Dear Editor,

As a (semi-retired) professor of architecture and urban design, I’d been disturbed about “big box” construction in San Miguel. However, I thought that structures such as the Comercial Mexicana Megastore, while architecturally completely out of context, were relatively inoffensive if far enough removed from the historic center. No longer do I believe this: driving down the libramiento and viewing the beauty of SMA’s nightscape, I am appalled to see it marred by a huge rectangle of glaring light at the south end. More “big boxes?” Are they worth the sacrifice?

David Stea





Dear Editor,

I would like to thank the development team at the Los Senderos mixed-use development for the donation made to the Dirección de Medio Ambiente y Ecología, as a result of the funds raised in the “First Día de Fiesta at Los Senderos” on Saturday, April 28.

Thanks to the initiative of Ms. Francesca Fisher and the collaboration of Los Senderos, it will be possible to continue the development of the Municipal Animal Clinic and Pound, one of the projects urgently needed in our municipality.

It should be emphasized that with the assistance of conscientious citizens and socially responsible businesses genuinely interested in the protection of the local environment, it is possible to facilitate the realization of successful projects that are beneficial to our municipality through our recently established Green Fund. At present, six projects are being supported because of donations to this fund. For additional information, please contact us at: donpatterson@sanmiguelallende.com.mx. All donations made to this fund are tax-deductible.

Once again, we would like to acknowledge Los Senderos’ valuable contribution and we invite them and others to continue assisting us in our mission to protect and conserve the environment.

Sincerely,

Donald Patterson
Director of Environment and Ecology
Municipality of San Miguel de Allende, Gto.





Dear Editor,

This is a follow up to the story of little Daniel, who died last week. The original story that it might have been an act of violence was discarded and now the medical forensic office here in San Miguel have done an autopsy and attributed the death to medical causes—although an exact diagnosis wasn’t given. Apparently the bruises were caused by an enlarged heart that actually bruised his back. I, as a parent am, if happy could be used in this context, that there was no act of violence responsible, although the death of a 9-year-old boy could never be seen as any other thing but a tragedy.

Kurth Bousman