Puerto Penasco / Rocky Point News and Information

ROGER CLYNE & THE PEACEMAKERS, June 6

2009-05-07T11:46:00.001-06:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 6, 2009
Contact: Melissa Kaupke Insight Mgt. (613-758-4588 insightmg8@aol.com)

ROGER CLYNE & THE PEACEMAKERS
“Can’t-Miss” Nationwide Spring ’09 Tour Rolls Into
[VENUE] in [CITY]
* [DAY], [MONTH] [DAY], 2009 *

Non-conformist Rock and Rollers release web-only live album, Glow In The Dark, over 14 weeks at www.azpeacemakers.com
"…the only pigeonhole Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers fit comfortably within is the one marked 'great music.'" – Cincinnati City Beat

Legendary rock and roll revolutionaries Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers (RCPM) are coming to your city when its lauded nationwide tour stops in [CITY, STATE] at [VENUE] on [DAY], [MONTH] [DAY], 2009 at [TiME]. TICKET INFO HERE.

RCPM’s 2009 Tour includes stops at the acclaimed Tempe Music Festival April 3, The Pima County Fair in Tucson April 26 and the annual band-hosted celebration of life and music, Circus Mexicus in Rocky Point, Mexico, June 6. With an intriguing array of unrivaled songs (laced with flavorful melodies, etched-in-your-brain hooks and inventive lyrics), RCPM injects a signature brand of high-energy showmanship into each of its live performances. Fans of the band know there’s nothing quite like a live Peacemakers show.

Glow In The Dark, RCPM’s new live web-only release, captures the spirit and vigor of RCPM live. The band once again loaded their guitars, drum sticks and amps onto the tour bus and traveled thousands of miles across North America in ‘08, delivering the kind of high energy rock show night after night that has become a Peacemakers' trademark. Music fans can experience the energy and excitement from one of the standout shows of the year with Glow In The Dark, which was recorded at Mexicali Blues in Teaneck, New Jersey. To commemorate this memorable performance, RCPM is raising one more round with fans to celebrate with the unconventional release of the new live album.

Beginning Monday, February 2, and continuing for 14 consecutive weeks, fans have a unique opportunity to not only hear the show, but watch the band perform a different song, both from the RCPM and Refreshments catalogs, each week. Producer extraordinaire Clif Norrell, the man behind The Refreshments' classic Fizzy, Fuzzy, Big and Buzzy as well as RCPM's No More Beautiful World and Turbo Ocho, was also there with trumpet in hand to work his magic on and off the stage.

Similar to 2008’s Turbo Ocho VivaCast, a page has been set up on www.azpeacemakers.com where fans will find one new song from the show as well as the accompanying concert footage, each week through May 2009. Each song and video will be streaming from the site to enjoy free of charge. As soon as a new song is posted on the site, it will also be available for purchase in RCPM’s digital download store. Fans can either buy a new song each week, or at the end of the 14 weeks, purchase the entire Glow In The Dark album at once. Glow In The Dark will not be released in standard CD form – only as a digital download available only through the RCPM website.

In March 2008, RCPM released the ambitious CD/DVD Turbo Ocho. Featuring rock and roll in its purest form – edgy, careless and celebratory – the release was a result of the first-ever RCPM “VivaCast” (a term the band self-coined), which included a web cast that brought daily audio and video updates to thousands of homes during the recording process, culminating with a sold out concert in Cholla Bay, Mexico. With Turbo Ocho and now, again with Glow In The Dark, RCPM continues to break through old definitions of what is expected of a rock band to forge its own path directly to what matters most – the fans.

It’s no wonder RCPM’s out-of-the-box approach to recordings and releases garners a lot of attention, but at the end of the day, creating great music and making the live music experience an unforgettable one is the band’s primary focus. Clyne’s songwriting is often compared to the greats of Rock and Americana music, including Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, John Mellencamp and Steve Earle. As frontman for mid-90s The Refreshments, Clyne scored hits with the singles “Banditos” and “Down Together” and also secured a place in TV history when he penned and performed the theme for the hit animated FOX-TV show, King of the Hill.

RCPM Spring 2009 Tour Dates:

Feb. 19 Denver, CO The Soiled Dove Underground
Feb. 20-21 Ft. Collins, CO Road 24 Bike Bar
Feb. 28 Austin, TX Antone's
March 1 Houston, TX Continental Club
March 2 New Orleans, LA The Parish @ House of Blues
March 3 Birmingham, AL The Nick
March 5 Tampa, FL Orpheum
March 6 Orlando, FL The Social
March 7 Jacksonville, FL Jack Rabbits
March 10 Atlanta, GA Smith's Olde Bar
March 11 Nashville, TN Exit / In
March 12 St. Louis, MO Blueberry Hill
March 13 Oklahoma City, OK Wormy Dog Saloon
March 14 Tulsa, OK The Flytrap Music Hall
April 3 Tempe, AZ Tempe Music Festival - Tempe Beach Park
April 5 Scottsdale, AZ The Venue of Scottsdale
April 9 West Hollywood, CA Key Club
April 11 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
April 14 Reno, NV The Undergound
April 15 Salt Lake city, UT Bar Deluxe
April 16 Boise, ID Knitting Factory Concert Hous
April 17 Portland, OR Berbati's Pan
April 18 Seattle, WA Nectar
April 19 Spokane, WA Knitting Factory Concert
April 21 Billings, MT The Railyard
April 22 Colorado, CO The Black Sheep
April 25 Tucson, AZ Downtown Prescott Courthouse
(in front of the Chamber of Commerce)
April 26 Tucson, AZ Pima County Fair
June 6 Rocky Point, Mexico Circus Mexicus

Recent Critical Acclaim for RCPM:
“The result of the band’s eight-day work haul is chronicled in its April 29 release, ‘Turbo Ocho,’…eight punchy rock tunes warmed with Southwestern charm…the ‘Ocho’ sessions carry the sonic kin to the likes of the Black Crowes spitfire and the gritty spirit of Bruce Springsteen.”
– Albuquerque Journal

“…Turbo Ocho brings thick guitar riffs and soaring, shouted vocals with straight-forward lyrics out to play. Clyne and his crew are here to have fun and they are not done until they are done.”
– PlugInMusic.com

“The result (of Turbo Ocho) is a mixture of appealing Latin-flavored tracks and some of the most hard-edged rock that Clyne has recorded in some time.”
- Arizona Republic 3.9.08

“What has remained unchanged is Clyne's appealing mix of roots music and arena rock.”
– Dallas Observer 3.20.08

“The band not only reached its goal of recording eight songs, but it came up with eight stellar tunes that are destined to be RCPM concert standards. And Clyne, who is as much a philosopher as he is a musician, ended up writing some of the strongest lyrics of his career.”
– Deseret News [Salt Lake City, UT] 4.11.08

Come on Down

2009-04-30T12:21:00.003-06:00

Its been awhile since I last posted on my Blog, but now it is time for me to chime in. The economy of course is horrible and the news from Juarez has also really hurt the Mexico tourism and real estate markets. Now we are being bombarded with news of the Swine Flu... This is going to be a horrible year for home sellers, but buyers are going to be in a position to clean up big time in all categories of real estate here in Rocky Point and San Carlos.

The good news, as of time of this posting there is no reported cases of swine flu in Rocky Point. Thank god. If you are not one to buy into the media hype about Mexico, then now is your chance to come down here and vacation for much less money than last year and if you are considering buying real estate, now is the time to get the best deal.. Have a great week and stay healthy. Wash those hands....
Geoff

Buyers Market and Buyers Rebates

2008-10-10T00:48:00.002-06:00

It is a buyers market down here and if you missed buying before the boom now is the time to find a wonderful property at a great price. Casa Fina Real Estate is now offering an Exclusive Buyers Rebate Program. Here are the Details:

Puerto Penasco's First and Only Buyers Rebate Program
Casa Fina Exclusive Buyers Rebate Program
· Rebate is available only to buyers who close escrow/proceed to final settlement with Casa Fina Real Estate acting as their Sole and Exclusive Agent in the purchase of real estate. For homes with a final sales price of $100,000.00 or more, the rebate is twenty percent (20%) of the cooperating broker commission actually received by Casa Fina Real Estate at the close of escrow/settlement for representing the buyer net of any allowances or other tax deductions by Casa Fina Real Estate related to the transaction. Occasionally, the seller and/or listing broker in a transaction will offer the broker representing the buyer a bonus or other additional incentive over and above the cooperating brokerage commission. Any such bonuses or other additional incentives are separate and apart from the cooperating brokerage commission actually received by Casa Fina Real Estate and buyer is not entitled to a rebate on any bonus or other additional incentive monies paid to Casa Fina Real Estate over and above the cooperative broker commission. For homes with a final sales price of $99,999.99 or less, the rebate is Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00). If within a 6 month period, a customer both buys and sells real property through Casa Fina Real Estate, the customer is eligible to receive either an additional rebate of up to five percent (5%) Casa Fina Real Estates commission for representing the buyer in the case of a purchase, or an additional one quarter of one percent (0.25%) reduction off of our listing commission in case of a sale. The additional rebate or commission reduction will be applied to the second of the two transactions to close escrow or proceed to final settlement. See your agent for details. The amount of the cooperating broker commission received will vary on individual properties. The rebate will be paid or credited to the party or parties named as the "buyer(s)" or in the official closing statement.
· All buyers must sign the Exclusive Representation Rebate Agreement before any rebate will be issued. The rebate will have applicable Mexico taxes deducted before it will be issued to the recipient/buyer. Offer subject to conditions, limitations, exclusions, modifications, and/or discontinuation without notice.
· Buyers found to be working with agents other than a Casa Fina Real Estate professional with forfeit their rights to the buyers rebate. This is an exclusive agreement between the buyer and Casa Fina Real Estate.
This Agreement is the sole property of Casa Fina Real Estate Corporation. Any use of this agreement without written consent will be punished by the copy right laws of Mexico.

It is Finally Cooling Down

2008-10-10T00:42:00.002-06:00

The weather has broke and now the days have been great. No more sweating and being misrable. It is time to go to the beach and enjoy.... I am planning a journey in a couple of weeks to Puerto Lobos for a couple of days of fishing and then down to Los Mochis, Sinaloa for a few days of fun and sun. Pack up your cars and come down to Mexico the weather is great.

Walmart is Coming!

2008-10-10T00:39:00.001-06:00

That is right Walmart is coming to Puerto Penasco. The announcement came late last month and I am a bit late posting the news. I had taken an extended break from the world of Blogdom and now I am back.....

Plans for Healthcare Services in Mexico for U.S. CitizensFrontera Norte Sur

2008-06-23T14:59:00.002-06:00

Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim is moving ahead with his plans to open hospitals in Mexico that cater to US baby boomers.

Slim's business concept might be compared to a maquiladora export factory. A raw product, in this case an ailing US citizen, is imported into Mexico, "put together" and then re-exported back to the home country. Ironically, Slim’s fortune, now estimated to be larger than that of Bill Gates, derives in part from the tycoon's Marlboro cigarette business in Mexico.

In partnership with Grupo Star Medica, Slim's Ideal company intends to open new medical centers in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, and in Los Cabos on the Baja California peninsula. A national hospital chain, Grupo Star Medica is a fast-growing business with expansion plans in Ciudad Juarez and additional Mexican cities. In 2007, Ideal purchased 49 percent of Grupo Star Medica's stock. Specializing in construction and development, Ideal has agreed to help Grupo Star Medica with infrastructure, acquisition and financing.

With its planned medical centers in Puerto Peñasco and Los Cabos, Grupo Star Medica plans to tap into a new market segment of US baby boomers who are buying second homes in Mexico.

Reportedly, sales of vacation homes in Los Cabos and Puerto Peñasco increased 30 percent and 45 percent, respectively, during the last three years. Claudia Velazquez, an analyst for the Softec real estate market analysis firm, said the relative lack of medical services in beach resorts attractive to US vacationers and expatriates is opening up business opportunities for companies like Grupo Star Medica."(Baby boomers) are also choosing Mexico because its health system is much cheaper than in the United States," Velazquez said.

Besides Slim, other Mexico-based entrepreneurs are seriously looking at the growing population of US baby boomers who need healthcare services. Their plan is to get US private insurance companies to pay for medical treatment in Mexico."For a US insurance policy to pay for medical treatment, the treatment has to comply with certain quality control standards, and we are going to participate with products to serve this niche," said Jaime Jimenez, general director for Mexico Trane, another company on the same path as Slim. Of course, it remains to be seen if the expansion of medical services in Mexico to US residents will help lower private insurance premiums in this country.

Sources: Tribuna de la Bahia/Agencia Reforma, February 26, 2008. Article by Karla Ramirez. Biznews.com.mx, July 9, 2007. Ideal.com.mxFrontera NorteSur (FNS)Center for Latin American and Border StudiesNew Mexico State UniversityLas Cruces, New MexicoFNS can be found at http://frontera.nmsu.edu/)

Mexico Builds Hospitals to Lure Medical Tourists From America

2008-06-23T14:49:00.002-06:00

By Thomas Black

March 27 (Bloomberg) -- The only way Bridget Flanagan, a 21-year-old college student from Olympia, Washington, could afford the obesity surgery she needed was to go to Mexico. Her health insurance didn't cover the treatment.

Traveling 2,000 miles for gastric banding surgery at Hospital San Jose in Monterrey, Mexico, saved her $6,600, making it affordable. The procedure was a success, allowing five-foot- tall Bridget to drop 45 pounds so far off her peak weight of 275.

Health-care companies and investors see a new market in patients like Flanagan. Tecnologico de Monterrey, the private university that owns San Jose Hospital, plans a $100 million medical center in Monterrey. Grupo Star Medica, the builder of seven Mexican centers in five years, is accelerating an expansion aimed at Americans, funded partly by billionaire Carlos Slim.
``This is a great opportunity not only for Mexico, but also to reduce health costs in the U.S.,'' said Marco Antonio Slim Domit, Carlos Slim's son and chief executive officer of his Mexico City brokerage Grupo Financiero Inbursa SAB. The firm took an undisclosed stake in Star Medica, a privately held hospital chain based in Morelia, Michoacan, in southern Mexico.

While Mexican authorities declined to estimate how much the country's health-care industry is expanding to handle medical tourism, companies are building new hospitals, clinics and surgical centers.

Industry Expansion
U.S.-based companies are also investing in Mexico. Christus Health, a nonprofit based in Irving, Texas, owns six hospitals in Mexico after opening one in Reynosa near McAllen, Texas. Dallas-based International Hospital Corp., the operator of three hospitals in Mexico, is building a fourth in the central city of Puebla.

Grupo Empresarial Los Angeles, Mexico's largest private hospital chain, is spending $700 million to build 15 hospitals over the next three years, said Victor Ramirez, the chief operating officer of the company's hospital unit. Oca Hospital, a family-owned company in Monterrey, is building a 200-bed facility there.

``In diverse cities that are attractive to Americans, we can offer hospitals that are very competitive and at a very good price,'' Ramirez said.
Grupo Angeles has a marketing campaign targeting Americans. The goal is for foreigners to make up 20 percent of patients within two years, up from 5 percent now, Ramirez said. At the company's hospital in Tijuana, Americans accounted for 40 percent of the 100,000 patients the facility admitted in 2007, he said.

Medical Spending
Health spending in Mexico in 2005 was about $49 billion, or 6.4 percent of gross domestic product. In the U.S., the world's biggest economy with a population almost three times Mexico's, health-care spending reached $2.2 trillion last year, 16 percent of all goods and services.
The number of private hospital beds in Mexico rose 28 percent to 34,576 in 2005 from 27,015 in 2000, according to the census bureau. Private doctors more than doubled to 55,173 from 21,565 during the same period. Surgery rooms in private hospitals jumped 46 percent to 4,545 in 2005 from 3,115 in 2000.

U.S. employers are prodding insurance companies to lower costs by providing incentives for workers to travel abroad for treatment. About 47 million Americans lack health insurance altogether.

For decades Mexico has attracted U.S. residents looking for cheap, basic health care. Border cities such as Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez across from El Paso, Texas, are dotted with clinics hawking bargain dental braces or discount eye exams and pharmacies that sell prescription medicines over the counter.

Beyond Cut-Rate Care
Medical tourism is expanding beyond cut-rate care, said Arturo Garza, who runs the Mexican unit of Christus Health. Mexican hospitals now perform hip replacements, spinal fusions, knee surgery and angioplasty. The U.S. cost of such procedures encourages people sometimes to forego treatment or leave the country for it, said Peter Maddox, 60, a senior vice president at Christus Health.

A hip replacement in Mexico costs $12,000, compared with $43,000 to $63,000 in the U.S., according to a study by Christus Health published last year. Angioplasty, in which a surgeon uses a tiny balloon to open a blocked coronary artery, costs $10,000 in Mexico, compared with $57,000 to $82,000 at an American hospital.

Heath-Care Boom
Star Medica in September opened a 53-bed facility in Ciudad Juarez and plans others in Tijuana and Mexicali, said Fernando Padilla, medical director for the hospital. The chain will target American patients for elective surgery such as arthroscopy and laparoscopy.
``This is something that will grow very rapidly because it makes sense,'' Garza said.
Christus is putting its seventh Mexican hospital in Reynosa, across the border from McAllen, Texas, to attract U.S. patients. It's also adding a $100 million heart surgery center to the Monterrey unit where Flanagan had her procedure.
Flanagan, resting in a private room at San Jose Hospital, said the cost for placing a band around her stomach to reduce its size was $10,600 in Monterrey plus $600 for round-trip airfare. She would have spent $17,800 at Northwest Weight Loss Surgery in Everett, Washington, a clinic that specializes in the procedure.

Salaries for American doctors and nurses, often 10 times as much as in emerging-market countries, are the main reason for higher medical costs, said Paul Mango, a Pittsburgh-based partner with McKinsey & Co. who leads the firm's global health- care practice.

Flanagan's Surgery
Flanagan's parents, who have their own law firm, provide health care for the family with a $300-a-month catastrophic insurance policy with LifeWise Health Insurance. The policy carries a $3,500 deductible and excludes benefits for obesity such as gastric banding surgery.
Apart from the cost savings, Flanagan was attracted to the level of care and support in a full-service hospital, which a clinic can't match. She met with four doctors in Monterrey, including chief surgeon Roberto Rumbaut, who explained the procedure in detail. Rumbaut studied under Dr. Franco Favretti, an Italian doctor credited with helping develop laparoscopic gastric banding, and says he has performed the procedure more than 4,300 times.
``The doctors talked to me as long as I wanted,'' said Flanagan, a student at Evergreen State College in Olympia. ``My impression is that the doctors here do things more on a personal basis.''

Mexican Surgeons
Surgeons at San Jose operate on about two foreigners a day, and the hospital has a dedicated customer-service office for them, said Ernesto Dieck, the chief executive officer. More than 90 percent of the doctors at the facility -- which has performed heart transplants -- have worked at U.S. or European hospitals, he said.
``We have the experience,'' Dieck said. ``The borders between Mexico and the U.S. and Canada in terms of medicine will fall over the medium term.''

As Mexico's private hospitals have improved, they've attracted more patients, including wealthy Mexicans who in the past had traveled to Los Angeles, Houston and other U.S. cities for care, Dieck said.
In the race to attract medical tourists, Mexico has lagged behind other developing countries such as India, Thailand, Singapore and Brazil. The Joint Commission, an independent, nonprofit group based in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, evaluates and certifies health-care organizations around the world that meet a set of quantifiable standards. The commission determined that 11 hospitals in Singapore met its standards of care, as did nine in Brazil while Mexico has only two: San Jose and Christus Muguerza Alta Especialidad, both in Monterrey.

Advantage: Location
Mexico's advantage is its location, Dieck said. A flight from Chicago to Monterrey, 150 miles south of Laredo, Texas, takes about three hours, compared with more than 20 hours from Chicago to Bangkok.

The cultural differences between Mexico and the U.S. have lessened after more than a decade of lower trade barriers under the North American Free Trade Agreement. The cab ride from Monterrey's airport into town takes travelers past a Marriott hotel, a Carl's Jr. fast-food restaurant and 7-11 convenience stores.

Mexico operates a government-owned health system that provides coverage for all workers who pay taxes and their families. Many companies also pay for treatment at higher quality private hospitals.

Slim's Inbursa is financing Star Medica's expansion in exchange for an option to take an undisclosed stake in the company, Slim Domit said. Inbursa considers Star Medica a financial investment and doesn't plan to operate the hospital chain, he said.
Slim said he would like to see the U.S. government extend its Medicare and Medicaid benefits to U.S. citizens who retire in Mexico. Although U.S. government officials say the idea isn't under consideration, investors like Slim are hopeful.
``It would create a lot of jobs in Mexico,'' Slim said. ``That would be fantastic.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Thomas Black in Monterrey, Mexico, at tblack@bloomberg.net.

Tourism Dips Slightly, City and Merchants Launching New Promotional Efforts

2008-06-23T14:01:00.001-06:00

By Hector Aldrete GermanIssue #453

It is used to say in the stock market that "what goes up must come down." Well, Puerto Peñasco's tourism business 'went up' starting in 2007 and then went down by the end of the year. Compared with 2006, there was an increase of 15% to 20%, for an overall total room occupation around 65 to 68%, with the vacation period and the long weekends registering up to 90% occupation of hotels. This gave a positive boost to the our economy, says Conventions and Visitors Office (OCV) Director Rafael Gonzales Valenzuela. He calls these 'respectful' numbers compared with previous years - especially considering the problems affecting the USA economy, since it its that country which generates most of the tourism traffic to the harbor.

Because of the economic situation in our neighboring country- the economy recession, the mortgage issue, bank credits, and also because it is an elections year - US citizens are more conservative when planning their vacations, so tourism began to decrease at the end of 2007. Now 2008 has started bad compared with the previous year, but for the same reason, Gonzales Valenzuela assured that there is no reason to fear, because Puerto Peñasco has had 8 consecutive years of larger than normal economic growth with tourism always increasing. This season could be called a "stand by", so now during the out-of-season period there are several strategies developed with the hotel operators to counteract this situation which has generated some fear among the visitors which cancelled some prior reservations, commented some hotel operators.

Moreover, we have the new USA legislation demanding that all U.S. citizens must use their passports, something that is being informed to the potential tourist - although it is necessary to point that the legislation is not still yet mandatory on this specific region so the USA tourist has no impediment to return to his country.

On the other side, the tourism committee has decided to promote Peñasco as a family destination, aiming at a better quality of tourism instead of quantity, and trying to extend the average tourist stay 4 nights instead of the current average 3. Although that's no reason to forget the so called "youth tourism", because in Spring Break alone this tourism reaches an overall occupation level up to 95% each year.

Another point mentioned by Gonzales Valenzuela is the importance of national tourism, which also generates a large income. For instance the Holy Week (Semana santa), generated an occupation of 30,000 visitors last year - up to 100% complete and total occupation - so that's why there is more interest and emphasis in promoting Peñasco to Mexican tourists. For this year, Spring Break and the Holy Week will be very close, with Spring Break from March 10 to 20, and the Holy Week on March 20 to 23, a situation that is not really very convenient commercially speaking, because there would be only one period with a large number of visitors instead of the usual two.

But nevertheless Gonzales Valenzuela said that there would be some economic improvement during the middle of the year, months in which the economy will recover with the help from merchants, hotel operators and the city council, who are working together for the benefit of Puerto Peñasco, bringing back the high level of tourist visitors to our city.

GOVERNORS INCREASE EMERGENCY HELP, FIGHT BORDER VIOLENCE

2008-06-23T13:44:00.002-06:00

GOVERNORS INCREASE EMERGENCY HELP, FIGHT BORDER VIOLENCE

International partnerships improve border security, quality of life, infrastructure

PHOENIX - Governor Janet Napolitano and Sonoran Governor Eduardo Bours Castelo signed eight agreements addressing drug and weapon trafficking, felony fugitives, emergency response and border infrastructure in the Arizona-Sonora region at the Arizona-Mexico Commission's (AMC) 2008 Summer Plenary Session.

"As neighbors, collaboration is essential to our success in combating issues affecting the region," said Governor Napolitano. "Not only will partnerships advance our global competitiveness, but more importantly it will improve the quality of life for Arizonans and Sonorans."To expand cooperation between Arizona and Sonora, Governors Bours and Napolitano signed the following agreements:
Expansion of eTrace - Provides a secure Web based method to effectively and efficiently trace firearms recovered in crimes and reduce the number of illegal weapons moving through Arizona. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) will provide training to Sonoran police on how to identify guns, ammunition and explosives; recover obliterated serial numbers on guns; and record the information.

Expansion of State Fugitive and Felony Detail - Builds upon the directive from Governor Napolitano to the Arizona Department of Public Safety to develop a task force to identify and catch fugitives in Arizona. Now the mission includes fugitives in both states with intelligence sharing and training between Arizona and Sonora law enforcement. The agreement also addresses the extradition issues to enhance the return of criminals to the appropriate state for prosecution.

Illegal Narcotics Agreement - Shares intelligence between officials in both states regarding drug trafficking organizations that use Arizona as a gateway into the U.S. This program will allow the U.S. to prosecute Mexican nationals arrested on American soil for smuggling narcotics.

AZ3D Agreement - Spurs the exploration of sharing cross-border geospatial information among first responders, homeland security personnel and emergency managers during a crisis.

Border Emergency Agreement - Allows for the closest response team to provide help to citizens on either side of the border in emergency situations.

2015 Border Infrastructure Plan -Supports full cross-border coordination and cooperation for all Port of Entry projects and will educate stakeholders about the growth in commercial traffic at border entry points.

Health Highways Agreement - Increases community awareness of the public health problem and better protect the residents of this region by coordinating the sharing of educational information regarding highway safety and promoting the coordination of education campaigns.

Tri-National Emergency Response Plan - Provides emergency notification and communication, routine emergency planning and cross-border emergency planning, coordinated between the states of Arizona and Sonora and the Tohono O'odham Nation.

During this year's plenary, Professional Medical Transportation (PMT) Ambulance donated an ambulance to Puerto Penasco, Sonora. Additionally, the city of Hermosillo, Sonora received a van equipped to help the disabled as part of a joint donation effort between Phoenix Sister Cities and Veolia Transportation.

The AMC Plenary Session united approximately 500 people. Governors Napolitano and Bours met with public and private sector business leaders, legislators, policy influencers and community leaders from Arizona and Mexico to connect communities, change business and affect state policy to enhance the economy and quality of life in the Arizona-Sonora region.

Puerto Peñasco Causes Excitement In Mexico City

2008-04-26T02:26:00.002-06:00

By: Dai ChampsPuerto PeñascoIssue #393

Our real estate paradise is known by investors from all over the world
Every day there are people coming to Puerto Peñasco, not only for pleasure but also to do business. How is it said that in this port we could not have a mixture of both?

In one of the tourism developments at Sandy Beach we found a man from Mexico City, Daniel Arteaga, who was astonished by the development in Peñasco, "I was eager to know this place, in Mexico City Puerto Peñasco is getting to be known as a real estate paradise, that is why I am here, to invest together with my partners; they want to know more about this wonderful place" he commented.

Something that with out any doubt attracted our attention were the newspaper articles from national newspapers that Daniel Arteaga showed us, where Puerto Peñasco is causing great excitement in the city because of the value of the land.

In the "Reforma" newspaper we are as one of the top 5 favorite states for major investments in the tourism sector in the last six years. The first state is Guerrero with 22.6%, followed by Quintana Roo with 21.3%, Nayarit with 8%, Baja California with 7.4% and Sonora with 6.8%.
On the other hand, in the first six months of the present year, private investment in the tourism sector got as high as 2,064 million dollars (~$206m USD), the largest registered for a single period during the last six years. This number represents a growth of 13.2% with respect to the same period on the previous year, where 1,824 millions (~$182.4m USD) were invested, according to a report from the Secretary of Tourism (SECTUR).

Also, the "Reforma" newspaper published that Puerto Peñasco is growing like foam because of this comparison, where 56 millions (~$5.6m USD) where invested during the year 2001, while 260 millions (~$26m USD)where invested during 2005, and 1,200 millions (~$120m USD)are estimated between 2006 and 2009. Also, the value of the destination grew 953% in only seven years.

Its twenty kilometers of beach front are loaded with thirty two luxurious high rises, for a total of 2,615 units plus 3,600 more being constructed.
Reforma also outlines "Sandy Beach Resorts" as the first developer of the area, as it has various projects such as: Esmeralda Resorts, Casa Blanca and Princesa. The second development project is "Sonoran Resorts", where the state governors' family has 33% of the shares, and manages the Sonoran Sea, Sonoran Spa and Sonoran Sea Resorts.

In the next six years the largest investment will be the one from Mayan Palace, who will invest 1,000 million (~$100m USD) dollars, plus the selling of condominium and residential lots. This company will be the owner of the first international airport in Puerto Peñasco, an alternative airport will be built next to this tourist development.

The "land of gold" is how we are know called in Mexico City, due to the cost of land per meter square and to the luxurious developments that have a cost larger that in Acapulco. The average price for an apartment in Peñasco is 500, 000 dollars (~$50,000 USD) and it is estimated that by 2010 the price per meter square will be over 3,500 dollars ($350 USD).

Lucrative Land Next To Docks Is For Sale

2008-04-26T01:55:00.001-06:00

Several scale models and plans are ready for the project
By Ivan Bravo Lopez Issue #454

Since 1990 Puerto Peñasco has seen increase in the value of its land. Specifically the land located in the best areas and tourism zones along the beach have increased in both worth and price. The greed for obtaining a chunk of land belongs to the highest bidder, whether national or foreign. Anybody can own a part of this valuable coastal jewel along the Sea of Cortez.

There are many parties involved in the projects, such as landlords, builders, investors, international companies and even some fishermen and founders of Puerto Peñasco. Scale models and other samples have already been visualized by people that dream to become owners of the right to the use of the land near the docks. It is just a street away from the docks - and large five-star luxurious hotels will have the best ocean views, slides, and elevators that take them right to the docks where the yachts and vessels of the millionaire residents of the hotel stand ready. Others dream and fight over the right to use the dock space, and there are others that plan a seafood market in that high-traffic tourist area.

Many lots near the docks in the area where the shrimp vessels unload have already been sold. Now they belong to a few landlords who are waiting to see who will pay the most for that millionaire's neighborhood. The construction of condominiums in that tourist hotspot is already a reality. Year after year thousands of fishermen have used that area to unload their sea products and to refuel, but times have changed, and the blueprints and projects thought out by many will soon become reality. In just a couple of years the economic impact of tourism will make the fishing industry here disappear. It once was the economic pillar of this port and it helped feed thousands of families in Puerto Peñasco.

Tomas Espinoza Sesma, Director of Municipal Fishing Affairs mentioned that he is paying close attention to the sale of rights to the docks and that he is not sure that there are people interested in that development. "We are watching the leasing of the docks very carefully. There are interested people from outside of the docks, in the street on this side, around Luis Encinas St. The Municipal government is also watching closely, to see if there are benefits to the fishermen and no one else," said the director of Fishing Affairs.

There are also the fishermen that have dedicated their lives to fishing. They mention that they have travelled to the capital to different dependencies of the federal government to obtain the valuable permits to operate in the docks area.

Alfonso Avilez Alatorre, President of the Fisherman's Group 'Youth Lost To The Sea' said that "In the trips that we made to the capital we have seen scale models of this area in the Department of Tourism Projects. We could see large hotels with elevators and everything. However, we want a commercial zone in which we fishermen are favored since we have spent our whole lives fishing, and we think we deserve it."

"To obtain a permit for the rights of use of the docks we need 36 thousand pesos (~ $3,360 USD). We are working very hard in this Association to gain favoritism," said Alfonso Avilez Alatorre. He also mentioned that "they are already cleaning up the lots; we don't think that they are doing that just to make them look nice, we believe they already have projects. Another issue is that there used to be a freezer on Benito Juarez Blvd, now this freezer has been destroyed and the lot is already for sale. In the talks that we had with Heriberto Renteria, he told us that he has had talks with Arabian investors interested in this area. They wish to build a luxurious hotel. We have to get ready; otherwise this part will be sold to investors as well."

Lastly, the fishermen pointed out that every one has a scale model of their dreams and tourism projects under their beds. The building of the condominiums will start shortly because the lots are already available and ready for sale.

CEDO Initiates Naturarte Concept For Eco-Businesses

2008-04-26T01:49:00.000-06:00

New Program assists and supports ecotourism enterprises in the Morua Wetlands
By Pedro Barraza ReyesIssue #452

To reinforce the projects related to ecotourism enterprises in the Morua Wetlands, the Center for Studies of Deserts and Oceans (CEDO) will start the development of a new concept, called Naturarte, a novel work plan being implemented to increase the productivity of the afore mentioned enterprises, said the investigator Alejandro Castillo of CEDO.

Naturarte is a novel concept which provides assistance to ecotourism companies with expertise in customer attention, marketing, English classes, websites, blogs and everything needed for the administration of the companies, said Castillo.

Right now the intent is that companies already operating at the Morua Wetlands - such as the kayak rental and "El Barco" (The Ship) restaurant of the Cooperativa Unica de Mujeres - can maximize profits in a short time. For that purpose the Naturarte assistance plan was implemented, directed by Francisco McManus, who has a licensee degree in Natural Resources Administration and a master's degree in Aquifer Business, said Castillo during his presentation of this new member of the Staff of CEDO.

McManus detailed his tasks in leading this project and assured that it is necessary to get maximum benefit from the 15 thousand visitors to this center in order to promote this kind of business. Creating new projects as well as promoting existing ones outside of our borders to attract new customers to those businesses - to that end they have resources close to 440,000 pesos (~$40k USD) as a fund to begin and develop this project.

The researcher pointed out that for full development of Naturarte they count on the invaluable collaboration of 20 volunteers from the University of Arizona as well as another volunteer from England who will provide support for the same concept.

All this collaboration effort will be coordinated by McManus, said Castillo, adding that all this aims to promote ecotourism by means of existing companies and new projects, as long as they are within of the guidelines of Naturarte concept, which come to aid and to enlarge the expectative of productivity for the companies located at the wetlands, he said.

New Funding For Three Main Infrastructure Projects

2008-04-26T01:43:00.001-06:00

Plans To Designate 400M Pesos To Roads, Electricity, and Water During 2008

Funding expands to support three main infrastructure projects
With a projected investment of 400 million pesos (~$36.8M USD) the Director of Public Works is planning to continue during 2008 the integral project of city paving and electrification and water supply to the new neighborhoods - as well as enlarge the city's drainage network to improve the city's image.

Marco David Rangel Lopez, director of the afore mentioned office, said that it cannot be doubted that among the priorities of Mayor Heriberto Renteria Sanchez is the unprecedented Paving Works Project, for which he is obtaining a package of Federal Government resources around 100 million pesos (~$9.2M USD).

Rangel Lopez said that they want to continue with the pavement work on another 20 avenues and boulevards, covering a surface of more than 700 thousand square meters, in addition to the package of streets repaired during this past year. If this project is accomplished in full, the percentage of paved streets in our city will rise from 18% to 40%.
Moreover within the projects for 2008, the Director of Public Works mentioned that they will include the installation of the drainage network for the northwest sector of the city with and investment close to 60 million pesos (~$5.5M USD).

At the same time they will work on the construction and maintenance of sidewalks at the main boulevards and avenues, not forgetting the purpose of improving the image of the old harbor sector where financial resources are designated foir around 90 million pesos of improvements (~$8.3M USD) according with the executive plan approved by the city council.
To continue with the electrification in the New Peñasco and San Rafael neighborhoods, it is an investment of at least 15 million pesos (~$1.38M USD) is designated for 2008, and it is also planned to attend to the delayed work on the water supply and they will also program to provide basic services.

He added that among the plans and projects for this year are actions for benefit of schools with the construction of classrooms, fences, tile roofs and to attend several requests channeled through the Sonorense Program of Social Participation (PASOS) and the Direction of Social Development.

He also added that currently they have a work plan with more than 200 projects of pavement works, urban improvement, basic services, schools and religious centers, that will be accomplished according with the flow of the municipal resources as well as with the resources assigned from the state and federal governments - and in some cases with assistance from credit entities.

Investing In Mexico

2008-04-19T22:22:00.002-06:00

Investment in Mexico
International Living.com

Mexico's Vibrant Economy and Strong Peso Make Investing in Mexico Particularly Safe
With its growing GDP, a higher level of foreign direct investment than any other Latin country, and a current political climate that is more pluralistic and open to investment than any other of the last seven decades, investing in Mexico today offers high rewards with limited risk.

The peso is strong. Direct foreign investment is at an all-time high. It all bodes well for your investment here. You don't have to worry about radical revaluation of the currency, or that social unrest will unseat the government. Mexico is well positioned for growth.

Why Investing in Mexico Makes so Much Sense Right Now
Investing in any foreign country comes with certain risks. There's the strength of the country's currency to consider, the health of its economy, its openness to foreign investment, its relative political stability, the transparency of its laws. In many places around the world, the risks are high in nearly all of these categories.

Expanding Global Trade Relations
Mexico shares more than a 2,000-mile border with the United States. Yet many people have strikingly outdated conceptions of Mexico. The fact is that since the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Mexico has been, and continues to be, a major player in Western Hemisphere and world politics and economics.
Post-NAFTA Mexico boasts an incredibly resilient economic environment. In the 13 years NAFTA has been in effect, foreign investment has almost doubled, from $5-6 billion to $10-12 billion a year. In 2001, inflation in Mexico fell to a 30-year low, and the flow of foreign capital into the Mexican stock market rose more than 6%, helping make it the seventh best performing stock market on the planet. In 2002, Standard and Poor's and Fitch and Moody's upgraded Mexico's sovereign debt to investment grade, and foreign direct investment rose almost 11% over 2001 levels, totaling more than $30 billion in June of that year. And in 2003, JP Morgan added Mexico bonds to its Government Bond Index, making them attractive to institutional investors.

Also in February 2003, The Wall Street Journal published an article entitled "Mexico Real Estate Is a Haven for U.S. Institutional Investors." Here's an excerpt: "War anxieties abroad, sluggish returns at home, and Mexico's recent recognition as investment-grade by all three major U.S. credit-rating agencies are behind the surge of U.S. institutional cash seeking a haven in Mexican real estate. According to industry analysts in both countries, more than $1 billion has washed into Mexico from U.S. institutional investors over the past eight months, and a lot more is on the way."

Mexico's Strong Peso
Mexico's peso is strong and has remained so against the dollar over the last few years. The peso has been buoyed in part by the significant foreign investment in Mexico and also by recent capital flight from Argentina. A strong local currency bodes well if you're considering a direct investment in Mexico. You won't have to contend with the wild swings in property pricing that you might find elsewhere.

Infrastructure Improvements to Further Facilitate Mexican Investment, Trade, and Tourism
The last two presidents have seemed committed to allocating funds for new and expanded roads, ports, and telecommunication infrastructure. This goes hand in hand with increased privatization, which will allow concessions in the national airport network and the telecommunications sector. The idea is that all of those improvements will further encourage and facilitate commerce.Following in the footsteps of Acapulco and Cancún, the Costa Maya project is the newest government-backed tourism initiative. Located along the last undeveloped swath of Mexico's Caribbean coast, just north of Belize, this project is already attracting private investors--both large and small. A privately owned pier at Majahual is welcoming cruise ships, and work is underway to bring electricity and better roads to the region.

Why You Should Consider Investing in Mexico Real Estate
Although the Mexican government does not offer any direct incentives to promote investment in Mexico, there are many benefits to purchasing real estate in this country. The property taxes are miniscule compared with the U.S. and Canada, usually costing just a few hundred dollars per year. It is also very easy to be exempted from paying the capital gains tax--you just have to prove that you resided in the property for at least six months. The appreciation in many areas, especially on the coasts, can be very high, with 50% or more per annum being a realistic number. And above all, buying Mexican real estate is safe and easy, with more and more financing sources available to U.S. and Canadian residents through both U.S. and Mexican banks.

The Best Places in Mexico to Buy Real Estate (and Enjoy Life)
Wherever you go in Mexico, the friendly people will charm you, the natural beauty will seduce you, and the remarkably affordable cost of living will entice you to stay. As is true in any country, real estate in some areas is more affordable than in others. And different places, of course, appeal to different people. If you want extensive infrastructure, ease of access, an established expatriate community…you can have all that. On the other hand, if you're looking for a little slice of deserted beach away from it all, you can find that too…and all of it at surprisingly reasonable prices.

Possible Pemex Reform

2008-04-17T20:37:00.002-06:00

Mexico's Calderon Attempts Oil Reform
Oxford Analytica 04.11.08, 6:00 AM ET

Mexico's President Felipe Calderón on April 8 sent an ambitious oil reform to the Senate. If approved, reform of state oil monopoly Pemex should attract private investment--domestic and foreign. However, approval probably will face legal challenges and political resistance--both in parliament and on the streets.

Government moves to liberalize Pemex had been awaited for weeks. The bill sent to the Senate on April 8 is ambitious enough to boost oil production and reserves through increased partnerships and contracts with other energy companies without seeking to amend the constitution. It would also allow Pemex to become more operationally and administratively autonomous.

Political savvy.
Calderón showed his political experience--particularly as a parliamentarian--when preparing and presenting reforms:

--As he lacks a working majority in Congress, the government negotiated beforehand with the center-left Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), a successful strategy when pursuing fiscal reform.

--Unless political developments force its leaders radically to change position, most PRI legislators probably will support the government. Publicly, PRI chiefs will criticize the proposal and seek amendments, while also arguing that it represents progress and deserves support.

--Calderón himself sent the legislation, staking his own political capital--he could have sent it through legislators from his center-right National Action Party (PAN).

No constitutional hurdle.
No constitutional change was proposed, but several laws were modified, the most important of which regulates Pemex's operations. Therefore, a simple majority in Congress can approve it (not the two-thirds required for constitutional changes). This makes acceptance easier for the PRI leadership, which had ruled out supporting changing the constitution (that gives the state exclusive oil ownership)

--The proposal was sent to the Senate, which has fewer members and is easier to negotiate with. The PAN has 52 of 128 senators, so needs only 13 additional votes. The PRI has 33 senators and the National Alliance Party (PANAL), which supports Calderón, one. Support from the Green Party (six senators) can also be negotiated. The other three parties, most important the center-left Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), follow defeated presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The government probably will not try to negotiate with them.

--Senate approval would create momentum in the Chamber of Deputies, where the PAN has 206 of 500 seats (the PRI has 104, PANAL nine, the Green Party 19, and a small party with four deputies may support Calderón). The PRD and its allies hold 158 seats.

Contract tweaking.
The most significant and controversial change the government seeks would allow Pemex to establish agreements to pay contractors according to performance. This is a proxy for risk-sharing deals, which formally remain forbidden:

--No Pemex partner could expect a share in oil discovered or extracted.

--New contracts are expected to allow Pemex to establish joint ventures that would facilitate exploitation of deep-sea oil deposits, which requires technology that Pemex largely lacks.

While the government would have preferred risk-sharing contracts, this is unacceptable to many PRI members.

Refinery construction.
Another crucial change would allow companies other than Pemex to build and manage oil refineries, with Pemex keeping full ownership of output:

--The government thus avoids the massive investment needed to build them, while slashing gasoline imports. Pemex currently imports 40% of gasoline products, selling them at a loss.

--The government estimates three new refineries being built over the next decade.

Greater autonomy.
Additionally, Pemex would be allowed a separate legal framework for contracts, procurement and operations from that regulating the rest of government, allowing greater managerial independence and more flexibility to reinvest profits. Additionally, the company will face a gradually reducing tax burden.

Citizen bonds.
Calderón also announced that Pemex would issue "citizen bonds"-- debt with yield tied to company performance. The main aim probably is to create a public perception of being a stakeholder in the company, rather than helping Pemex finance operations.

Lopez Obrador offensive.
Lopez Obrador is expected to attack the government, which he has sought to destabilize since it took office. Pemex represents his best chance to do this, as for many Mexicans it is a nationalist icon:

--Claiming repeatedly that the administration aims to "privatize" the company, he has staked political capital on derailing liberalization, however timid.

--He has organized "oil defense brigades" that probably will block infrastructure and, crucially, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, to protest against the proposal and obstruct legislators.

Positive News For Two Projects

2008-04-16T09:20:00.002-06:00

Tuesday, Apr. 15, 2008
Strategic Capital Solutions Affiliate Agrees to Acquire Equity Interest in Luxury Resort Development Project in Puerto Penasco, Mexico
SCS Expands Its Reach Throughout Latin America

NEW YORK — SCS-Strategic Capital Solutions, LLC ("SCS") (www.strategiccapitalsolutions.com) today announced the signing of an agreement by its affiliated real estate investment group for the acquisition of a significant equity interest in the luxury resort development project known as "Villa Cortez" located in Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point), Sonora, Mexico.

The agreement is subject to certain conditions, including the completion of a construction loan for the first phase to be provided by SCS and the procurement of an experienced hotel management group to operate the project. Several management groups have expressed interest. No Further details were disclosed.

"There is no comparable development currently within the Puerto Penasco market. Design development has been completed, engineering work is virtually complete, and preliminary site preparation has commenced. We believe Villa Cortez is a unique project due to its pristine location, relatively undeveloped surrounding areas, and prime oceanfront location," said Edward O. Mehrfar, Senior Managing Director of SCS.

Villa Cortez will consist of five buildings spread over a 34-acre parcel, with 600+ lineal feet of beachfront. The first building, which is almost sold out, consists of luxury condominium residences that are expected to be managed and branded by an international hotel operator. The remaining buildings will feature ocean views, transitional resort architecture with a Mexican flair, cobblestone roads, extensive walking paths, a spectacular world-class pool area, and spa and banquet facilities - in a secure, guard-gated environment.

"This transaction highlights our commitment towards sponsoring and financing quality projects in Mexico, and throughout Latin America," says Daniel Leski, senior member of the SCS business development team. "We believe that the Latin American markets still offer tremendous investment opportunities."

ABOUT SCS-STRATEGIC CAPITAL SOLUTIONS, LLC
SCS specializes in providing competitive financing solutions for commercial transactions and real estate projects worldwide. An acknowledged leader in bridge lending and special situations financings, the SCS team includes attorneys, investment bankers, and analysts. SCS has the experience to handle basic transactions promptly, and the passion to solve the most complex.
SCS-Strategic Capital Solutions, LLC Edward O. Mehrfar, Managing Member 212-379-1250 info@strategiccapitalsolutions.com www.strategiccapitalsolutions.com

Omega Annouces an International Joint Venture Development With BBB Development in Puerto Penasco, Mexico
April 09, 2008: 04:07 PM EST

Omega Commercial Finance Corp. (OTCBB: OCFN), a high/yield commercial real estate finance company that specializes in lending to middle market borrowers, is announcing a joint venture development with BBB Developments. Jon S. Cummings IV, President and CEO, has executed a Joint Venture LOI with Chris Crane of BBB Developments. The project called Los Corrales Condominiums is a 308 unit direct ocean and beach front condominium development located in Puerto Penasco, Mexico just 4 hours south of the Arizona border, in the free trade zone also known as the Gulf of California/Sea of Cortez.

Omega has been engaged for two years to arrange the initial construction and land "take-out" financing for BBB Developments. Despite the lack of interest by Omega in the US condominium market, this opportunity has opened their eyes to the strong international resort destination market, specifically in Puerto Penasco. Lisa-Babbage Jackson, Omega's real estate analyst and board member with over 25 yrs of expertise in the real estate industry, was presented a feasibility report that had a quote from a recently published article by the Wharton School of Business stating, "The real estate boom is under way in Latin America -- with Mexico being the region's biggest winner." This boom is evidenced in part by Marriott Hotels announcing a newly planned development of a 4-diamond/star hotel just minutes away from the Los Corales site and Puerto-Penasco (Rocky Point) announcing the opening in 2009 of international flights from major cities.

Omega presented to Chris Crain the opportunity for a joint venture rather than the traditional financing structure. Omega will be responsible for the $61 million construction costs and receive 45% of the net profit from the sales. This was a "No Brainer" for Omega, considering 108 of the units are pre-sold with hard contracts in place which represent $38 million in sales. BBB Development has been self-funding this operation from their own capital and groups of personal friends and family members. BBB Developments acquired the property from the Godoy family for $11.4 million through seller financing, also increasing the property's market value from $12 million to a recently appraised value of $18 million. Omega estimates generating a two -year annualized IRR of 25% or $39.5 million in net profits. Omega anticipates construction to start once they have their overall high/yield commercial real estate credit facility in place within the next 30 to 90 days. Jon S. Cummings III, the Chairman of Omega, has noted that, "We believe this will benefit our shareholders both over the near and far term while generating attractive returns. In addition, the joint venture is expected to generate significant capital to redeploy into supplementary high/yield commercial real estate financing opportunities."

Safe Harbor Statement: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. Certain of the statements contained herein, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements with respect to events, the occurrence of which involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements may be impacted, either positively or negatively, by various factors. Information concerning potential factors that could affect the Company is detailed from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Contact:Omega Commercial Finance Corp.(305) 677-0306

Puerto Peñasco: Next Stop For Huge Cruiseliners?

2008-04-02T02:19:00.002-06:00

By Ivan Bravo LopezIssue #449
There is a possibility that a harbor to accommodate large tourist cruises will be built in Puerto Peñasco, said the Federal Tourism Secretary Rodolfo Elizondo Torres, during a work tour he had on Tuesday 20 of November in this harbor.

After performing the official ceremony to inaugurate the SARE offices, the Tourism and Bussiness Center at the City Hall, in an interview for this newspaper, the Tourism Secretary mentioned that several conversations had been held with the Governor of Sonora Eduardo Bours Castelo to study the possibility to bring to this market large tourist cruise ships.

"We are thinking about the possibility to develop a harbor for cruisers, this is what we have been discussing with Governor Eduardo Bours, it is only an idea, so in simple terms we have to study it, see what possibilities are there, personally it seems to me a good option and we must follow the procedures to see if it is really convenient, to see how large an investment is necessary, what markets we must take into our aims", said Rodolfo Elizondo Torres, Tourism Secretary.
He also added that implementing casinos in Puerto Peñasco is viable, but nowadays it depends more than ever on the Mexican Congress to obtain authorization for their operations. He also recognized that is not necessary to install casinos to attract more tourism, since Puerto Peñasco has already on its way as a tourist development and the casinos will be only one more choice to offer to national and foreign tourist developers.

"In Mexico we already have the lottery, bingos, horse racing, and other types of gambling, I believe it should be formalized to exist a law which clearly states the legal framework for this issue. Casinos are not always the detonator for a tourism development, the development of Puerto Peñasco has already 'blasted off' and it will be only another option for tourists", he said.
On its own, Elizondo Torres pointed that the expansion of the checkpoint at the Sonoyta border with Lukeville will 'favour without a shadow of a doubt' the tourism in Puerto Peñasco, since tourists will avoid 4 or 5 hours of waiting in line to enter our country. "We need to invest more on the need of a transformation to get a more smooth flow and not to wait for things to be more complicated as they are now, is a project which does not depend exclusively on the Federal Government and the Federal government, because it s a bi-lateral project", said Elizondo Torres.
Finally, the Secretary of Tourism said that the creation of the international airport will be an extra boost for the economy, since it will allow entry in a more active market, and not only the frontier market, but it will give a different kind of growth to Puerto Peñasco.

Investment Properties Are Selling Again

2008-04-01T23:31:00.004-06:00

Sales are up in Puerto Penasco, Finally! With the downturn in the United States Economy and the falling dollar; sales in Puerto Penasco have been slow up until the last two months. Prices have dropped and flattened out and buyers have stopped waiting and are coming back down and taking advantage of the lower prices. Baby boomers, now is the time to buy... If the trend stays on the upswing prices will definitely start climbing again. I have buyers scheduled to come into town the next three weeks from Canada, Oregon, and Oklahoma. The word is out! Puerto Penasco is a safe place to invest and the prices aren't going to get any better than now. If you are on the fence it is time to really consider an exploratory trip down south and see why Puerto Penasco is Mexico's fastest growing home market.

Coastal Highway

2008-04-01T23:19:00.003-06:00

The coastal highway north of town is moving again at full speed. Most of the road is complete and the engineers are hard at work in the dune area laying a foundation to get ready for pavement on a desolate and silty stretch located between Puerto Penasco and El Golfo Santa Clara. I will have more information on the progress soon and I will keep you updated as to when it is expected to be ready for use. Also, the lower coastal highway is being cut into the earth down by Deseboque. Both of these highways will bring a tremendous increase in visitor traffic into Puerto Penasco from both Mexico and California.

PPAREA Declines Merger

2008-04-01T23:02:00.006-06:00

Today the Puerto Penasco Area Real Estate Association (PPAREA) declined the proposed merger between the local AMPI chapter with PPAREA. The institutional members decided if the AMPI companies wanted to be on the local Flex MLS system they would have to join the Broker - Agent based organization PPAREA. For the consumer this is an important decision by PPAREA not to merge. This should encourage the non PPAREA companies to join and represent their clients to their fullest potential by being on the Flex MLS. This link gives a complete list of professional organizations on the Flex MLS http://www.rockypointmultilist.com/ . Please take a moment and see who is on the list of MLS professionals, especially if you are thinking of buying or selling a home. Please do not sell yourself short...

Arizona Mexico Commission Meeting

2008-03-24T23:15:00.000-06:00

U.S.-Mexico Border States Conference: Filmmaking, Economic Development, and Intellectual Property Rights

Thursday 03/27/08 - Friday 03/28/08
March 27-28, 2008
Film conference focuses on economic development, artistic, and cultural impact of filmmaking on the border states of the U.S. and Mexico and the need to protect intellectual property rights so that this creative and job-creation activity continues to thrive and flourish in this dynamic border community. The conference will include panels, screenings, a luncheon, and presentations by several filmmakers and industry profesionals.
Co-presented by The Motion Picture Association, The National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade, Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores, and The University of Arizona.
Registration: This event will take place at The University of Arizona. Registration is required.
For information: Contact Vicky Westover, Program Director, Hanson Film Institute at victoria@hansonfilm.org, (520)626-9825.

Arizona Mexico Commission News

2008-03-24T23:10:00.000-06:00

"Doing Business in Mexico" Conference for Attorneys, CPAs, Real Estate Brokers and Other Professionals

Thursday 03/27/08 8:30 AM - Friday 03/28/08 5:00 PM
Date: March 27-28, 2008
Time: 8:30AM-5:00PM
To register: Call Ms. Caroline Kert at (303) 865-3120 ext. 109.
Special discount: $100 off the registration fee for Commission members, when you register by phone. Mention code WVDL.

Commission presenters:- Benjamin Aguilera and Carlos Rojas of Aguilera Lindsey- Carlos Emmermann of Sonoran Bank, N.A.- Juan Francisco Moreno and Jeronimo Gomez del Campo of Bryan Cave- Fernando Jimenez of the Arizona Department of Commerce- Tim Kelley of IMI Group, Inc.- Richard Krumbein and Carlos Sugich of Snell & Wilmer- Luis Ramirez Thomas of Ramirez Advisors Inter-National- Phillip Robbins of Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, P.L.C.- Wendy Vittori of Arizona-Sonora Manufacturing Initiative, L.L.C.

Register today to learn from leaders in the field, have your questions answered and network with others in attendance.
Address/Location:Hilton Scottsdale Resort & VIllas6333 N. Scottsdale Rd.Scottsdale, AZ 85250(303) 865-3120 ext. 109Click here for a map and/or driving directions.
Associated Files/Downloads:
Conference Brochure and Agenda

News On Las Conchas H20

2008-03-24T10:44:00.000-06:00

Rocky Pt. DEsalination planned
Drinking seawater in Puerto Peñasco
Partnership's plant is to serve 600 beachfront homes in Sonora
By Gabriela Rico
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona Published: 02.20.2008

More than 600 beachfront homes in Puerto Peñasco will have drinkable tap water — from the sea — by the end of the year.
In a first-of-its-kind partnership in the Sonoran city also known as Rocky Point, the Las Conchas Home Owners Association has signed a contract with Mexico City-based Grupo Agua de Mexico to build and operate a desalination plant for the housing development.
Residents of the community, in the southern part of Puerto Peñasco, held a groundbreaking ceremony last week. Construction of the plant is expected to be completed this fall.

Tucsonan Jean Steward, president of the homeowners group, said the project has been in the works for several years. Homeowners collected or purchased the equipment and materials and turned everything over the Grupo Agua de Mexico for construction.
Residents will not incur any costs for the plant's construction but will pay a monthly fee for the water, she said.
The service will cost about $65 a month, plus usage charges, Steward said.
Currently, residents pay a minimum of $10 per quarter for water and then $20 to $500 monthly depending on how much they use, she said. With the new plant, residents will no longer have to buy bottled water to drink, Steward noted.
When complete, the plant will have the capacity to accommodate 1,000 homes, the expected size of the development once it's built out, Steward said.
"We're very excited," she said.

Desalination removes dissolved minerals from seawater through reverse osmosis — a technology used in some home water purifiers — or distillation.
The majority of desalination plants are in the Middle East — 60 percent of the world's 7,500 operating plants, according to the California Coastal Commission.
The technology's growing popularity is not without its critics.
Environmentalists point out that desalination is energy-intensive, that small marine animals can be sucked into the desalination tubes during the water extraction process and that brine is deposited back into the ocean after the water is treated.
Still, interest in turning salty seawater into drinking water is growing.
In August 2007, the largest inland desalination plant in the world opened in El Paso, to benefit Fort Bliss, according to AlterNet, a magazine that advocates for the environment.
On a smaller scale, a 1-million-gallon-per-day desalination plant is under development in La Paz, Baja California Sur. Seven Trent Services, based in Torrance, Calif., will build the plant for the Maravia Country Club Estates, a 5,000-acre tourist, residential and golf community.
For Puerto Peñasco residents, access to clean water had become a concern as development in the oceanfront community shows no signs of slowing.

For the past several years, water has been severely restricted to homes in Las Conchas during the drought-ridden summer months, Steward said.
● Contact reporter Gabriela Rico at 573-4232 or grico@azstarnet.com.

Welcome To My Information Blog

2008-03-23T23:50:00.000-06:00

This is my first entry into the world of blogging. Semana Santa has passed and things will be winding back down to a smoother pace here in town. Every year I look forward to the increased tourism of Spring Break and Semana Santa and every year I look forward to things winding back down to a reasonable pace again.
The real estate market is gaining momentum here again even with the bad press brought about by the ever present snake oil salesmen and land ownership disputes. Tourism is of course on the rise again and we are even enjoying some very promising write-ups from the Los Angeles Times as well as Texas and Arizona newspapers. Life is pretty good here in rocky point and I for love this place.
I am currently working on my new office located on the short cut to town from Sandy Beach along "Quad Rental Row." Both my business partner and my wife think the remodel is going a bit slower than it should, but I want to make sure it is just right before I open it up for business. It is scheduled to be open by the end of next week if all goes well with Telmex and CFE on installing what I want - where I want.
There are two real estate associations operating in Rocky Point; The Puerto Penasco Association of Real Estate Agents and AMPI. Recently the two organizations have been discussing the possibility of joining forces to get the companies that belong to the local AMPI chapter on the Flex MLS hosted and used by the membership of PPAREA. It is looking like the "Merger" is probably not going to happen which would still leave the companies which choose not to join PPAREA without access or the ability to post their listings on the Flex MLS. This is not a good thing for those without access to the MLS or their client base. Hopefully, the remaining hold-out business will recognize the necessity of being on the Flex MLS and join PPAREA. You can see a list of companies that are currently on the MLS at www.rockypointmultilist.com if you are thinking about buying or selling a home in Puerto Penasco. Please don't sell yourself short.
I do have to mention something I witnessed the other day and I wish I had not. There was a terrible accident on the Playa Encanto road on Good Friday. I cannot stress enough just how precious life is and how we all need to be careful and know to be safe and alert of what we are doing while operating a motor vehicle. It saddens me tremendously to see visitors get hurt down here so please be careful. Thank you for your time and come back for more postings. Have a great week.
Geoff