Guadalajara authorities have denied accusations of “social cleansing” after removing prostitutes, homeless people and street vendors from certain central areas of Guadalajara ahead of the Pan American Games, which begin on October 14.
Keen for tourists not to see the seedier side of the city, officials have been relocating “undesirable” persons, particularly from the Parque Morelos — a few blocks from the San Juan de Dios Market — which is currently getting a minor makeover.
Both Guadalajara Mayor Aristoteles Sandoval Diaz and Secretary General Roberto Lopez Lara have denied that any form of social cleansing is taking place.
“From the outset, I reject that term. I think there should be support, opportunities and alternatives for people living on the streets,” said Sandoval.
He said the Family Development Agency (DIF), the Ministry of Social Development and the Department of Public Safety are working on an “integral” project to bring dignity to the lives of those who live on the streets. However, this did not seem to extend to sex workers.
Despite Sandoval promising in May that “nobody will be hidden during the games,” police began telling sex workers to leave the area more than a week ago. Lupe, a Parque Morelos prostitute, told Spanish-language daily Milenio that she was told to move out “because many children will be coming past here” when the games begin.
Others were allegedly intimidated. Jennifer, a local transexual, told the paper that the police “threatened me ... and even threw drink at me.”
Lopez stated that the withdrawal of sex workers in the park is due to the facelift program taking place, stressing that city police officers had not acted violently against the prostitutes:
He suggested the sex workers are only being invited to withdraw, as are the mostly indigenous street vendors, who have “alternatives where they can go.” Regarding the homeless, Lopez promised they could be housed in a special shelter, tentatively at Avenida Hidalgo and Chapultepec.
Lopez said the intention was to “beautify” Guadalajara ahead of the Pan American Games, to present tourists with a better impression of the city.
Local authorities have invested 4.5 million pesos in the Parque Morelos face-lift, installing 15 benches, eight sculptures, a skate park, an outdoor gym and a park for the elderly, as well as reforestation and free wifi internet.
“What people are asking for is infrastructure and security in the park. The problem of prostitutes in the area is very old, not a problem created during this administration,” said the city’s Director of Administration Francisco Ayon. “One would have to ask the locals what they think about the issue,”
The Pan American Village was originally planned to be built beside the Parque Morelos in an urban regeneration project, but the plans went unrealized due to substantial political opposition and the unwillingness of a few local residents to sell their properties to the city government.
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