The Baja California Congress has had enough of the territorial tug-of-war between Ensenada and Playas de Rosarito. Lawmakers have once again told both city halls to sit down, coordinate, and finally wrap up the handover of disputed land and assets.
Yes, again.
This latest “exhorto”, basically a strongly worded reminder, was approved unanimously in Congress. The message was clear: Ensenada needs to finish delivering the goods to Rosarito, and Rosarito needs to get its ducks in a row to take over. The call came from Morena deputies Juan Manuel Molina García and Jaime Eduardo Cantón Rocha, who insisted that after years of dragging feet, residents deserve legal certainty and decent public services.
The backstory goes like this. The Baja California Territorial Statute (Decree 15, for those keeping score) set rules for municipal boundaries. It told Ensenada to hand over certain properties, records, and even tax authority to Rosarito. Articles Five and Six of the statute gave a 180-day deadline for transferring files and updating regulations. That deadline passed long ago, yet here we are.
Even January 2024 saw a similar resolution pushed by the very same players: Rocío Adame Muñoz (now Rosarito’s mayor) and Claudia Agatón Muñiz (now mayor of Ensenada). Both promised cooperation. Both still have homework.
In the meantime, confusion reigns in the disputed neighborhoods. Which city collects taxes? Which city provides services? Residents aren’t amused. Congress says the situation undermines trust in government.
The new exhorto adds a layer of accountability. It calls for a legislative follow-up table involving committees on governance, finance, and municipal strengthening. Translation: lawmakers will keep checking until the job is done.
Some voices are calling for more than just a handover. Miguel Ángel Lazcano Campos, legal advisor for the Pro Municipio Committee, argues that Ensenada should not only stop charging taxes in Rosarito’s turf but also pay back what it’s already collected. That idea should spice up future negotiations.
For her part, Ensenada mayor Claudia Agatón recently met with deputies and promised to cooperate. “We want this resolved so residents have certainty and can receive all the services they’re entitled to,” she said. Sounds good on paper—now it’s about action.
Congress isn’t pretending this is optional. The unanimous vote shows legislators are done with excuses. Rosarito and Ensenada have to finish the handoff, transfer the files, and put the territorial dispute to rest.
Until then, it’s a tale of two cities sharing one headache.
It would be helpful if you told is what neighborhoods were in dispute.