By Abdiel Ortega
In a landmark event at Ensenada’s Municipal Palace on Thursday, Mayor Claudia Agatón delivered her first State of the City address, marking a year focused on improving public safety and revitalizing city infrastructure. The ceremony, attended by state officials and local residents, underscored the historic nature of her administration.
Standing alongside Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda, Agatón — the first woman to lead Ensenada in its 143-year history — detailed key accomplishments, including a city-wide streetlight replacement program and substantial investments in public security and municipal services.
Reflecting on her election, Agatón framed her leadership as the culmination of decades of struggle for women’s representation.
“Thanks to President Claudia Sheinbaum and Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila for showing us that women can govern with great strength, determination, and love. Because of them, I can now say with pride, ‘I am the first woman mayor.’ We arrived together with those who for a long time fought, dreamed, tried, and never stopped. It took 143 years for a woman to take the reins of their destiny and the great opportunity to govern this beautiful municipality,” the mayor said.
Despite light rain, thousands of residents gathered in the main square to hear her speak about the administration’s achievements over the past year.
Security and Road Repair
The mayor focused on two major campaign priorities: public safety and road maintenance.
“We increased patrols by 60%, managing to reduce the crimes that harmed our citizens the most. Home burglaries dropped by 43%, while homicides, vehicle theft, and business robberies all fell by 30%,” the mayor explained.
She also highlighted the strengthened Violet Squad, which responded to nearly 3,000 cases of domestic violence. Additionally, the city invested roughly $4.5 million USD (83 million pesos) in 80 patrol cars, 15 fire trucks, and five rescue vehicles.
Agatón reported that 62,305 security patrols were conducted last year, representing a 60% increase compared with previous administrations.
On infrastructure, the mayor said, “We paved 74,000 square meters, roughly equivalent to 10 times the distance from the San Miguel toll booth to Playa Hermosa,” addressing a persistent concern for local residents.
