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Take Two

Mexican government pledges $3.4 billion to stem violence in Michoacán

By Take Two Staff
Published Feb 5, 2014
Mexican soldiers patrol the streets of Apatzingan, in Michoacan State, Mexico, on January 16, 2014. On the eve, federal police and army troops said they had 17 cities and towns in western Mexico under control after clashing with vigilantes and seizing Apatzingan (population 120,000) --a bastion of the Knights Templars cartel-- Uruapan (315,000) and Mugica (45,000) among others. The turmoil in Michoacan has become the biggest security challenge for President Enrique Pena Nieto's 13-month-old administration, undermining his pledge to reduce drug violence.
Mexican soldiers patrol the streets of Apatzingan, in Michoacan State, Mexico, on January 16, 2014. The turmoil in Michoacan has become the biggest security challenge for President Enrique Pena Nieto's 13-month-old administration, undermining his pledge to reduce drug violence.
(
ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images
)

Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.

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Mexican government pledges $3.4 billion to stem violence in Michoacán

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto says his government will spend nearly $3.5 billion in the state of Michoacán.

That's where violence flared last month as armed vigilante groups rose up to challenge the hold of regional drug cartel forces. Peña Nieto unveiled the plan Tuesday on a visit to the state capital Morelia. The plan includes loans for small businesses, improvements to local ports and roads and funds for education and healthcare.

But it's uncertain if this will translate into meaningful reforms or stem the long-running violence. For more, we're joined by journalist Ioan Grillo, in Mexico City. He's the author of "El Narco: Inside Mexico's Criminal Insurgency."