Mayor Marcelo Ebrard has given Mexico's capital – once infamous for its pollution, lawlessness, and general chaos – new appeal thanks to environmental and civic programs.
The Christian Science Monitor By Sara Miller Llana, Staff writer / November 22, 2012
Mexico City
Jose Guadalupe Gonzalez walks among giant paper-mache renderings of fantastical dragons and serpents, called alebrijes, with his wife and two teenage daughters in the middle of Mexico City’s Zocalo to celebrate Day of the Dead. Later, the family considered catching a play for free, also in the main plaza, or strolling along the nearby, new pedestrian streets of downtown Mexico.
In the winter the Gonzalez family goes ice-skating in the same spot. And on Sundays, any time of the year, they can hop on free bicycles and ride along Reforma, the city's most icononic thoroughfare.
In many ways, Mr. Gonzalez says his native city is an unrecognizable place, having transformed under leftist administrations and particularly the city’s outgoing Mayor Marcelo Ebrard, who has become an international star of sorts among the municipal set. Read more.
The MexicoBlog of the Americas Program, a fiscally sponsored program of the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), is written by Laura Carlsen. I monitor and analyze international press on Mexico, with a focus on security, immigration, human rights and social movements for peace and justice, from a feminist perspective. And sometimes I simply muse.
Showing posts with label Marcelo Ebrard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marcelo Ebrard. Show all posts
Nov 22, 2012
Sep 14, 2012
Mexico City mayor seeks to unite left after split
Dave Graham and Anahi Rama
Reuters: September 13, 2012
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard is trying to rally Mexico's left behind him after rival Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he would break with the established parties following his defeat in July's presidential election.
Lopez Obrador led a three-party leftist alliance to second place in the election, but on Sunday he told a massive crowd in Mexico City he would form a new political group, potentially opening up a serious rift in the left.
In an interview with Reuters, Ebrard said on Thursday he aims to bring the left back together, contrasting himself with Lopez Obrador, who has strong support among the poor and came close to winning the last two elections but alienated centrist voters with his combative style.
Lopez Obrador staged massive, disruptive protests in the capital to contest his narrow presidential loss to Felipe Calderon in 2006 and this time around he is refusing to accept defeat to President-elect Enrique Pena Nieto.
By going solo with a new party, Lopez Obrador has laid bare tensions in the left between moderates ready to work in Congress and accept Pena Nieto's win, and those firmly opposed to cooperating with his Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).
Lopez Obrador's decision was "utterly predictable" and had not helped the cause, Ebrard said, noting it would be "absurd" if the left did not run on a joint ticket in future elections.
"What we must avoid is having the left destroy itself, that we lose votes next year, that we're no longer second strongest force in 2015 (when legislative elections are held)," said Ebrard, 52, who plans to run for the presidency in 2018. Read more.
Reuters: September 13, 2012
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard is trying to rally Mexico's left behind him after rival Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he would break with the established parties following his defeat in July's presidential election.
Lopez Obrador led a three-party leftist alliance to second place in the election, but on Sunday he told a massive crowd in Mexico City he would form a new political group, potentially opening up a serious rift in the left.
In an interview with Reuters, Ebrard said on Thursday he aims to bring the left back together, contrasting himself with Lopez Obrador, who has strong support among the poor and came close to winning the last two elections but alienated centrist voters with his combative style.
Lopez Obrador staged massive, disruptive protests in the capital to contest his narrow presidential loss to Felipe Calderon in 2006 and this time around he is refusing to accept defeat to President-elect Enrique Pena Nieto.
By going solo with a new party, Lopez Obrador has laid bare tensions in the left between moderates ready to work in Congress and accept Pena Nieto's win, and those firmly opposed to cooperating with his Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).
Lopez Obrador's decision was "utterly predictable" and had not helped the cause, Ebrard said, noting it would be "absurd" if the left did not run on a joint ticket in future elections.
"What we must avoid is having the left destroy itself, that we lose votes next year, that we're no longer second strongest force in 2015 (when legislative elections are held)," said Ebrard, 52, who plans to run for the presidency in 2018. Read more.
Feb 14, 2012
Drug Policy Debate: Mayor of Mexico City says: We must debate the legalization of drugs
The 'mayor,' (official title: 'head of government') of Mexico City--a leader of the leftist PRD party--Marcelo Ebrard, chimes in on the legalization debate re-ingnited this past week by the President of Guatemala.
Milenio: "The head of the Federal District government, Marcelo Ebrard, said that "we must put on the table" discussions on the legalization of marijuana, although it is the Congress who will make a decision. In an interview, Ebrard declared that "it is contradictory that we are following a policy that replicates that of the United States," since marijuana is legalized in 19 states. "Do we have to make ourselves equal to them?
"It's a decision the Congress will make, but what I want to emphasize is that on one hand we receive weapons from the U.S., and its drug market is very large, while on the other hand, their tendency is to legalize some drugs. We don't necessarily have to do the same, but it must be put on the table."
He insisted that one should not criminalize consumers because, according to the Federal Code, "consumption is not punishable; it says that you don't put consumers into prison or treat them as criminals, but rather retailers and those involved in buying and selling. Furthermore, we must review what the U.S. is doing."" Spanish original
Milenio: "The head of the Federal District government, Marcelo Ebrard, said that "we must put on the table" discussions on the legalization of marijuana, although it is the Congress who will make a decision. In an interview, Ebrard declared that "it is contradictory that we are following a policy that replicates that of the United States," since marijuana is legalized in 19 states. "Do we have to make ourselves equal to them?
"It's a decision the Congress will make, but what I want to emphasize is that on one hand we receive weapons from the U.S., and its drug market is very large, while on the other hand, their tendency is to legalize some drugs. We don't necessarily have to do the same, but it must be put on the table."
He insisted that one should not criminalize consumers because, according to the Federal Code, "consumption is not punishable; it says that you don't put consumers into prison or treat them as criminals, but rather retailers and those involved in buying and selling. Furthermore, we must review what the U.S. is doing."" Spanish original
Nov 15, 2011
Mexico Politics: Lopez Obrador to run for president in 2012
Reuters: "Left-wing stalwart Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Tuesday he will again run for Mexico's presidency in 2012, six years after his razor-thin loss in the last election sparked extended massive protests. Lopez Obrador, 58, a champion of the poor in a country where nearly half the population lives below the poverty line, beat Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard in a survey carried out among 6,000 supporters of left-wing parties.
"The survey results are in my favor ... I will participate in the 2012 electoral contest," Lopez Obrador told a news conference. The survey asked five questions and he won three of them. The survey was carried out to see which of the two had more grassroots support and Lopez Obrador and Ebrard had said they would let the results decide who contested the election." read more
"The survey results are in my favor ... I will participate in the 2012 electoral contest," Lopez Obrador told a news conference. The survey asked five questions and he won three of them. The survey was carried out to see which of the two had more grassroots support and Lopez Obrador and Ebrard had said they would let the results decide who contested the election." read more
Nov 9, 2011
Drug War Politics: Mexico City mayor calls drug policy 'schizophrenic'
latimes.com: "Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard says that if elected president he would remove his nation's military forces from the fight against violent drug cartels and seek a dialogue with policymakers in the United States over narcotics laws in both countries, which he called "schizophrenic."
"If the United States is legalizing marijuana and we're over here killing ourselves on the street over marijuana, that does not make sense," Ebrard said Tuesday, referring to U.S. states, such as California, that have sought to decriminalize the sale and use of cannabis. In Mexico, Ebrard noted, drug consumption is legal in small amounts, while production and distribution is not." read more
"If the United States is legalizing marijuana and we're over here killing ourselves on the street over marijuana, that does not make sense," Ebrard said Tuesday, referring to U.S. states, such as California, that have sought to decriminalize the sale and use of cannabis. In Mexico, Ebrard noted, drug consumption is legal in small amounts, while production and distribution is not." read more
Nov 2, 2011
Mexico Politics: Ebrard offers to set Mexico on new course
Fox News Latino: " Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard said Tuesday that he would set Mexico on a new course if he won the July 1, 2012, presidential election. "Mexico needs a change in course, it's not a matter of an issue or to correct an area, the economy, education. No, it's a matter of the general course the country is on," Ebrard told MVS radio.
The politician published his platform in various dailies a few days before the Party of the Democratic Revolution, or PRD, Mexico's most important leftist political party, holds an election giving voters a choice between him and Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador as the party's candidate." read more
The politician published his platform in various dailies a few days before the Party of the Democratic Revolution, or PRD, Mexico's most important leftist political party, holds an election giving voters a choice between him and Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador as the party's candidate." read more
Sep 27, 2011
Mexico Politics: Mayor Marcelo Ebrard is in campaign mode -- for president
latimes.com: "The mayor of Mexico City has thrown himself into the running for Mexico's presidency, making him the latest high-profile figure to enter the 2012 election fray.
Mayor Marcelo Ebrard, a career leftist who governs one of the largest urban centers on the planet, said last week that he would step down from his post by Jan. 1, in compliance with federal campaign rules, to devote himself to the race (link in Spanish).
Over the weekend, while visiting the cities of Guanajuato and Queretaro, Ebrard said Mexico was in need of a "new social pact" founded on "leftist ideals" that could appeal to voters who don't initially consider supporting the Democratic Revolution Party, or PRD."
'via Blog this'
Mayor Marcelo Ebrard, a career leftist who governs one of the largest urban centers on the planet, said last week that he would step down from his post by Jan. 1, in compliance with federal campaign rules, to devote himself to the race (link in Spanish).
Over the weekend, while visiting the cities of Guanajuato and Queretaro, Ebrard said Mexico was in need of a "new social pact" founded on "leftist ideals" that could appeal to voters who don't initially consider supporting the Democratic Revolution Party, or PRD."
'via Blog this'
Sep 22, 2011
Mexico Politics: Mexico City leftist mayor says he’ll contend for his party’s presidential nomination
The Washington Post: "Mexico City’s mayor says he will be a candidate for the presidential nomination of the leftist Democratic Revolution Party. Mayor Marcelo Ebrard is competing with Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who narrowly lost the 2006 presidential election. Party leaders say they will commission an opinion poll of the general public to pick their nominee. Ebrard runs slightly ahead of Lopez Obrador among all voters, while Lopez Obrador is favored by party members."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)