Don't believe everything you hear on TV
I am entering my fourth year of living full time in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico. If I had the talent, I would write a book about all the wonderful reasons why I call Mazatlan my home. I was born and raised in Oregon, a beautiful place with wonderful people and a lot of rain. Mazatlan is similar except for the 8 months of rain!!!
This past year I have heard many negative reports about Mexico from the news media in the US. "Mexico is a dangerous place to live and visit". "Drug violence is common in the streets". "Tourists are targets". "Police are corrupt". And now, the "Swine Flu" epidemic. Being a baby boomer and seeing the evolution of television, I know the reporting of bad news boosts ratings. Today it appears the American news media is targeting their neighbors to the South. The reporting is unfair and wrong.
I was at a friend's house a couple of months ago, watching a major network prime time news cast. The female anchor's lead story..."Drug violence in Mexican Resort town out of control. This report and more following these commercials”. It caught my attention since I live in Mexico's most beautiful resort town, Mazatlan. After the break, the story was from Tijuana!! Nothing against Tijuana, but isn't it where underage kids from California go and drink until they pass out? Most of my "older" peers would not dream of going to Tijuana on vacation.
Anyway...do not judge an entire country based upon what you see on TV about a few towns on the US-Mexican border. At the same friend's house, his local TV news comes from Atlanta, Georgia. If I judged the entire US by the daily violence and crime in Atlanta, I would NEVER consider visiting the US. Violence in the streets, child abductions, murder, arson..........no, not in Mazatlan but in Atlanta, Georgia!!
Mazatlan has approximately 30,000 Canadians and Americans living here full or part time. I am confident they feel the same way I do about safety. The city is safe and yes, like any large city, crime exists. But dangerous? No way.
There is a strong police and military presence in Mazatlan. Yes, they all carry weapons. I have never had a weapon pulled on me!! I have been pulled over by the police a couple of times. Each time was for speeding and each time.....I was speeding. Here in Mazatlan we can receive a ticket and the police keep our license to guarantee we show up to pay the fine. We can also "negotiate" our fine with the police. Corrupt? I am not here to judge common practices in a foreign country. I believe the customs in other countries are not wrong, just different than in Oregon.
In conclusion, television news will never change. If you want to know the truth about an area, asked someone familiar with the area. This will be the most reliable "news".