I had the privilege of watching Roma, from Alfonso Cuarón, last night at the the historic and charming Castro Theater in San Francisco (Cuarón said in the introduction to his most personal movie that the Castro Theater reminded him of the cinemas of his youth, with the sticky floor and all… I have no qualms, because my experience last night was enhanced, and I took pleasure indeed in this, by the sticky floor under my seat!). The movie is a memoir, full of subtle insights, into what growing up in our wonderful Mexico City was for Chilangos or Defeños of our generation. But more importantly, it is a homage to the millions of women who remain invisible, but selflessly pour their love into the families and children they care, as beautifully portrayed by Yalitza Aparicio.
Read MoreThe Silent War in Mexico →
Invisible Women in Mexico City →
2 de octubre ¡No se olvida! Tlatelolco in my Memory →
Click here to read full article in Medium
The 50th anniversary of the tragic massacre of students in Tlatelolco in 1968, just a few days after the fourth anniversary of the disappearance of the 43 students in Ayotzinapa, is another painful reminder of how difficult it has been for Mexico to uphold basic human dignity and to curb the worst excesses of The State. There has been some progress in those 50 years: Mexico is now a democracy; governments have expanded education, health, and social services; and some basic rights are protected. But the authoritarian past seems to lurch behind at every corner; profound injustices in a deeply divided and stratified society permeate every aspect of social life; and violence, death and insecurity continue unabated in Mexico…
Sátrapas y federalismo →
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En el numero 101 de Brujula Ciudadana
El federalismo mexicano de los últimos años (por lo menos 12 o quizá debería decir desde hace 3 décadas, en que inicia el proceso de descentralización) ofrece una lección fundamental sobre el ejercicio del poder: tener gobernadores con recursos fiscales, pero sin contrapesos políticos, es augurio de desastre. El quebranto de las pensiones o las finanzas públicas estatales, la incompetencia (o contubernio) de los ejecutivos estatales frente al crimen organizado, o los casos de franca criminalidad y fuga de la justicia no son sino síntomas de un problema más fundamental: a saber, que los gobernadores se convirtieron, en estos años de federalismo revitalizado, en los actores menos vigilados y con menor rendición de cuentas para con la ciudadanía…
Los resabios de la ciudad indigena →
Jacarandas in Mexico City →
Click here to read full article in Medium
And here are some articles in Mexican media that came out from this post:
ADN40 (with link to Github with dataset)
The real reason is because they are beautiful and we actually have one of them in our colonial house in Coyoacan. But after so many years using GIS in my work, I was amazed of how much interest a visualization of Jacarandas in the Center of Mexico City brought to my Twitter account, so I guess this deserves some more explanation…
Coming of Age on September 19 →
Click here to read Medium post
For Mexico City dwellers of my generation (chilangos or, as we prefer to call ourselves, DeFeños, even though this is now anachronistic, since the City is no longer called the Federal District) September 19 is full of symbolism and hope. It is the day of our first earthquake, the one that in 1985 transformed our political and social awareness. Yesterday we witnessed a second major earthquake in our City, against all odds hitting exactly 32 years after the first one…