Institute for Regional Studies of the Californias
Institute for Regional Studies of the Californias| Tijuana, Basic Information Page 8 | ||
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The Cruz Roja, or Red Cross, has 3 units in Tijuana. The Private Health Care System includes individual and group practices and clinics (800, including medical and dental); 133 private hospitals; 127 laboratories; and 651 pharmacies. The client base includes Tijuana residents who can afford to pay for the services as well as San Diego and other U.S. residents. U.S. clients access services in Tijuana because of lower cost, Spanish-speaking health care providers, or availability of therapies or drugs not available in the United States. Other clients seeking lower cost services include U.S. and Canadian senior citizens who obtain dental services in Tijuana. Treatments not available in the United States include those provided by cancer clinics in Tijuana. Some Tijuana residents access health care regularly in the United States. Well-to-do patients obtain the services of specialists as well as advanced technology diagnostic and treatment services not available in Tijuana. Poorer patients access indigent care services in San Diego when such services are not available or accessible in Tijuana. During periods of recession in Tijuana, many patients can no longer afford more convenient private care and turn to Social Security. This produces significant overload for the system. Housing According to city government estimates, there is currently a shortfall of 36,830 housing units in Tijuana, a number that is expected to increase to more than 45,000 units by the end of the century. At the same time, there is a significant vacancy rate of housing, perhaps linked to ownership by Mexicans working long-term in the United States. An additional pressure on Tijuana's housing market is seen in the numbers of people who work in San Diego and seek affordable housing in Tijuana. In addition to shortage of units, many older units have deteriorated and are in need of repair, while many newer units are substandard, self-constructed units. |
A significant portion of Tijuana's housing was formed by land invasions and the establishment of colonias. The occupied land includes private property, ejidos, and government lands. This irregular occupation of land produced, among other things, the problem of insecurity in property titles in the colonias. Consequently, in the 1990s, a major effort has been made to regularize property titles. From 1990 to 1996, more than 100,000 titles were provided to colonia
residents. However, the problem continues, apparently without end. Currently, approximately 1.67 hectares of lots are regularized per day, but the daily growth of the city is calculated at more than 2.25 hectares per day. Urban Development Accelerated urban growth without a proper master plan has created serious problems for urban services in Tijuana. Municipal authorities recognized that if drastic measures are not taken soon, the city will experience a significant decline in quality of life. There is a shortage of adequate parks, green areas, and recreational areas. Lack of zoning enforcement has produced combinations of incompatible landuse, such as the close proximity of industry that uses dangerous chemicals and residential areas. Since 1990, the municipal governments have made significant effort to plan for urban growth and land use in the city. Lack of financial resources and the single three-year term of each administration have frustrated efforts to develop long-term planning. However, beginning late in 1998, a semi-autonomous municipal planning institute was established. This entity will carry over from one administration to the next and will provide continuity in planning. Another bottleneck in effective planning for the urban development of Tijuana is the presence of federally and state-controlled lands within, and adjacent to, the urbanized area. These are not always subject to municipal efforts to establish consistent land use plans. |
Education Primary and secondary education is provided by a system of state, federal, municipal, and private schools. Schools are crowded and most have two shifts each day. Given the low salaries paid to teachers, many take a second position and teach both shifts, leaving little time for class preparation. Many Tijuana children attend private and public schools in San Diego. Tijuana has ten institutions providing post-secondary education and serving more than 10,000 students. These include: |
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