I put my money where my mouth is. I just started a paid subscription. Your work here on Substack does have real potential.
I am a California native and lived in San Diego County for 54 years and then fled to Northern Wisconsin and never looked back. My wife and I saw from the beginning the destruction of Mexico from the unbelievable appetite for drugs in the US. The rise of the Alessio family in Tijuana and San Diego was the beginning foundation of corruption which spread throughout Mexico and Southern California. That cancer has metastasized throughout North America especially through the very unreported financial sectors of the economies. We watched the organization of Mexican-American gangs in Southeast San Diego near my wife's family who became hitmen for the cartels in Tijuana and Sinaloa. We became avid readers of Borderland Beat just to remain aware of what was happening around us.
I think an organizational or flow chart of your Substack would be beneficial to readers. Examples would be the a chart showing the flow of drug money through US banks and simple examples of how drug money is laundered in the United States. You could provide readers with an index of the most active and dangerous cartels operating in Mexico and with Mexico cartels like the Camorra and Ndrangheta of Italy. Provide readers with an updated bibliography of sources on drug cartels and organizations. This is the type of information that could remain behind a paywall. Written articles would lead readers who are interested to more detailed information and sources behind the paywall. Also history of drug dealing and involvement with US government agencies also could remain behind the paywall. Keep the articles setting forth the problems and possible solutions free while the index of information supporting those articles could remain behind a paywall.
I do not think you can ever under estimate the need for people to become aware of the problems and the cancer that has existed in our communities since World War II. I was very encouraged by your shout and enthusiasm to continue to confront this problem which is probably the biggest of them all, politically and economically.
I have loved following your work over the years Ioan. Its hard to find good comprehensive coverage on Mexico and these issues especially in English. I look forward for what is yet to come. I will be happy to support with a paid subscription. This work and yourself deserve it. Thanks for what you do!
Just subscribed and looking forward to more if your excellent and informative writing and analysis. One thing that comes to mind for me is the presence of former US Special Operations personnel training cartel sicarios. This hasn’t seemed well reported. And, in a post Afghanistan/Iraq world, it is certainly going on. Thanks Ioan!
A Shout To My Readers and Supporters
Your mileage may vary, but my recommendation would be to keep the written words free, and paywall "bonus" content like podcasts.
I put my money where my mouth is. I just started a paid subscription. Your work here on Substack does have real potential.
I am a California native and lived in San Diego County for 54 years and then fled to Northern Wisconsin and never looked back. My wife and I saw from the beginning the destruction of Mexico from the unbelievable appetite for drugs in the US. The rise of the Alessio family in Tijuana and San Diego was the beginning foundation of corruption which spread throughout Mexico and Southern California. That cancer has metastasized throughout North America especially through the very unreported financial sectors of the economies. We watched the organization of Mexican-American gangs in Southeast San Diego near my wife's family who became hitmen for the cartels in Tijuana and Sinaloa. We became avid readers of Borderland Beat just to remain aware of what was happening around us.
I think an organizational or flow chart of your Substack would be beneficial to readers. Examples would be the a chart showing the flow of drug money through US banks and simple examples of how drug money is laundered in the United States. You could provide readers with an index of the most active and dangerous cartels operating in Mexico and with Mexico cartels like the Camorra and Ndrangheta of Italy. Provide readers with an updated bibliography of sources on drug cartels and organizations. This is the type of information that could remain behind a paywall. Written articles would lead readers who are interested to more detailed information and sources behind the paywall. Also history of drug dealing and involvement with US government agencies also could remain behind the paywall. Keep the articles setting forth the problems and possible solutions free while the index of information supporting those articles could remain behind a paywall.
I do not think you can ever under estimate the need for people to become aware of the problems and the cancer that has existed in our communities since World War II. I was very encouraged by your shout and enthusiasm to continue to confront this problem which is probably the biggest of them all, politically and economically.
Hey keep up the great work. For younger writers wanting to write about Mexico do you suggest moving to Mexico City?
Can’t say anything that hasn’t been said.. you will be supported with this news outlet that we do not get otherwise.. thank you
Thanks for all the great coverage of this fascinating country. I’m looking forward to the next phase of your content.
Thanks for your work! I would love to hear your take on the targeting of Christians in southern Mexico by the cartels.
Onwards and upwards!
I have loved following your work over the years Ioan. Its hard to find good comprehensive coverage on Mexico and these issues especially in English. I look forward for what is yet to come. I will be happy to support with a paid subscription. This work and yourself deserve it. Thanks for what you do!
The connection between Katie Hobbs and Mexican cartels?
Just subscribed and looking forward to more if your excellent and informative writing and analysis. One thing that comes to mind for me is the presence of former US Special Operations personnel training cartel sicarios. This hasn’t seemed well reported. And, in a post Afghanistan/Iraq world, it is certainly going on. Thanks Ioan!