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Asunción residents unite to rescue city from neglect and decay
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Disasters & Emergencies

Asunción residents unite to rescue city from neglect and decay

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • 25 Asunción organizations formed the "Red por el Derecho a la Ciudad" (Network for the Right to the City) to address urban decline.
  • The group cites issues including the loss of 190 hectares of trees, neglected public spaces, constant flooding, and inefficient transport.
  • They aim to push for a public works plan and improve quality of life, criticizing the municipality's financial and moral state.

A coalition of 25 Asunción organizations has launched the "Red por el Derecho a la Ciudad" (Network for the Right to the City), a citizen platform dedicated to combating the capital's deep urban crisis. The group seeks to unite neighborhood struggles and build social influence to shape public policy.

there has been no investment for decades in the 210 plazas, parks, and green corridors of the city of Asunción. They have been abandoned and are today in a lamentable situation, practically no longer usable by citizens.

— Arístides OrtizDescribing the neglect of public spaces in Asunción.

Their manifesto highlights critical issues plaguing Asunción, including the alarming loss of 190 hectares of trees over 24 years and the historical neglect of its plazas and parks. Residents also face severe infrastructure problems like constant flooding due to inadequate drainage, an inefficient public transport system that consumes valuable time, and the social exclusion of vulnerable populations.

Arístides Ortiz, a spokesperson for the network, detailed the city's environmental and financial deficits. He stated that "there has been no investment for decades in the 210 plazas, parks, and green corridors of Asunción." He further criticized urban mobility policies that prioritize private vehicles over citizens needing public transport and pointed out that over 150,000 people live in poverty without being integrated into the city.

public policies from both the municipal and national governments aim to prioritize the car over the citizen, who needs public transport.

— Arístides OrtizCriticizing the urban mobility model in Asunción.

The network also leveled strong accusations against the Asunción municipality, describing it as being in "technical, financial, and moral bankruptcy." They cited the alleged diversion of G. 512 billion from bonds meant for public works during the administration of Óscar “Nenecho” Rodríguez and accused the institution of being co-opted by interests detrimental to the common good. The group aims to drive a public works plan to restore the quality of life in the city's neighborhoods.

the municipal institution has lost its fundamental purpose of serving the common good.

— Arístides OrtizCommenting on the perceived failures of Asunción's local government.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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