By Jesús Aguado
In May 2020 the city council from Luis Alberto Villarreal’s administration approved a regulation that would create boards of trustees to take responsibility for the administration of Juárez and Zeferino Gutiérrez parks. Later, this caused some social discontent about public spaces becoming privatized. During the last mayoral election campaign, it was not only the current mayor Mauricio Trejo, but other candidates as well who promised to revoke those agreements. According to Villarreal the idea of the agreements was not that the parks would be fully privatized; they would simply be in the hands of social organizations that, among their responsibilities, would have to obtain resources for the improvement and maintenance of the areas.
When the intention was made public by then-mayor, Luis Alberto Villarreal; he made clear how the boards would function, and that the spaces would continue to be public for the enjoyment of locals and visitors. He even mentioned the patronage that organizes religious celebrations such as the Santo Entierro, or the Patronato de la Feria, among others. However, the argument was not sufficient to sway those opposed to the idea. When Mauricio Trejo won the office of mayor on June 6, he published his first commitments. Among these were: proposals to lower property taxes, water issues, a return of Montes de Oca Street to its original state, and the “returning public spaces” to the city and “undoing the board of trustees for the parks.”
The Town Hall Session
The state governor Diego Sinhue Rodríguez Vallejo visited the city on October 11, 2020. He was received in the Jardin Principal with banners and requests of him and the mayor, to take charge of giving back Parque Juárez and Parque Zeferino to the citizens. It was also the same group that appeared with cardboards marked with captions, at the session of the council hall with the same requests on October 19. “Do not privatize water; return public spaces to the citizens,” was the message, among other issues.
When the members of the city council approved the revocation of the agreement, those who were demonstrating applauded. Mayor Trejo then told them, “now you can lower your banners,” and thanked them for being there. He then asked them to look for other civic causes to fight for, because that one had been resolved.
Dolores Enríquez, a member of the protesting group, representing those who attended, told Atencion: “We have a lot to fight for. We hope to review the issue of parking meters. See to the issue of noise regulation on terraces, many issues of privatized public spaces, works that have not worked and where people are dissatisfied. For example, in Fraccionamiento La Luz, the sidewalks must be rebuilt. We will address the issue of sewage and flooding in Colonia Aurora.”
Enriquez also said that “Yo soy San Miguel” is a conglomerate of citizen groups in which all the causes for which they fight are united, and they all support each other. She said she was happy with the council’s decision. “I am happy, there is an openness that did not exist. It seems that citizen participation can finally be heard and contribute. It is a radical change with previous administrations.”
When the former mayor, Luis Alberto Villarreal was asked about his position on the revocations, he said that the issue had been politicized. He emphasized that the board of trustees have always worked “here and in China,” and sent the message that the spaces “were not going to be privatized.”
The initiative, and regulations discarded
The document, or initiative, consisted of four chapters and 18 articles, indicating the duties of the boards. These were, among others:
Article 6. For the fulfillment of their purposes, the Boards of Trustees will have the following duties:
I. Manage, conserve, monitor, expand and permanently improve the patrimony of the Board of Trustees, as well as the assets that are in its custody;
II. Propose, promote, direct and carry out events, activities, works and projects aimed at promoting the preservation of existing infrastructures, the environment, culture, sports, recreation, (among other activities), of the parks in accordance with budgetary amounts available.
III. Promote and disseminate the use of parks, as well as the different activities carried out in them;
IV. Establish the specific rules of operation and use of its facilities in accordance with municipal regulations and applicable laws;
V. Issue and approve the Comprehensive Park Management Plan;
VI. Encourage school visits in accordance with the policies and programs approved by your Council;
VII. Process, obtain and grant permits and authorizations; enter into contracts and all kinds of legal acts, grant concessions in terms of the applicable legislation and sign all the legal acts necessary for the fulfillment of its purposes;
VIII. Receive contributions and donations from people or public or private institutions for the fulfillment of its purpose;
IX. Manage resources before government agencies and entities and national or international non-governmental organizations related to its purpose; and
X. Order the external audits that are deemed necessary;
XI. Others granted by applicable laws and regulations.
