Among ambitious plans to complete before wrapping up their second term this September, the current city administration has been carrying out projects over the past several months at local beach access points, as well as the city’s popular malecon area in the Old Port.
A particular aspect of the malecon project, that of installing 16 stalls across the public plaza, has become particularly contentious in recent weeks, sparking debate, petitions, and demonstrations on different sides of the issue.
Community Petition
A citywide petition, which had garnered over 2000 signatures in its first week, calls on the local administration to modify the malecon project and halt current work on the planned stalls until further transparency can be achieved. Among concerns in the petition is that of using public spaces for vendor stalls, arguing this blocks the city’s natural views, noting inadequate urban planning along with both visual and tangible pollution concerns. The petition further requests relocation of the planned stalls to a more appropriate space.
Calls to complete project
Partly in response to the community petition to halt the work, early this week a group of approximately 40-60 street vendors in favor of the project blocked the sole entrance to the Old Port, demanding they be permitted to work. They also demonstrated support for the planned conclusion of renovation projects in the malecon. Blocked entry to the Old Port was in place for 8 hours on Tuesday, Aug. 10th and for two hours on Wednesday morning, Aug. 11th.
On Wednesday, the mayor met briefly with street vendors blocking entry to Old Port, following which they ceased their demonstration with assurances of ongoing dialog with respect to the project. In an interview with José Antonio of Ahora Noticias radio program, the mayor stated he would seek consensus and compromise among all who have expressed their positions about the malecon project, which is already over 50% completed. On Friday, Aug. 13th, the City removed the 16 stalls under question from the malecon, albeit temporarily.
Encouraged respect for existing laws and regulations for public spaces
The local Convention and Visitors Bureau (OCV) emphasized Puerto Peñasco’s malecon is a must stop for visitors and residents alike, calling for respect of existing laws and regulations to address the pressing need for order and control in all public spaces. The OCV stated the city’s malecon, and other public areas for common use, should be respected and used appropriately while not harming the overall image of Puerto Peñasco as a tourism destination.
