LETTERS

Editor,

Please find enclosed the letter we sent to the Mayor Jesus Correa Ramirez, concerning the air quality and safety of closing at least one section of the streets downtown.

Many of us are sure that international acclaim about San Miguel’s doings will follow this closure to car traffic— a normal procedure in historic districts around the world, and especially as a World Heritage site-to-be.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.


Dear Mr. Mayor,

Greetings and thank you for all your efforts for a culture of dignity in San Miguel de Allende.

We the undersigned congratulate your and the city council’s efforts to create a city of renewed humane culture with new and dynamic economic opportunities and diversity.

Furthermore, we support the closing of San Francisco street’s first block as it creates a safe and clean walking ambiance for tourists and avoids traffic congestion, pollution, and frees us from having to be on guard against distracted drivers who do not stop at corners or for pedestrians.

The main complaints from tourists have been that there are way too many cars in San Miguel’s center of town, and that they are disappointed upon arrival in San Miguel to see the situation with the traffic.

It is time to take matters in hand with the traffic situation, and for the health of the residents and visitors to create a balanced image, with full view of the historic buildings, to say “no” to a “train of vehicles,” bumper-to-bumper traffic jams in the historic district clogging the center of town during the frequent fiestas or the weekends.

It may be acceptable that only taxis with permits to enter the closed areas to certain businesses and handicapped access be allowed to drive into San Francisco street’s first block.

We approve of formal, designated parking, to healthful walking, to pedestrian safety and clean air in the urban areas.

In our opinion and that of various international analysts, increasing the levels of security in tourist areas in Mexico, we will have much more economic success and visitors with higher-caliber personal economies who require a stable and secure quality environment, as well as expecting healthful air qualities.

It is in the city’s best economic interest to create a solid, secure and orderly historic district with adherence to good air quality standards. This also means eliminating the idling enormous diesel tour buses which regularly park inside San Francisco/Relox/Plaza Principal blocks, consistently flooding surrounding businesses with diesel fumes. It is time to park them outside of the historic district.

Marcella Andre Lopez de la Cerda
San Miguel Founding Family/Historic District Building Proprietors

Editor,

The center of San Miguel is spotless; the Jardín is washed with soap. The city has people removing garbage from the highways. However, when it comes to Colonia San Antonio the streets are filthy. Try to walk through Esperanza, turn on San Martin and you’ll see al kinds of leftovers (food, wrappers, etc). In 10 years I have not seen one street cleaner. Why? Is it not enough having to breath the foul dust raised by speeding buses and cars. There are schools on Esperanza and around the corner. Why not install topes to slow down the traffic?

John Campos