Jump to content
Chapala.com Webboard

Pueblo Magico: Some Answers


Xena

Recommended Posts

I was one of several posters on this web board who had questions about Pueblo Magico (PM) status being sought for Ajijic. At his invitation, I met Sunday morning with Harry Bublin who is the chairperson of the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC). His wife Chris was also there. He had invited five forum posters to meet and discuss PM. I was the only one who attended. One person called him that morning to cancel. The other three never responded to the invitation. Since I was the only forum member to attend, I am passing along what Harry took the time to share.

For those who might be interested, Harry and Chris have lived here for 12 years and were regular visitors for 10 years before that. He is a naturalized Mexican citizen. They are both very involved in the community.

CAC was established by Hector Espana Ramos, Ajijic´s newly-elected Delegado. After taking office in March for his three-year term, Hector created the CAC. As noted, Harry Bublin is the chair. Other members are Judith Baeher, J. Hennerle, Ann Houch, Bob Howe, Viviane Michel and Keith and Penelope Sofka. The committee meets as needed.

Efrem Gonzales, director of the cultural center on the plaza, would like to see Ajijic become known as the artistic center of Jalisco state. Obtaining the PM status would help in reaching that goal. Ajijic the village will apply not as a municipality of Chapala. Harry says this is possible because Ajijic exists as a separate entity with its own elected government, plaza, and police station.

It is believed that features such as the following are what qualify Ajijic for PM status:

Murals

The Old Chapel (built in 1534)

Adobe buildings (some related to the revolution)

Neil James

The Old Posada (part of an original Cortez land grant)

The application is in very early stages. The committee is reviewing documents on the process gleaning from them things that will have to be done before they can apply. The committee has begun doing projects that would improve chances of having a successful application. In the past four months projects have included:

Filling potholes

Installation of 45 handicapped ramps

Repairing sidewalk

Installing handrails around town

Putting pavers on the tianguis street so the elderly and handicapped can shop at the Wednesday market.

These are things that are needed by the people anyway. Mexicans and expats need these things to improve their lives, Harry said. Getting Pueblo Magico status is something to shoot for, but if we do not make it a lot of things will have been improved.

The PM designation would include all of Ajijic from La Floresta to the western boundary. The PM is a federal program which also receives some state funding.

PM statis comes with benefits that include federal and state funding for advertising and infrastructure improvements. It also offers protection from inappropriate development such as six-story buildings, more casinos and large chain restaurants.

The designation comes with requirements the village must meet and they are now being reviewed. The committee is aware of concerns about some regulations possibly being harmful to local businesses and entrepreneurs. Harry says solutions will be found for problems coming along with PM designation. Nobody wants to push those people out of work, that´s for sure, he said. Some of those people are very dear to us. We have known them for years.

Completing the plaza project (which ran into financial problems before Hector took office) is part of the plan. Because a big part of the problem has been lack of documentation and accountability for money, Harry (who has an accounting degree) is now the bonded banker for all funds. He is part of a four-person financial committee and at least two people must sign off on any expenditures. Every donor not only gets a receipt but also receives the original bills showing where their money was spent. A man gave us 3,400 pesos for an artistic handrail on the plaza steps. He has the original design, notes from the iron worker and the payment schedule. The committee has copies, said Harry.

The committee wants to ensure complete credit and transparency for donors so they can be assured their money is used as they intended. Names of donors who wish to be anonymous will not be revealed. If you want to be acknowledged we will do that, Harry said It is the donors´ business.

Harry and the committee would like to hear from people who have thoughts and ideas about PM and other public works projects. He said they are happy to meet with anyone who is interested in helping. They especially seek ideas about how to fund projects knowing they can not continue to operate forever on donations. Harry can be reached at 766-4282 or by email: mslcb@yahoo.com. If you prefer communicating on chapala.com, you may address ChrisB and Harry will get the message. You can be assured that replies under ChrisB´s name do come from Harry.

Harry would like everyone to remember that the people on the committee are putting their energy into working positively to make things better. We really are trying to do the right things, he says.

That is what I learned over breakfast on Sunday morning. I thank Harry for his time and openness.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

another person is out of town. so that leaves 2 others, guess they werent interested. as well meaning as most of this is: @ the end of the day the big corps win, they always do. douteful a small group can stop the developing machine. look how far it came, all the way from one dominos. look @ guad. keep planting, that does make a difference.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"The designation comes with requirements the village must meet and they are now being reviewed. The committee is aware of concerns about some regulations possibly being harmful to local businesses and entrepreneurs."

Please give details on requirements. This is not a minor issue, and is very important to many people.

Thank you for the general information. I especially appreciate that there will be financial transparency.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks all for letting me know you appreciated the time I spent on this.

Gringal, this was a brief meeting to get a clearer overall view of this issue. As I said in my report, "The application is in very early stages." The details are not yet available. I do hope that people will take advantage of Harry´s openness and communicate thoughts, ideas and concerns as this process continues. I also hope that people who get first-hand information will share it here.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

another person is out of town. so that leaves 2 others, guess they werent interested. as well meaning as most of this is: @ the end of the day the big corps win, they always do. douteful a small group can stop the developing machine. look how far it came, all the way from one dominos. look @ guad. keep planting, that does make a difference.

Bennie, I find it astonishing that you are negative about so many things discussed on this forum, regularly give your opinions and advice an a myriad of topics (and often off the topic of the thread), but when invited to PARTICIPATE in something, you decline to attend. Heck, they even offered to provide you with free transportation to and from the meeting.

There's a famous saying that applies here (I hope the mods won't regard as me attacking another poster) - Put up or shut up.

Note to everyone: I have no bone in this fight. I live NOB, and have (and will probably continue) to visit Ajijic for periods from 2 weeks to 5 months. Whether it becomes a PM or not.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Xena, I have a question and I understand you might not be able to answer it. Unfortunately I can't think of a way to ask the question other than using my own frame of reference, the US. I am not comparing the two countries. You wrote Hector may apply PM as an entity.

In the US a city can become it's own municipality. I'm sure this is a legal and complicated process. Once it becomes it's own municipality it is responsible for police and fire protection. The city also is fiscally responsible for itself and can raise taxes. The majority of the income from property taxes, business taxes, and even some state sales taxes go to the city. They also qualify for some state and even federal support. They can also reconfigure their business areas on the outskirts, creating huge taxation, and also maintain the charm of their central community.

My understanding, albeit a bit confused, is the delagado for Ajijic does is not provided with a budget and therefore has to ask th

municipality of Chapala for funding for any improvements. It is also my understanding the Chapala municipality has no money to allocate. If Ajijic does not have it's own funding, and no fiscal responsibility, I imagine with all the well intended ideas, the delagado has his hands tied behind his back. You also said that donations cannot go on forever. Fund raising is good, but may also be a bandaid solution. Dreams come true, however my feeling is Hector and his committee may be biting more than they can chew with the resources available in the short term.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just to clarify the reason I would like to hear something about the requirements:

Rumor, but based on some pretty solid information: Once your town is given P.M. status.......no vendors are allowed on the main Plaza.

That would, of course, include the monthly ASA Plaza art shows as well as the regular vendors in the alley. This is a concern to all involved in those selling opportunities.

I also agree with the poster who suggested that there are limits to available donation money, with many worthy (and a few dubious) causes constantly begging for help.

As far as having the designation of P.M. being part of making Ajijic a major art center, that will happen on its own when enough fine artists live and work here and have the opportunity to have their work shown to the public.

IMO, this cause is not being helped when the Cultural Center's display space has been shrunk by putting in a restaurant , holding exercise classes in space that could hold standing display units and inserting a store to replace more display space. The Cultural Center should limit itself to "Culture", and all resident artists, both Mexican and foreign born should be welcome to show their work there. "Art" is a universal language.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

the evening exercise classes are attended by mexicans. they have enough cancelations to accomadate the expat art shows. so now there may not be any more classes? upstairs there are classes for boys, martial arts. are you suggesting this?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What "expat" art shows? I've seen a number of shows there featuring Mexican artists as well as shows by the local ASA art association, an organization which welcomes members of any nationality.

When the main floor is used for exercise classes, it eliminates any use for standing display panels or stands for sculpture or other art objects in a show.

My point, again, is that becoming known for art as part of the Pueblo Magico project is about providing opportunities for artists and craftspeople to show and sell their work. All artists. The Cultural Center should be the hub for that.

I'm all for exercise and martial arts classes, but surely there must be another place where these activities can take place, other than the Cultural Center.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

the classes on the lower floors have been canceled for years because there are expat shows. sometimes the art is mixed. @ times the evening classes are moved to the restaurant next door. how can you come to another country & tell the natives where they can give their lessons? this is a decision that only the head of the cultural center can decide. but he makes his $$ from expats, so maybe the classes will be terminated. i dont think the mexican women would be happy w/this, neither will the instructors.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What "expat" art shows? I've seen a number of shows there featuring Mexican artists as well as shows by the local ASA art association, an organization which welcomes members of any nationality.

When the main floor is used for exercise classes, it eliminates any use for standing display panels or stands for sculpture or other art objects in a show.

My point, again, is that becoming known for art as part of the Pueblo Magico project is about providing opportunities for artists and craftspeople to show and sell their work. All artists. The Cultural Center should be the hub for that.

I'm all for exercise and martial arts classes, but surely there must be another place where these activities can take place, other than the Cultural Center.

Agree. It is a cultural center. Your comment about the head of the cultural center is offensive, Bennie. Must you always be so negative?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

mc, i didnt intentionally mean to be negative. i like efren, i have had framing done there. i dont blame him for possible decisions. since public relations seem to be so important, i wanted to bring out all sides. the world works the way it does. maybe if i was in his position i would follow gringals suggestions.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This isn't about Efren, or Bennie, or who likes who and where she/he gets her framing done. It's about artists, opportunities, the Puebla Magica project, etc. My opinion about whether exercise classes, stores and restaurants belong in the CC is just an opinion, which I have a right to express and with which anyone can agree, or not. However, it would be nice if a disagreement were not expressed in a disagreeable manner.

I've been trying, so far unsuccessfully, to get some information about what restrictions come along with the P.M. designation and what effect those restrictions would have on the local artist community. Simple?

Other than trying for an answer here, can anyone direct me to a site where I can get this information?

I'm either looking in the wrong place or Senor Google hates me. I found a lot of information about places that met the standard, but nothing about the restrictions that go with the P.M. designation.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...