The number of businesses that have closed their doors this year has increased considerably in downtown Asunción. The bustling city, with vendors stationed on every corner and packed shops, has been left behind. Now you see an area absent of people, with some shops and with a lot of insecurity.
The center of Asunción as it was previously known has disappeared. In previous years, it was common to see leisure activities every day of the week and they were stronger on Saturdays and Sundays. Today, the movement in that place is only carried out on commemorative days, leaving only insecurity and abandonment on the remaining dates of the year.
Just take a quick tour of streets such as Palma and Estrella, the sign number with the word “For Rent” is seen practically twice per block. Locals like Lido Bar and recently McDonald’s announced their withdrawal from the area.
According to statements by those in charge of the commercial premises, some of the reasons why they decided to leave the salons are the insecurity that now reigns in the area, since there are many indigenous and homeless people who roam the place and that drives away customers. To this reason is also added the high cost of rent that must be paid monthly.
Citizens have expressed their disagreement regarding the situation of abandonment that an area as emblematic as Asunción faces today. One of them is the lawyer Ezequiel Santaga who, through his Twitter account, repudiated the inaction of the authorities and municipal managers.
“The decline of the center comes from a long time ago; but it explodes crudely at Óscar Rodríguez, will he do something or will he blame the previous administrations? ”, he questioned.
VERY HIGH RENTALS
The Chief of Staff of the Municipality of Asunción, Federico Mora, mentioned for his part that the issue of real estate costs and security are out of the hands of the Municipality.
“Rental costs are due to a market situation in general and what concerns security corresponds to the National Police, we put the incentives for the houses that are considered assets for their subsequent repair and others, but as for the other measures are not within the reach of the municipal entity,” he declared.
He also commented that from the Municipality the only thing they can do is promote activities on weekends so that there is greater circulation of people, however he did not specify what these actions to promote would be.
