streets, Mexican National gang-bangers, poor people, and SGs, believe that all Mexican-Americans, Pochos are gang bangers too.......because they call them all "Plasticos."

I would like to hear from the Mexicans who are fluent in Spanish, and living in Mexico to give their opinion on the word Plastico. It's not a word that is used in East Los Angeles when referring to gang members, as it's doesn't sound like a tough word.....Plastico......., but I realize different words take on different meaning depending where you are using those words.

 

[qwerqwer]

When the US economy improves it will help Revolucion. But I don't think Revolucion will ever what what it used to be.

First, the passport requirement will permanently dampen tourism. Over 50% of the US population lack passports. Families visiting San Diego on vacation used to go to TJ for the day. Now a family of four visiting from Iowa isn't likely to spend $400.00 on passports--even if they plan that far ahead. Instead they'll skip the trip to Tijuana.

Second, police corruption has changed a lot of habits. Revolucion used to be full of high school and college student who wanted to party. They're now going to Rosarito. Consequently many places they used to frequent--even the formerly trendy Senor Frogs--have closed. I don't see the trend changing; nor can it when clubs they used to visit are closing.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Conerning the place under the ARc. It is quite safe if you're walking near the Mariachi singers and ETc.

But, I had a scary incident one time walking back late at night. People who saw my posts in the past know I like to experience knew, dangerous, stupid things sometimes. So One of my earlier trips way back when, towards 8~9 PM when it got really dark, Instead of taking the taxi I walked towards the border.

Like I said, near the Mariachi people are not dangerous. But once you walk in that narrow road, towards the museum, and towards the bridge, and the drug stores thats when It got erie. When I passed up a few hispanic people and was alone on the bridge, I swear few of them were following me or something. I slowed my pace (on purpose, to show no panic). And they walked by me and kinda looked at me a little, I gave them a poker face. And the they just kept walking. And then I saw other tourists walk towards my way and I knew I was safe.

Other than that, the road is just very dark and quiet. It does have a lot of opportunities for you to get mugged.

 

[RosaMario]

That's what I figured, but was just curious from you guys that had been recently. I have'nt been back in a few months, and of course it was slow then too. I guess it will be a LONG, LONG time to build the momentum it used to have.

 

[Tamuna X]

Plasticos? WtF is that?Oh so plasticos are Chicano gangmembers.Well the cartel must hate them so much that they hire them as THEIR PERSONAL BODYGUARDS.And how do you know who the cartel hates?And how many cartel leaders do you know?
The cartel knows that Chicano gangs are ruthless ,so they hire the meanest SOB out of Barrio Logan.

You have no idea how the cartel operates. The cartel only hires a person of Mexican blood for body guards and to be their hit men. They don't see borders .THEY ONLY SEE MONEY.


This week's investigation has given law enforcement officials new evidence that ties remain strong between gang members in the mostly Hispanic San Diego community of Barrio Logan and drug traffickers in Tijuana. Major cartels have been known to recruit youth from the neighborhood to work as guards and to push drugs north.

Barrio Logan residents have been linked to the shooting that almost claimed the life of crusading Tijuana journalist Jesْs Blancornelas in 1997, as well as the 1993 slaying of a Roman Catholic cardinal in Mexico. Both shootings were believed ordered by the Arellano Félix cartel, although the bullets that hit the cardinal were apparently intended for a rival cartel leader.

Mexican authorities said Mلrquez is a member of the Mexican Mafia gang in California and a key figure in San Diego's Barrio Logan gang, which has supplied killers to the Arellano cartel.


St. Louis Post-Dispatch

07-12-1993

WHEN MEXICO'S Arellano drug lords needed new gunmen, they looked across the border, to San Diego's impoverished Logan Heights barrio.
The drug traffickers found what they were looking for in the Calle Treinta (30th Street) gang.

U.S. and Mexican officials believe the gang members were responsible for gunning down a Roman Catholic cardinal, perhaps by mistake, and six others May 24 at the airport at Guadalajara.
Six gang members have been arrested in the United States and Mexico for their role in the airport shootout, and more are being sought.
The youths bragged about their exploits back in San Diego, officials say, and claimed to be behind the machine-gunning in April of a drug kingpin in the Mexican resort town of Cancun. That spray of bullets killed a tourist from Colorado.
Authorities say gang members in custody have described a two-year relationship with the Arellano drug family - Francisco, Benjamin, Ramon and Javier - four brothers who police say long have controlled the flow of drugs between Tijuana and San Diego.


William Esposito,agent in charge of the FBI office in San Diego, said, "I suspect other cartels will be using gang members in the future."
Recruited by a former gang member who became an Arellano confidante, Calle Treinta became a traveling entourage of bodyguards and assassins for the drug-running brothers, U.S. investigators say. In exchange, they received thousands of dollars and high-powered weapons.
Officials believe the Arellanos hired the gang members after a rival Mexican drug lord, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, made inroads into the area's narcotics business.
Since their arrest, the San Diego gang members reportedly have told investigators that they were paid $15,000 apiece to go to Guadalajara, where Guzman was visiting in May. Authorities quoted them as saying the Arellanos promised $15,000 more to whoever killed Guzman.
Guzman has been arrested; authorities still are seeking the Arellanos and a member of the San Diego barrio gang believed to be the primary gunman in the shooting of the cardinal.
Officials on both sides of the border have not yet figured out how the murder plot resulted in the death of the cardinal.
One theory is that the cardinal and his chauffeur happened to drive into the airport as shooting erupted between gang members and Guzman's bodyguards. Another holds that the gang members mistook the cardinal for Guzman because he was riding in a car similar to the drug lord's.

 

[Chee Hoo]

I call them plasticos, because that is the term the locals use for those Southsiders down there. I have never been mugged anywhere in the World, but I still have a few years

 

[Samuel H]

DID ANYONE READ THE STORY ABOUT A MOTORCYCLE WHO CRASHED IN TJ WITH A DEAD BODY STRAPPED TO HIM- LAST YEAR? [/

 

[Extra U]

Yeah I haven't been to Revolution in ages although I'll still often come up 3rd street, turn right and walk to the zona, and I'll often have the taxi driver drop me off between first and and REVO so I could go to a open pharmacy late at night.

It's pretty dead, but even before all these violent reports, passport laws Revolution was dying. I mean how long can you continue selling blankets, wallets, cheap fake jewelry, etc etc and expect the American or even the Japanese/Asian tourist to continue coming to TJ.

The bars on REVO were absolutely dead when I use to frequently pop my head in bars and see what's going on, but now I understand now many of those bars are now closed.

Really there is no need to go to REVO, the zona is still a very happening place and relatively safe. In fact I haven't been in TJ for about two weeks, so I'm due this week, just don't know which day I'll be free.

 

[Alix C.]

Sampson wrote:

Yes, it's the pedestrian bridge, and the pedestrian bridge could be dangerous late at night, but really not to dangerous during the day. But sometimes these stories get pulled into ART 123 and count as mugging there.

Like I said, you stand a very good chance of hearing about someone who got mugged on ART 123, however, first accurate first hand reports are almost nil. Has it happened to you Sampson? I would think there are even mugging in La Jolla California, but I would not consider that city a dangerous area.

I still think you are using the word 'plasticos' the wrong way, if you are referring to Mexican-American gang bangers. Don't they use the word 'CHOLOS' like the Mexicans do in the US when referring to gang members?

A gang bangers could be considered a 'pocho' but not all pochos are gang bangers. It would be like me referring to 'neo nazi' white skin heads, as gringos, as it would be correct, as all neo Nazi are GRINGOS, but not all gringos are neo nazis, in fact most of them are not, just as most pochos aren't gang bangers.

i understand there are many different gangs in Tijuana, just like there are many different Mexican gangs in Los Angeles. Mexican gang members from the US, because they are hated by the Mexican nationals gang members in Tijuana, stick together and are considered the so-called Southsiders.

 

[ChivaChiva]

I'm a newbie when it comes to mexico, I have my 1st trip planned for mar, but not to mongering, been to thailand,cambodia & the phillipines several times. That being said it would be pretty silly to support bodyguards because then we would set up a supply/demand scenario and before long you wouldn't be able to go WITHOUT a bodyguard. hell, the same guys that provide the protection would be making sure we got robbed to ensure we would hire them the next time

 

[LFC Fan]

That makes no sense, but I really don't know. Why would the cartel fuck with plasticos???? They hate them with a passion.

 

[MorRissa]

I actully thought about give him more business bye send him links to these monger sites. {You know because all us mongers are always get robbed and shaked down by all the hoods in T.J.. }{FB I fond the link in the T.j. crigslist link you set up in the other tread about house an apartments for rent,and also in the thread they were escorts and driver to show you around on coulpe of the rentals.}