Governor of Nuevo León Samuel García created the state’s first-ever Tourism Ministry to boost the industry in 2021.
(Shutterstock)
Tourism in the northern state of Nuevo León has gone from 4.3 million visitors in 2021 to 15 million in 2024, according to the Nuevo León Tourism Minister Mari Carmen Martínez Villarreal. These figures represent a nearly 250% increase in just three years.
“We have worked tirelessly for the past three years to position Nuevo León in the world through strategic actions and the implementation of key projects,” Martínez said at a press conference on Tuesday. “Our vision has been clear: to turn the state of Nuevo León into a benchmark for national and international tourism.”
Nuevo León is an industrial state that previously put very little emphasis on tourism. Governor of Nuevo León Samuel García created the state’s first-ever Tourism Ministry to boost the industry in 2021.
Since its creation, the tourism office has worked toward promoting the state’s parks, Pueblos Mágicos (Magical Towns) and culinary heritage. Last year, the state government recognized carneasada, cabrito and machaca (beef dishes) as intangible cultural heritage of Nuevo León.
Pasaporte Nuevo León: The new app for NL tourists
During her speech, Martínez highlighted that under the current administration, the state has forged strategic alliances with the digital platforms Airbnb and Didi, to offer travelers better mobility and accommodation deals in the region. Her ministry also created the app “Pasaporte Nuevo León” (Passport Nuevo León) to help travelers discover experiences and tourist destinations within the state.
Other initiatives include positioning Nuevo León as a strategic international travel hub, connecting it with Latin America through flights from Monterrey to Bogotá, with Asia through Tokyo and Seoul and with Europe through Madrid.
View of Cerro de la Bufa, one of the icons of Monterrey, capital of the northern state of Nuevo León. (Yoplita/Wikimedia Commons)
“Throughout Nuevo León, we are promoting tourism that respects the environment, promotes economic development and puts our state on the global map of destinations of excellence,” Martínez said.
Finally, Martínez noted that events such as congresses, conventions and exhibitions held in Nuevo León have seen exponential growth in the last three years, going from 57 in 2021, to 117 in 2022, 150 in 2023 and just over 160 in 2024.
“The 2022-2027 state development plan focuses on consolidating tourism as one of the main drivers of economic growth for Nuevo León,” Martínez stressed.
Nuevo León expects 500,000 for FIFA World Cup 2026
Martínez said Nuevo León is ready to welcome tourists who visit the state for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, under the slogan, “We are ready.” The state expects over half a million visitors to the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
To “get ready,” the state will provide English lessons to workers in the tourism industry, including waiters, taxi drivers and first-contact personnel. In addition, the state is working to improve coordination with airlines, create green pedestrian corridors, build new shopping malls and hotels and expand the Monterrey International Airport.
Martínez said they forecast full hotel occupancy during the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Mexico beat the US 2-0 in a Concacaf friendly match held in Guadalajara on Tuesday. (Fernando Carranza García/Cuartoscuro)
Raúl Jiménez recorded a goal and added an assist to lead Mexico to a 2-0 win over the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) in an international soccer friendly at Guadalajara’s Estadio Akron on Tuesday night.
The victory was Mexico’s first over Team USA in more than five years and ended a seven-match unbeaten streak (5-2-0) for the Americans.
Raúl Jiménez with a perfect free kick to give Mexico the 1-0 lead 🎯
Jiménez, a Fulham forward, fired home a free kick from 24 meters to put El Tri, as Mexico’s men’s team is known, ahead in minute 22. It was the 34th goal in a national team jersey for the 33-year-old forward, lifting him into fifth place on Mexico’s all-time scoring list.
Playing with the advantage, Mexico pressured the U.S. team in midfield, surrounding lone forward Josh Sargent and keeping Mauricio Pochettino’s men from generating any threats.
Less than four minutes into the second half, El Tri struck again with Jiménez playing a key role.
Stuck near the sideline in his own end, midfielder Luis Romo found Orbelín Pineda on the other side of midfield with a lovely ball. Pineda trapped the pass, spun and quickly volleyed a diagonal lead pass to Jiménez flashing free down the right channel.
Long-time captain Andrés Guardado said goodbye to the Mexican National Team during Tuesday’s match against the United States. (Fernando Carranza García/Cuartoscuro)
The former América star dribbled into the box, skidding to a halt as defender Tim Ream challenged him and tugged him off the ball. Jiménez recovered, chased Ream and executed a neat sliding scissors tackle, sending the ball to teammate César Huerta near the penalty spot. Huerta coolly sidestepped Miles Robinson and slotted home past sprawling U.S. keeper Matt Turner to make it 2-0.
The two-goal deficit failed to spark a reaction from a beleaguered Team USA playing without seven starters. The Americans didn’t get their first shot on goal until minute 79 and their first shot of any kind — a muffed volley attempt by left-back Kristoffer Lund — came only 15 minutes earlier.
The game served as a tribute match for long-time captain Andrés Guardado who announced his retirement from El Tri. Guardado, 38, started and played 19 minutes before coming off to a standing ovation from the 43,537 fans in attendance, getting hugs from teammates and handshakes from some U.S. players.
Being a friendly match, however, the loss does little to alter Team USA’s claim to being the top club in the Concacaf region.
Players from both sides now return to club duty for four weeks before the next international window during which time the games will be for real.
Mexico will face Honduras twice (once at home and once on the road) in a Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series, while the U.S. team is matched up against Jamaica in the same tournament.
The game served as a tribute match for long-time captain Andrés Guardado who announced his retirement from El Tri. Guardado, 38, started and played 19 minutes before coming off to a standing ovation from the 43,537 fans in attendance, getting hugs from teammates and handshakes from some U.S. players.
The peso has depreciated by more than 18% since its strongest position this year. (Marco Antonio Casique/Unsplash)
The Mexican peso continued to depreciate against the US dollar on Wednesday morning, losing ground for a third consecutive day to reach an exchange rate of almost 20 pesos to the greenback.
At 5 p.m. Mexico City time, one dollar was trading at 19.91 pesos, according to Bloomberg.
One factor affecting the peso’s strength is repeated threats by presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has said he he would place extremely high tariffs on Chinese vehicles made in Mexico. (X)
The peso closed at 19.69 to the dollar on Tuesday, according to the Bank of Mexico.
He even cited a figure of 2,000%, although in subsequent remarks he only went as high as 300%.
“I’m going to put the highest tariff in history, meaning I’m going to stop them from ever selling a car into the United States,” said the Republican Party presidential candidate, who also asserted that “the most beautiful word in the dictionary is tariff.”
“… China is building massive auto plants in Mexico. And they’re going to build them, and they’re going to take those cars and sell them into the United States,” he said.
The peso’s strongest position in 2024 was in April, when it reached 16.30 pesos to the US dollar, at a time when the consumer price index was also showing downward movement. (Wikimedia Commons)
Foreign exchange news website FX Street reported that the peso “depreciated over 1.60% against the US dollar on Tuesday after Donald Trump threatened to whack prohibitory tariffs on Mexican-made autos entering the US market.”
FX Street reported that the peso also “depreciated in early trading on Wednesday as the US dollar strengthened amid a mixed market mood with falling U.S. Treasury yields.”
The peso has depreciated significantly since the comprehensive victory of President Claudia Sheinbaum and the ruling Morena party at Mexico’s June 2 elections.
National Guardsman on patrol. Both the National Guard and the Mexican army were implicated in civilian killings this past weekend in Nuevo Laredo. (Omar Martínez/Cuartoscuro)
President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed questions Tuesday about accusations that military soldiers and National Guard members were involved in the shooting deaths of three civilians over the weekend — including a nurse and a child — in two incidents in the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas.
According to media reports, all the victims died in the crossfire of two different shootouts in Nuevo Laredo between patrols and suspected members of criminal groups.
President Sheinbaum confirmed the three deaths in Nuevo Laredo but gave few details, saying that the federal Attorney General’s office had already begun investigating. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
At her Tuesday morning press conference, Sheinbaum confirmed the three civilian deaths, adding that a member of the military was also killed in the incident on Friday in which a nurse was killed.
The other incident, on Saturday, involved the National Guard, Sheinbaum confirmed, and resulted in the deaths of two civilians, one of whom was a young girl. Both cases were under investigation by the federal Attorney General’s Office, she said.
She did not give any details about the third civilian victim.
Nuevo Laredo, a border city with Laredo, Texas, has been the site in multiple incidents involving civilians killed in encounters with military forces serving as law enforcement. The military and the National Guard are both under the supervision of the Defense Ministry.
In the Friday incident, a family found itself on a road where the military was pursuing suspects’ vehicles in a car chase after having been fired upon, Sheinbaum said.
Víctor Carrillo Martínez told local media that his wife, Yuricie Rivera Elizalde, was killed in the crossfire by a bullet to the head. According to reports, Martínez said medical personnel who attended to Rivera, a nurse, told him, “They were large-caliber bullets used by soldiers.”
Yuricie Rivera Elizalde, a nurse in Nuevo Laredo, was killed in her family’s car on Friday when it ended up in the middle of a shootout between a Mexican army vehicle and one driven by suspected cartel members. (X)
Carillo also told reporters that the soldiers involved in the incident did not stop to help and simply drove on.
In the Saturday incident, Lidia Galván Reséndezan and her 8-year-old granddaughter were driving to a stationery store when they were caught in the middle of a car chase between National Guard officers and a suspect. The 8-year-old, identified by the Expansión media outlet as Lidia Iris, was shot in the head and died soon after arriving at a hospital.
Galván told reporters that her car got trapped between a military vehicle and an SUV when authorities opened fire.
The Nuevo Laredo Human Rights Committee (CDHNL), a local NGO, released a statement on Sunday, saying that another civilian had been killed during another car chase in the city involving the military. Sheinbaum did not confirm a third incident, so it isn’t clear if the death referred to by the human rights group was the other death she acknowledged had happened in the Saturday incident with the National Guard.
A history of violence
Nuevo Laredo has suffered repeated violence over the last several years under the presence of the Northeast Cartel, an offshoot of another criminal group, Los Zetas. The government has responded to the violence with regular military and National Guard patrols.
President Sheinbaum emphasized at her Tuesday press conference that “it is very important to say that Nuevo Laredo is where criminal groups have carried out the most attacks on the army and the National Guard.”
She also said that if any members of the Guard or army were found to have acted badly, they would face consequences.
The Defense Ministry (Sedena) has yet to comment on the incidents.
The military and the Guard have been implicated in multiple civilian killings in Nuevo Laredo. In 2023, 16 Guardsmen were accused of killing five disarmed suspects (caught on video), and a military patrol killed two civilians driving home from a social event. (Screen capture/File photo)
Multiple accusations of wrongdoing
The military has been implicated in previous killings of civilians, most recently at the beginning of October, six migrants were killed in the southern state of Chiapas, after the Mexican army opened fire on vehicles that were attempting to evade military personnel carrying out patrols.
Sedena released a statement afterward saying that the soldiers claimed they’d heard shots and opened fire on a truck that turned out to be carrying migrants from Egypt, Nepal, Cuba, India, Pakistan and El Salvador. Four of the migrants were found dead and 12 wounded.
The military and the Guard also have a controversial history, particularly in Nuevo Laredo, where in 2023, a Guard patrol in Nuevo Laredo allegedly killed two civilians in a car for no apparent reason. At the time, CDHNL president Raymundo Ramos claimed that a Guard artilleryman shot at the vehicle 86 times. Also last year, 16 army soldiers were caught on video in Nuevo Laredo shooting five disarmed suspects execution-style.
Created in 2019 to replace Mexico’s discredited civilian Federal Police, the National Guard’s existence has been intertwined with the military from early on, but as of September, it officially came under military control. (National Guard/Facebook)
The National Guard: blurring lines between civilian and military
Shortly before leaving office, former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and his Morena Party succeeded in pushing through a new constitutional reform that put the Guard permanently under Sedena’s control, further blurring the lines between the civilian and military forces in Mexico, as the Guard is Mexico’s federal police force.
Since its creation, the Guard has been used in every state in Mexico to patrol civilian public spaces, including airports and federal highways, but also more local spaces such as bus stations. They also assist state and local law enforcement in responding to more serious crimes, usually involving illicit drug trafficking, people smuggling and fuel theft.
The constitutional reform was widely criticized by those who say it violates Mexico’s constitution and that the military is not adequately trained to do civilian law enforcement.
A conflict between rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel came to a head in September, causing an escalation in murders, disappearances and kidnappings, especially in the area surrounding the state capital of Culiacán. (José Betanzos/Cuartoscuro)
In the 35 days of cartel violence that has befallen Sinaloa, state officials announced that they have detained a total of 46 suspects and retrieved more than 300 firearms.
There has been public uproar over the weeks of sustained violence in the region, sparked by a feud between factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, whose stronghold and home base is the northwestern Mexican state.
More than 125 people have been reported dead in Sinaloa since a resurgence of cartel infighting in late August. (José Betanzos/Cuartoscuro)
In the same period, police also confiscated 1,709 gun magazines, 95,859 unused cartridges, 55 grenades and 153 vehicles, 35 of which had improvised bulletproof armor, authorities said.
Officials are calling on locals to anonymously report suspicious and criminal activities to help support their investigations.
According to the newspaper El País, more than 125 people have been reported dead since the cartel infighting started to escalate in late August. On Sept. 29, 300 people joined protests in Sinaloa’s capital of Culiacán to draw attention to the violence, carrying placards and calling out chants for peace.
Cartel members clone police vehicles
Sinaloa’s Public Security Minister Gerardo Mérida Sánchez said that during a recent police operation, authorities seized several “cloned” replicas of police and emergency vehicles, including eight police motorbikes, two police cars and an ambulance.
At a press conference on Monday, Governor Rubén Rocha Moya said that following a spate of robberies, authorities planned an operation to prevent future instances of crime affecting local businesses.
The National Guard has been tasked with patrolling streets and central areas to identify high-risk areas for crime and carry out preventative measures.
“We aim to act not reactively, but rather prevent crime at its source. With the presence of the [National] Guard, the operation we are designing is focused on deterring and preventing crime,” Rocha said.
On Oct. 12, alleged Sinaloa Cartel leader Óscar Melchor, known by the alias “El 18,” was apprehended in Saltillo. (FGEQuintana Roo/X)
Cartel leader ‘El 18’ arrested in Coahuila
On Oct. 12, alleged Sinaloa Cartel leader Óscar Melchor, known by the alias “El 18,” was apprehended in Saltillo, the capital of the northeastern state of Coahuila. El 18 faces multiple criminal charges related to his role within the notorious drug trafficking organization.
Law enforcement agents from Quintana Roo, Sinaloa and Coahuila collaborated in his arrest after which he was transported via plane to Quintana Roo, where he will face trial for crimes committed in that state.
Melchor had previously been detained, alongside four others, in 2021 for possession of cannabis and his role in a homicide that took place in Alfredo V. Bonfil, a suburb of Cancún. According to the news agency Infobae, the reasons for his release following his previous arrest are unknown.
The Trion oil field, located 180 km east of Matamoros, is expected to produce 110,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude and 2.5 million cubic meters of gas a day beginning in 2028.
Australian Ambassador to Mexico, Rachel Moseley, with Woodside Energy CEO Meg O’Neil during a celebratory event in Mexico City. (@AusEmbMex/X)
The ultra-deepwater oil field is a joint venture between Woodside Energy, which holds the 60% operating stake, and the state-owned oil company Pemex, which owns 40%.
Woodside Energy recently acquired the Houston, Texas-based liquefied natural gas developer Tellurian, including its Gulf Coast LNG export project, for US $1.2 billion including debt.
The project is expected to help bolster Mexico’s energy security as well as support economic development in the region. Matamoros, Tamaulipas, is well-known for its oil and manufacturing industries. The city exported $6.74 billion worth of products to the United States in 2023, the Economy Ministry reported, and is steadily increasing its exports to other parts of the world, including Spain and Canada.
During a celebratory event in Mexico City for the project, the Australian Ambassador to Mexico, Rachel Moseley, said that the investment demonstrated Woodside’s commitment to Mexico’s energy development.
Former Pemex director Octavio Romero and Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill announced the joint venture in 2023, estimating Woodside’s investment at $10.43 billion. (Pemex/X)
The CEO of Woodside Energy, Meg O’Neil, expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome to Mexico and emphasized the positive impact she expects the project to have on the country, as well as on local communities.
Representative for Tamaulipas in Mexico City Alejandro Rábago Hernández said that Woodside’s investment will position the state as a major energy power, support the creation of new high-quality jobs and bolster the local economy. He also expressed hope that the project would support the government’s energy transition efforts.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum recently announced that the government would be introducing a new national energy strategy, which will support an accelerated green transition.
The plan is expected to cap national oil production at 1.8 million bpd, to support the target of producing 45% of the country’s electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030. Sheinbaum’s will be the first plan at the federal level to focus on a green transformation of the energy sector.
A new take on a Mexican favorite that's perfect for fall evenings. (Azteca)
Sanborns, the place where you can get a coffee, a pair of socks, and a full meal all under one roof, is a Mexico City institution. Founded in 1903, it’s the go-to for everything, from a casual bite to wondering why you’re browsing electronics in a café. Sanborns reminds me of the Cracker Barrel gift shop randomness up north, but they need credit where credit is due.
Traditionally, enchiladas were filled tortillas covered with spicy sauces, typically made from red or green chilies. However, the mad-scientist chefs at Sanborns invented a richer, creamier version. They drew on the European influence brought by Swiss immigrants to Mexico and introduced suizas, a cream-based sauce made from cream, salsa verde, and Monterey Jack cheese, layered over enchiladas filled with chicken.
The dish quickly became popular, offering a comforting, indulgent alternative to the spicier versions of enchiladas. Today, Enchiladas Suizas remain a staple in Mexican cuisine, representing the fusion of European and Mexican flavors that define much of the country’s culinary history. I’d like to share my vegetarian version, with roasted sweet potatoes, onions, carrots, mushrooms. Topped with a creamy verde sauce, shredded pepper jack cheese, baked until the cheese starts to brown, and finished with, you guessed it, more of the cream sauce!
Before preparing your enchiladas, don’t forget to heat the tortillas. (Sergio Contreras/Unsplash)
12 corn tortillas
2 cups shredded cheese (pepper jack, cheddar, or a mix)
Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions:
1. Roast the Vegetables:
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
On a baking sheet, toss the mushrooms, sweet potatoes, carrots, and onions with olive oil, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Spread the vegetables in a single layer and roast for 30-40 minutes, or until tender and slightly caramelized. Toss halfway through to ensure even roasting.
2. Make the Suizas Sauce:
In a medium saucepan, combine the cream, salsa verde, and shredded pepper jack cheese.
Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the cheese melts and the sauce becomes creamy and smooth, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the cilantro, lime juice, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Keep warm on low heat.
3. Assemble the Enchiladas:
Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C).
Warm the tortillas: To make them more pliable, lightly toast them in a dry skillet or wrap them in a damp towel and microwave for 30 seconds.
Fill the tortillas: Place a generous spoonful of roasted vegetables in each tortilla, roll them up, and place them seam-side down in a large baking dish.
Pour about half of the Suizas sauce over the top of the enchiladas, making sure they’re evenly coated.
Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top.
4. Bake:
Bake for 15-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
5. Serve:
Remove from the oven and drizzle the remaining Suizas sauce over the enchiladas.
Plate the enchiladas and serve to your drooling guests.
StephenRandall has lived in Mexico since 2018 by way of Kentucky, and before that, Germany. He’s an enthusiastic amateur chef who takes inspiration from many different cuisines, with favorites including Mexican and Mediterranean. His recipes can also be found on YouTube.
Has moving to Mexico rekindled your sexuality? Therapist Jenna Mayhew can help navigate the wild world of sex in your 60s. (Esther Ann/Unsplash)
Do you live in Mexico, and are you wondering about sex in your 60s? Jenna Mayhew has been working as a psychologist in Mexico for eight years. At her practice, Hola Therapy, she has made it her mission to help foreigners living in Mexico, Mexicans with a foreign partner, foreigners with links to Mexico and Mexicans with links to foreigners or foreign countries.
Now, Jenna answers MND readers’ questions on the pressing issues of relationships, mental health and navigating changes that come with relocating to and living in Mexico.
Psychologist Jenna Mayhew is here to answer reader questions. (Hola Therapy)
Dear Jenna,
I’m a 63 year old woman and I’m living in Mexico. I’ve recently started dating again. What are realistic expectations for a sexual relationship at my age?
Shy but open
Dear Shy but open,
What a great question! It sounds like you’re stepping into an exciting new chapter, and it’s completely natural to feel both tentative and hopeful.
Let me start by saying that you can set your expectations high! Many people find that their sex lives improve with age, experiencing higher sexual satisfaction than younger adults. Further to that, the Journal of Sexual Medicine in 2021 found that 10% of adults over the age of 90 remained sexually active. So you potentially have many more decades of great sex ahead of you.
Despite the improved enjoyment and satisfaction, it’s important to acknowledge some physical changes that come with age. Physical health problems such as arthritis, chronic pain or incontinence can complicate sex. The sex organs themselves start to function differently. The vagina can shorten and narrow and there’s less vaginal lubrication. In men, erectile dysfunction (impotence) also becomes more common. Even when erections are achieved, they may not be as long-lasting or rigid.
In your 60s, it’s common that more time is needed for physiological arousal for both women and men. This is a normal and to-be-expected change. It shouldn’t be considered a reflection of the attraction your partner has to you or vice versa. Conversely, pain is not and should not be considered normal. There are often relatively simple solutions that doctors, pharmacists and therapists can offer and physical changes need not be a barrier to a healthy, safe and very satisfying sex life.
Sex in your 60s might be slightly different from when you were younger, but many report it to be much more pleasurable.(Hector Reyes/Unsplash)
I want to add that many adults/older adults haven’t received the type of sexual education that is common in school these days. So it’s worth mentioning that even if pregnancy isn’t a risk, you still need to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If you choose to be exclusive, you may want to both be tested. This applies to same-sex sex as well. Given that almost half of older lesbians have had heterosexual intercourse at some point in their life, and that female-to-female transmission of STIs like HIV is possible (albeit rare), protection against STIs is still needed.
At this age and stage, you have a great opportunity to create the kind of sexual relationship/s that you’d like. Don’t hesitate to educate yourself and seek support from professionals. Here’s to a long, joyful, and fulfilling sexual future!
Jenna
Ask your questions
To submit your question to Jenna, leave a comment on this article with the heading “QUESTION”. Please include as much detail as you would like to about yourself (age, location etc) and why you are interested in the question.
Jenna Mayhew is an Australian psychologist based in Mexico, with over 20 years of experience in Australia, England and Mexico. She is the founder of Hola Therapy, a bilingual practice dedicated to supporting the immigrant and cross-cultural communities in Mexico.
Hola Therapy aims to give back to the community and one way they achieve this is by providing by clinical and financial support Misión México Foundation. https://www.misionmexico.org Misión México Foundation is a charity in Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico. They provide a stable, therapeutic environment for some of the state’s most vulnerable children, with a focus on safety, emotional recovery and education.
If you have enjoyed the “Ask Jenna” column, please consider giving back by making a small donation to the Misión México Foundation
Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada spoke at the Bloomberg CityLab Summit on Tuesday in the nation's capital. (Clara Brugada/X)
Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada addressed the Bloomberg CityLab Summit in Mexico City on Tuesday, 10 days after she took office as the capital’s second elected female mayor.
Brugada, who was mayor of the Mexico City borough of Iztaplala on two occasions before winning this year’s mayoral election, will govern the capital for the next six years, continuing the Morena party’s rule in the nation’s biggest city.
Newly inaugurated Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada is Mexico City’s second woman mayor, as well as its second consecutive woman mayor. (Clara Brugada/X)
She replaced the interim Mexico City mayor, Marti Batres, who took over for then-mayor Claudia Sheinbaum after she resigned to run for the presidency.
Here are some of the highlights of the speech Brugada made on Tuesday to an audience that included scores of her fellow mayors from countries around the world.
‘It’s time for women’
Echoing the words of former Mexico City mayor and new Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Brugada declared that “it’s time for women in this country and the world.”
Mexico, she said, is currently in “historic times,” given that the country has its first female president.
Brugada stressed that the “it’s time for women” declaration doesn’t just apply to political representation, but is also a commitment to improving the lives of all women.
Brugada said one of the goals of her government is to make care of children, the elderly and the disabled a more public obligation, freeing up their caregivers, who Brugada said are mostly women. (Clara Brugada/X)
She asserted that achieving gender equality is “one of the most important priorities” for her, and for Sheinbaum.
“So, with women, we’re building a great and substantive equality plan for Mexico City,” Brugada said.
“For me, ‘it’s time for women’ means it’s time to deliver justice to women, and this means public policies that place combating gender inequality at their center,” she said.
Caregiving can become a ‘public responsibility’
Further outlining her plan to deliver justice to women, Brugada said that one of the “fundamental” goals of her government will be to create “the Mexico City public care system.”
“This is very important because it’s a new way to rethink cities,” she said.
Brugada said that her proposal entails “ceasing to think that care is solely a private task,” explaining that her government will build new public infrastructure where children, the elderly and the disabled can access care services, thus relieving pressure on their current carers, the majority of whom are women.
“We’re going to create robust [caregiving] infrastructure that includes more than 200 childcare and development centers,” Brugada said, “… but also day centers for senior citizens, rehabilitation centers for people with disabilities.”
By building adequate infrastructure, care can become a “public responsibility” rather than a private one, Brugada said, adding that access to the city’s care services will be a “right” for citizens and that the city government has an “obligation” to provide those services in accordance with the Mexico City constitution.
Brugada, right, and President Claudia Sheinbaum, left, have a shared history. Brugada was borough mayor of Iztapalapa in Mexico City while Sheinbaum was city mayor, and they worked together on projects. (Presidencia)
CDMX’s ‘second story’ of transformation
“Our task is to build the second story of the transformation of this great city,” Brugada said, once again borrowing from the discourse of President Sheinbaum, who says her government will consolidate the so-called “fourth transformation” (4T) of Mexico initiated by former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
“… What does that mean? [It means] building territories of peace and equality, deepening security models that are close … to the people,” she said, referring to policing strategies.
“This means continuing with a [security] model that has yielded results,” Brugada said, citing an almost 60% decline in high-impact crimes such as murder during the term of the previous Mexico City government.
She also highlighted the importance of using technology in the ongoing fight against crime.
The Cablebús cable car transport system has been in operation in Mexico City since July 2021. It’s first line saw 78% more ridership than expected. (Photo: Victoria Valtierra Ruvalcaba/Cuartoscuro)
More sustainable, time-saving transport coming
Before emphasizing the importance of continuing to build new transport infrastructure, Brugada told the Bloomberg CityLab Summit that 78% of Mexico City residents regularly use public transport to get around the capital.
She highlighted her pledge to build an additional five cable car (cablebús) transportation lines that link (mainly disadvantaged) neighborhoods to other transport services, such as the Mexico City Metro.
She also pledged to build additional cycleways and to continue investing in electromobility, or e-mobility, in Mexico City, where many electric buses already operate.
“We want the main force of transport in Mexico City to be sustainable,” Brugada said.
“We will continue with electromobility [initiatives], we will continue building accessible, sustainable infrastructure that reduces transport times. In this city, we want people to be able to enjoy themselves with their families instead of spending hours and hours on transport,” the mayor added.
Among the attendees at the Bloomberg event were mayors from around the world. (Clara Brugada/X)
Problems need ‘metropolitan solutions’
Brugada highlighted that while the population of the 16 alcaldías, or boroughs, of Mexico City is approximately 9 million, some 22 million people call the capital’s greater metropolitan area home.
Issues that affect Mexico City proper affect the entire metropolitan area, she said.
The mayor acknowledged that “one of the fundamental issues for the city is water” and pledged to change the way water is managed to reduce waste of the essential liquid.
Brugada also spoke briefly about waste management, telling the summit attendees that some 13,000 tonnes of trash are produced in Mexico City every day
Many residents of the greater metropolitan area of Mexico City regularly have limited access to running water and depend on water deliveries from trucks sponsored by the city. (CRISANTA ESPINOSA AGUILAR /CUARTOSCURO.COM)
“Within six years, we’re proposing recycling half of all of Mexico City’s waste. This is very important. … We have the method, which is large recycling plants,” she said.
New ‘utopías’ on the horizon
Brugada is perhaps best known for Iztapalapa’s “utopía” community center projects, which provide free athletic, recreation and education opportunities in the disadvantaged borough.
On Tuesday, the former Iztapalapa mayor spoke about her government’s plan to build an additional 100 “beautiful” utopías across the capital.
“This city is planning a great project for the transformation of public spaces,” Brugada said.
“… What are the utopías? … [They are] great, transformative projects that have infrastructure for sport, recreation, culture, well-being and caregiving,” she said.
Brugada is known for building community centers called “utopias” which offer family recreational and educational activities. This one that opened in 2023 has a digital aquarium. (@Claudiashein/Twitter)
Brugada said that the 100 new utopías will be built in parts of the capital where they are most needed
In keeping with the 15-minute urban planning concept, the utopías will be situated so that a large number of Mexico City residents can get to them in less than 15 minutes from their homes, she added.
“The utopías are our big bet for [achieving] equality, for delivering social and territorial justice in this city,” Brugada said.
“I come from an outlying area [of the city], so one of the big objectives we have is for the outlying areas of Mexico City to not be synonyms of inequality and abandonment,” she said.
A city with ‘shared prosperity’
Brugada noted that Mexico City has the largest economy of any city in Mexico, and set out a broad economic vision for the capital.
“We want this city to continue being a prosperous city, a city with shared prosperity, a city in which generating income comes with an environmental responsibility, a city in which we see that the best social program is employment,” she said.
The mayor also said she wants her administration to be “a great digital government, an open government and a government that promotes [internet] connectivity and modernity.”
Making another reference to López Obrador’s 4T, Brugada added that Mexico City is the “capital of the transformation” of Mexico.
“It’s a global, cosmopolitan and diverse city,” she told summit attendees from around the world.
The IMF explained its gloomy outlook by citing, among other factors, investor concerns about a recently passed judicial reform package. (Shutterstock)
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday lowered its 2024 economic growth forecast for Mexico to 1.5% while projecting even slower growth in 2025.
Citing capacity limitations and a restrictive monetary policy, the IMF foresees Latin America’s second-biggest economy dipping to 1.3% in 2025, but it does expect Mexico to guide inflation toward the Bank of Mexico’s 3% target.
President Sheinbaum inherited the controversial set of judicial reforms that passed just before she took office. She has tried to reassure global investors that it will not destabilize the rule of law in Mexico’s courts. (Andrea Murcia Monsivais/Cuartoscuro)
The IMF — a financial agency of the United Nations headquartered in Washington, D.C., and funded by 190 member countries — also explained its gloomy outlook by citing investor concerns about a recently passed judicial reform package that raises questions about the effectiveness of contract enforcement and the predictability of the rule of law in Mexico.
The IMF’s prediction is just the latest in a recent trend of pessimistic growth forecasts for Mexico.
The World Bank now sees the Mexican economy growing by 1.7% this year, 0.6 percentage points lower than its 2.3% forecast in June. At the same time, the World Bank also lowered its 2025 forecast by 0.6 points to 1.5%, while its 2026 forecast shrank from 2% to 1.6%
And last week, BBVA México — Mexico’s largest financial institution — released a report showing a decline in consumer confidence this year, its biggest downturn since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the same report, BBVA projected 2024 economic growth to top out at 1.2% (down from a previous forecast of 2.5%), while forecasting just 1.0% growth for 2025, citing weak internal demand and uncertainty resulting from the judicial reform.
A recent report by the financial institution BBVA México also forecast lower growth for Mexico in 2024, citing the decline in consumer confidence and weak internal demand. (Mireya Novo/Cuartoscuro)
Although consumer spending kept increasing during the first nine months of 2024, for a total growth of 9.8%, BBVA reported, this figure was actually down 1.8% from the same period last year.
In addition, consumer spending in September showed signs of deceleration. A 1.5% increase in September lagged behind the 2.2% increase posted in August.
The newspaper El Economista reported that the BBVA Research team predicts that consumer confidence will continue to decline in the next few months as GDP growth remains low and real wages dip because of modest job growth in the industrial sector.
