WHEELS  .   .   .

Santa Barbara Sister Cities Committee Leaders Sheltered in Place in Puerto Vallarta Mexico 

Gil & Marti Garcia Hosts with the Most during Fiesta Party in Casa Garcia in Santa Barbara

Following the killing of major cartel leader 'El Mencho' in Puerto Vallarta on Feb 22, among the visitors stranded in the city were Gil and Marti Garcia, who are long-time coordinators of City of Santa Barbara/Puerto Vallarta Sister Cities Committee. Gil and wife Marti Garcia have both served as Presidents and coordinate annual Sister Cities International events and annual visits. 

Puerto Vallarta officials ordered all residents and tourists to shelter in their homes or hotels following the killing of major cartel leader El Mencho, and reactive violent activities in the City of Puerto Vallarta. Airports cancelled flights and there were cars and trucks burned and business damaged and robbed. The Garcia couple were working with Sister Cities members in Puerto Vallarta coordinating annual committee events, and fundraising activities including fire safety training, upcoming 7th Puerto Vallarta I Madonnari Street Chalk Painting Festival, and Families of Kids with Cancer ongoing fundraising efforts. 

Gil and Marti Garcia are both board members of Santa Barbara Rotary North, have both been president, and work in tandem with Rotary to raise needed funds for SB/PV Sister Cities projects. Gil Garcia is also a former City of Santa Barbara Council member.

Gil Garcia (front left) with Santa Barbara and Puerto Vallarta Sister Cities members following a celebrations mass at Old Santa Barbara Mission said by Fr. Joe Schwab during 2023 members visitation. (Photo: BCarroll, LBN)

I spoke to Gil Garcia at 3 a.m. on the 23rd and he assured me all the people in his traveling party were fine. On an interview with Santa Barbara KEYT 3 TV Gil shared hearing many shots near the hotel they had moved to in an area a short distance from Puerto Vallarta, where the murder of the wanted 'El Mencho' happened. He said people were staying inside and looked frightened. Their return flight home had been cancelled but they expressed hope they could get to the Guadalajara airport to get home as soon as possible.

Major networks reported details on the chaos, including information on the many deaths and injuries, and Mexican government officials were endeavoring to create order and maintain the peace.

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