The renovation of the Playas de Tijuana Boardwalk, carried out during Montserrat Caballero’s administration, was executed in an improvised and irregular manner. This resulted in excessive multimillion-dollar spending, structural, environmental, and social risks, and multiple administrative irregularities.
Due to this, Mayor Ismael Burgueño’s administration had to take emergency action to mitigate risks, prevent collapses and potential loss of life, and redesign the project to safeguard the city’s assets.
At a press conference this Thursday, local Government Minister Arnulfo Guerrero León, Territorial Development Minister Virginia Vargas González, and the City Hall’s legal advisor, Alejandro Rivero, explained the problems inherited from Caballero’s administration.
First, the project lacked environmental permits and specialized technical studies, which led to the Baja California Civil Protection Coordination (CEPCBC) to suspend work in November 2024.
Additionally, contractors with no experience in coastal infrastructure were hired just weeks before the new administration took office and were given a 30% advance payment on the total project cost.
This caused severe erosion on the slope due to near-vertical 90-degree cuts, leading to collapses and sinkholes on walkways, as well as direct risks to human lives, homes, and nearby businesses.
In response, Burgueño’s administration implemented mitigation measures, including slope rehabilitation, the construction of pilings, retaining walls, and headers, and the installation of lighting for improved safety.
Guerrero highlighted the coordination with SEMARNAT and the Baja California government to develop a new Environmental Impact Statement (MIA) and specialized studies that will ensure the project’s proper execution for the community’s benefit.
The three officials emphasized that Mayor Burgueño’s administration does not operate on improvisation but instead acts based on the law, technical expertise, and a commitment to citizens.
