PAN wants public to have a say in Mexico City

A new bill would force City Hall to hold 'consultations' before starting construction projects

Mexico Weekly / April 4, 2011

A PAN assemblyman has proposed a bill that would force City Hall to hold public consultations before beginning construction on any public works project.

PAN lawmaker Federico Manzo has submitted a bill to the Federal District Legislative Assembly to modify the city's law on public projects, at a time when social movements claim City Hall has not maintained dialogue with residents near the sites of several major construction projects.

“We want the city government and the boroughs to be obliged, by law, to hold public consultations before beginning any project that implies alterations to the lives and habits of capital residents,” said Manzo, a member of the Transportation Committee, Reforma reported Monday.

Although the current law on public projects recommends that government officials “listen to and evaluate” the opinions of citizens, the provisions do not specify if the opinions are binding.

Bill Faces Hurdles

Manzo's bill would oblige the city government to hold such consultations in certain cases: when public areas would be affected; when streets would be closed permanently; when the project would impact the income of nearby businesses; and when the structure of nearby real estate would be affected.

The consultation would also need to take place six months before project bidding begins, the bill proposes.

Some residents and social groups say the capital government has lacked communication and transparency as several projects are underway: the Supervía (a bypass to connect the Santa Fe district with southern Mexico City); Line 12 of the Metro (in the southeastern-southern areas); an arena and stadium in Azcapotzalco; and the recently completed Line 3 of the Metrobús (in central Mexico City).

A common complaint among people living near project sites is that the extent of the impact on the environment, traffic, noise, pollution and aesthetics was never made clear before construction began, and was not made clear until after the project was well under way.

The bill faces several hurdles. Among them that the PAN only holds 14 seats in the 66-member Legislative Assembly. In contrast, the governing PRD holds 34 seats, with which they practically control the assembly.

Public works projects have been one of the shining points of Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard.

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