Job Discussion Forums

[Guy Courchesne]

Now here's an interesting event.

http://www.observatoriociudadanodf.org.mx/

[Phil_K]

[MO39]

What about the human right to breathe (reasonably) clean air?!

[Phil_K]

I was just waiting for someone to roll out that old clich�. Congratulations!!!
It's a sad world we live in these days when everyone is telling everyone else what they can and can't do.

I see children being taught their "rights" these days! I don't hear much about their duties. If people were more concerned about that, we would have a better world. I would rather live a city with pollution (which, btw, I have never really had a problem with) than, for example, live with neighbors who have no respect for the tranquility of others.

[thelmadatter]

human right or not... the "hoy no circula" doesnt work for the weekdays... never mind doing it for a Sat, when traffic really isnt that bad. When "hoy no circula" was originally introduced, anyone with the money bought a second car to drive for when their "primary" was blocked from circulation so the end result was no real decrease in DF traffic but a great boon to auto dealers!

Given how bad DF traffic is, the better solution in the long run is to (continue) improving the mass transit and (tho I agree this one is harder) improve its image. Many middle class and higher class Mexicans refuse to use public transport because poor people use it (and therefore must be dangerous and/or goddess-forbid we look "naco"). We have a similar problem in the States. Commuter trains that lead into the major Metro terminals would be a big help here esp. from the northern suburbs and perhaps Toluca too (might as well put in a plug that would benefit me!). Also have Park n Ride secured lots for commuters.

Any number of my students have told me that their fathers (its usually fathers) would be happy to use a commuter train if it were available as they could get in and out of the city faster and home earlier.

I know -- easier said than done when the owners of the ridiculously posh houses on western Reforma are battling against a much-needed Metro bus (like the dilapidated micros that now traverse there are really better??????).

[Guy Courchesne]

[MELEE]

[Guy Courchesne]

Volunteers were out in force yesterday around Mexico City. Looked like they got a good turnout in the three places I saw them.



I voted at one of several locations set up in Parque Mexico. The ballots were as expected...simple yes/no on if you agree to the proposals already in the works. They let me use a red crayon!





Parque Mexico is a nice spot to consider the environment...good place for a voting booth.

[MO39]

The Parque Mexico/Parque Espa�a area is one of my favorites in the DF. Wonder how much it would cost to rent an apartment there?

[K-in-C]

Hola,

I keep reading about the D.F. in Mexico City. What does D.F. stand for

Gracias,

K

[Guy Courchesne]

Distrito Federal...Federal District...just like Washington, DC. Not quite a state. People here either call the city la Ciudad de Mexico, el De-efe, el Distrito, or simply Mexico. The last can be confusing if you are in, say, Queretaro and someone asks if you have visited Mexico yet.

[Phil_K]

...and just to add confusion, the Distrito Federal is surrounded by the Estado de Mexico (State of Mexico) - another state. I suppose that technically the country itself could be termed a state in another sense of the word, but it refered to by Mexicans as "the Republic".

[geaaronson]

I agree with Thelmadatter. I would add that if the city government were to make it a little more expensive for car owners to drive their cars around, there would be more transit users.
Increased taxation of private and public parking lots and increased registration costs could cut down on the solitary drivers.

[MELEE]

I think they would also have to make some improvements to the Metro, while it is one of the nicest systems in the Americas it's downright shabby next to South Korea and Japan. There needs to be more trains on the major lines at rush hour, it's just too over crowded. If I lived in the city I would do what ever I could to avoid the metro at those times. And while I saw some new carriages when I was there last February, more of the old trains need to be updated. As it is the metro is cheap and easy, but it's not a comfortable way to travel during rush hours.

Of course all these things take money. Should they raise the taxes on car registration and parking lots enough to cover the revamping of the metro? Sounds like a question for la consulta verde.

[Guy Courchesne]

AMLO held a referendum when his regime was in power in DF, on whether to add more metro lines or build the second level to the Perifierico. 2nd level won.