ROCKY ROAD
Don't want to be caught in the crossfire: It's a sad state of affairs in Rocky Point ("Scarecation," Ray Stern, March 10). I personally hope the place doesn't go under [economically], because I have loved going there for more than 20 years.
But it is Mexico, and as your story proves, Mexican-style violence is arriving there.
In fact, after your story was published came the story of a young man who was shot after being chased through Rocky Point's streets. Then, assassins found him in his hospital bed and finished the job ("Rocky Point Assassination," Best of Our Blogs, Gregory Pratt, March 17).
He wasn't an American, and maybe had a connection to the drug cartels, but I don't want my family caught in the crossfire of some drug-related shootout.
I'm saying that until things calm down in Mexico — if they ever do — we will be staying away from even beautiful, formerly peaceful Rocky Point.
Ed Ward, Phoenix
A fair survey of the situation: I've been in the Valley for 33 years and have owned homes in Las Conchas for 25. I know everyone in [Rocky Point], businesspeople mostly. Your article was the most concise, authentic, and fair I've read on the subject.
Ron Clement, Phoenix
Still safer than U.S. cities: Rocky Point is, without a doubt, safer than any big U.S. city. It's far more likely that you would get killed in Phoenix than in this sleepy little town.
Your point that the violence in Rocky Point has been [focused on] Mexicans, who may have had some connection to the drug cartels, is a good one. My family and I go there every year, and we're not planning to stop — and, as [Latinos], we're far more likely to get shot than white people.
Jorge Padilla, Phoenix
Flying in would be safer: Once in Rocky Point, everybody will be fine. It's the long drive from the border to the beach where shit could happen. Being able to [fly in commercially] will help the cool little town's tourism.
J.H. Martin, Phoenix
Crimes go unsolved down there: As you point out, one of the scariest things about Mexico — and, I guess, Rocky Point is included — is that crimes go unsolved.
The reasons are that the police either are corrupt or scared to death of the drug lords. Makes for a bad situation.
John Wood, Phoenix
Looking over the shoulder is not relaxing: Sure, Americans aren't targeted, but who wants [anxiety] when on vacation? I used to go to Rocky Point to relax, but the last time I was there, I spent all my waking hours looking over my shoulder.
Johnny Ramos, Phoenix
Little help from the "police": Unfortunately, many crimes go unreported in Rocky Point. Victims are too frightened to go to the "police" because of their reputation for not [pursuing] criminals.
How about the two 27-year-old women from San Diego who [visited] their company's timeshare in Rocky Point? [They were] abducted for eight hours and dumped in the desert, after which they were afraid to talk to any authority and escaped immediately to San Diego.
Robert Flynn, city unavailable
