Tecate seemed safe enough to me when I was there in February.
It's a nice day trip from San Diego. Park on the California side
and walk across. There is a good moneychanging shop on the US
side if you need to buy pesos, or you can buy them in Mexico
also.  Tecate is a very real-feeling Mexican town. Sure, it has
a few shops which are dedicated to the tourist (like the shop
where I got a nice Mexican blanket) but it's truly Mexican. Few
people speak English, which adds to the fun.  I didn't shoot a
single picture when I was there, but I had a good time. Lots of
beggars looking for change (one wanted to sell me a Chihuahua
puppy - that would have been a fun flight home from San Diego to
Saskatchewan). But the people are friendly and not at all rude.
My biggest disappointment was that the Diana bar, just off the
town square, had Tecate beer but not on tap! I like my beer on
tap. But I had to have a Tecate in Tecate.  I just finished my
last can of Tecate from Tecate last night. It's a good beer, and
easy to fin