Baja California.- In an unprecedented act, all local government officials in the State of Baja California have announced via an official bulletin that they will cut off all ties with Periodicos Healy, a newspaper company that publishes Frontera, Frontera Ensenada, and La Cronica.

"Baja California in Favor of Freedom of Press, Not Extorsion" reads the top of the bulletin, which was signed by Baja Governor Francisco Vega de la Madrid, Tijuana Mayor Jorge Astiazaran, Ensenada Mayor Gilberto Hirata, Rosarito Mayor Silvano Abarca, Mexicali Mayor Jaime Rafael Diaz, and Mayor Cesar Moreno of Tecate.

According to these officials, these newspapers have sent direct threats to their cabinets that they will only publish negative news until they are paid what is asked of them in terms of ad space. Over the past few weeks, the negative headlines were prominent even in relation to minor subjects.

The officials claim they are "respectful of an editorial policy based on ethics and journalistic principles, but we will not allow this, or any media outlet, to exercise undue pressure on us via editorial content".

In light of the above, these officials have stated that they have cancelled all commercial ties with the parent company.

In response, Periodicos Healy issued a public statement on the Frontera.Info Website, with the headline "reporting truthfully is not extortion." The announcement goes on to categorically deny the government's accusation. "The right of freedom of expression is something we defend.... our main goal is to back up what we publish on a daily basis.. which is why we are calling out those that are unhappy.."

The article goes on to list numerous issues that have been covered over the past weeks, that they claim are the basis for the government's stance against the newspaper company.

"Is it extortion and defamation to inform about the properties acquired by Governor Vega while he has been in power and which he denies to publicly disclose?"

"About the deficiency of public work products in Tijuana such as the failed bicycle lane and the second street repair work that has had a harmful effect on business?"

According to many sources close to SanDiegoRed.com, Frontera did ask for more money in exchange for better coverage from all levels of government. The government alludes to this extortion in its bulletin, and states that it is "a financial impossibility for the State and City to propose an alternative to the economic demands of Healy newspapers.."

The government states that these newspapers have behind the scenes offered to stop the negative coverage in exchange for more money destined toward advertisment.

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