Hey, what's up? It's Gustavo Ariano, and it's Tuesday, May 17, 2022. And today, on the Times,

daily news from the LA Times, we've got Border City, Chapter 5. In this episode of the podcast

from the San Diego Union Tribune, long-time border reporter Sandra Dibble takes us back to the

moment when the Ariano Felix

Cartel, and no, I'm not related to them, by the way, when that cartel took a big hit

when its leaders were killed.

Rivals from Sinaloa then started jocking for power, and there was corruption at every level

of law enforcement in Tijuana.

Sandra says no one knew who to trust at the time.

But as the cartel-fueled violence continued,

Sandra and the rest of the city lived their lives.

Sandra treated her visiting mom to handmade corn tortillas,

cafe de oia, and eggs drenched in Mola's upscale neighborhood.

She took her brother to the famous Mercado Miguel Iidalgo,

which I've gone to my entire life because it's amazing,

and they would go by Tamales there.

And Sandra even got on stage to play a noblewoman in a Tijuana opera performance of Romeo and Juliet.

Then and now,

Sandra says reporting on Tijuana can feel a lot

like reporting on two totally different cities.

And hey, if you've been liking these border stories, then make sure to find and follow Border City on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen.

Enjoy.

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