Benjamín Martínez Núñez, president of the Neighborhood Board of the Emiliano Zapata neighborhood, indicated that the problem of homeless people in the romantic zone and center of the city has already exceeded the municipal authorities’ resources. A year ago, there were around 50 people living on the streets, of all ages, including women, but he says there could be approximately 200 today.
He said, “There is no exact figure because it changes, but there are around 200 people who are seen in this neighborhood. They mainly gather between Insurgentes and Lázaro Cárdenas streets where there are several taco stands, possibly because of the passing of tourists, and because they are given food here at certain times. It increases too much. They have reported some who get angry because they are not given any currency or something, and others stay here to sleep.”
Residents and merchants of this central area are already extremely concerned, since it has become commonplace to see homeless people lying on sidewalks and flower boxes, taking drugs, or doing their physiological needs.
Dozens of them have already settled on the Cuale River Island and its banks. Some have appropriated an empty place, and others have erected tents with plastic, cardboard, and cloth. There are those who have adapted caves under the suspension bridges.
The neighbors and businessmen have to clean the dirt they leave on their sidewalks, and be on the lookout for vandalism. It’s a never-ending story. They spend their time reporting them to Public Security, who remove them, but the people come back after a few minutes or days.
Martínez acknowledged the effort made by the police to contain the problem, and recognized that they cannot do more, saying they are only giving it a bandaid. He demanded a comprehensive and thorough solution.
“It is a problem that is already being exceeded by whoever has been attending to it up to now, which is Public Security. They do what they can, they take them away, but not seeing enough officers to prevent them after two or three hours, they are out here again,” he said.
“There must be a more fundamental solution, whether through DIF, another organization, or private initiative. There may be other ideas to give attention to these indigents, because if we do not take care of this now, it can get out of hand.”
This phenomenon has become a growing social and health problem, as there are often fights. Some of the homeless people are aggressive with people who do not give them money. In addition, it gives a bad image to tourists.
