After a long process of analysis, diagnosis and discussion, which included the participation of more than 14 thousand people in the various stages of consultation, last December the Head of Government, Martí Batres, decided to withdraw the General Development Plan and the General Territorial Planning Program projects from Congress, which is why they were not approved and their procedure must be reestablished during this administration.
The re-elaboration of these documents involves several areas of attention. The first is to take advantage of the experience gained and rethink the processes of dissemination and socialization among the population and the various social sectors. Second, it will be necessary to adequately strengthen and integrate the Institute for Democratic and Prospective Planning of Mexico City (in charge of preparing the project), so that together with the Head of Government they can organize and carry out the technical work and all the activities that guarantee citizen participation. And finally, the third major issue is to carry out a legislative review, with the purpose of channeling all the participating institutions and harmonizing the local Constitution, the secondary laws and the regulations that must be created; as well as establishing the necessary financing for its formulation, execution and evaluation.
Conclusions:
The disorderly, horizontal and exclusive growth of Mexico City has been the result of short-term policies that, despite everything, have allowed it to establish one of the most dynamic economic zones in the country.
However, the environmental and social inequality costs have been enormous and raise the urgent need to transform this growth model.
The large number of votes obtained by Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum, former Head of Government, the triumph of Clara Brugada in this capital and of Morena in the surrounding states and municipalities, is the ideal context to build a metropolitan and long-term vision to face the main problems of the city.
Today is the time of the city. We have governments that have emerged from solid majorities, determined to transform the country and generate new conditions of well-being for Mexicans. As I have said on other occasions, it is time to show that urban development can be a powerful instrument of inclusion and social well-being.
_________
Editor’s note:
Dunia Ludlow Deloya is an expert in public policy; she has been a legislator in Mexico City; she was undersecretary of Mayoral Programs and Reorganization and general coordinator of the authority of the Historic Center, among other positions.
