Two years before the 2021 elections, there is no ‘Agro ecological park’ promised by Gutiérrez

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All eyes turned to the polls in 2021, when the country plunged into a momentous electoral process, marking a milestone in political renewal. These elections included the renewal of several local congresses, the federal congress, 15 governorships and more than 1100 municipal presidencies. Representing a valuable opportunity to promote change and citizen participation in the construction of the future of the nation.

With the long-awaited moment for the candidates finally arriving, the campaign promises began to take shape. Among the applicants, some offered substantial improvements, while others sought to continue projects already in development. This led some municipal presidents to run again to continue leading for three more years. Outstanding examples of this are Mariela Gutiérrez Escalante, municipal president of Tecámac, and Fernando Vilchis from Ecatepec, who have left a distinctive mark on their communities.

In 2018, Mariela won a resounding victory and, in 2021, she was re-elected to lead as Tecámac municipal president for an additional three years. His re-election represents an opportunity to continue the projects implemented during his administration between 2019 and 2021. Now facing the challenge of consolidating and expanding the initiatives that have had a positive impact on the community, reaffirming his commitment to the progress and well-being of those who chose her to lead the way to a prosperous future.

One of the most notable achievements of Mariela Gutiérrez has been the rehabilitation of the “Sierra Hermosa” Ecological State Park, which was in a state of disrepair when she took office in 2018. Through a million-dollar investment, the park was transformed and Mariela affirms which is now “the most beautiful in the entire State of Mexico”. However, some critics point out that, although he has promoted the planting of trees on social networks, a concrete plan is lacking to address climate change in the municipality, especially after the felling of trees that occurred due to the construction of the Felipe Ángeles International Airport and the expansion of the Mexico-Pachuca Highway.

In addition, the presence of political favors within the municipal government is evident, as reflected in the case of Patricia Galindo Alarcón, who went from being director of Economic Development to director of Environment in the municipality, despite doubts about her experience in environmental issues.

Assigning public office to people with the right experience and skills to address the specific challenges of each area is critical. Transparency in these processes is essential to build trust in the government and ensure that decisions are made for the benefit of the entire community.

In the 2021 elections, the participation of Montserrat Ruiz, who ran for a seat in the Mexico State congress, also stood out, although she did not achieve victory against her opponent, Lili Urbina Salazar. The choice was influenced by the presence of Lili Urbina, daughter of a cacique whose monopoly Mariela defeated in 2018.

The environmental issue has been a growing concern in the municipality, however, the information on the projects and public spending in this management has been scarce. The “Agroparque” project announced by Mariela Gutiérrez on social networks has generated expectations and questions. Despite ambitious plans being mentioned, to date there has been no concrete progress or information on investment in the project.

The El Ambientalista Post team has sought answers through requests for information, but so far has not received a response. Possible parties involved in the project have been identified, such as Gabriel Nájera, an Agricultural Engineer, but the lack of official information has generated uncertainty among citizens.

In a video of 2 minutes and 20 seconds, the “Galaxia Urban Complex” is mentioned, located near the municipal seat and next to the main entrance of the Plaza Estado de México, where the Galaxia wastewater treatment plant is located. This video highlights the intention to convert and take advantage of this space through a project led by experts in sustainable technologies, Gabriel Nájera and Pablo, who have been designated to carry out this transformation.

El Ambientalista Post made a request for information about this project to the Institute of Transparency, Access to Public Information and Protection of Personal Data of the State of Mexico and Municipalities (IFOEM) through the System of Access to Information Mexiquense (SAIMEX) on 28 June 2023. The request sought to obtain details about the investment in the environmental sector, Galindo’s curricular profile and the “Agroparque” project. However, as of July 29, 2023, approximately one month later, the Municipal Transparency Unit, led by Carlos Alonso Hernández Peláez, has still not provided a response to the request submitted by El Ambientalista Post.

Given the lack of information about the project that has not yet started, El Ambientalista Post managed to identify one of the people who would be in charge of it through a video published on May 31, 2021. In said video, Montserrat, ex-candidate for local council, along with two other people. One of them is Gabriel Nájera, an Agricultural Engineer, who, according to the video, would be responsible for the work. In addition, in the investigation, Gabriel Nájera has participated in the COPACI election in Ojo de Agua.

In the video, the characteristics of the “Ecological Agropark” are detailed, which will cover an area of 26 hectares. It is worth noting that it will have spaces dedicated to recreation, care for the environment, sports, use of solar energy and environmental education. It will also include the first Botanical Garden within the municipality for the conservation of native flora, 3 hectares set aside for outdoor events, a 2 km bike path and a jogging path. Likewise, an artificial lake of 1.6 hectares for boat rides is mentioned, and the reforestation of the park with approximately 900 new trees is projected. Both the park and the treatment plant will be powered by solar energy through the use of solar panels, and a demo green house will be included.

The Environmentalist Post tried to contact Gabriel Nájera through email and social networks to obtain more information about the progress of the project and its start date. However, up to the current date, July 23, 2023, they have not received any response.

Despite the efforts made to obtain data on the project, the lack of information still prevails and no response has been obtained from the authorities or people involved in the development of the Agroparque Ecológico. In the search for a green and sustainable future, the Tecamac community yearns for clear answers and concrete actions from their municipal leaders. Time advances, and uncertainty about the Agroparque and other important projects continues to grow. The cry for transparency and commitment to the environment resonates strongly among citizens, who eagerly await to see a real change in their environment and in local politics.

Update after August 2, 2023.

On August 2, 2023, in the mail registered in SAIMEX, to obtain public data. We received an email with the news that there was a response to the request submitted on June 28, 2023. The municipal government informed that as it is private information about Galindo’s curriculum, we could not make public said document that was attached to the response by the official. Documents held by El Ambientalista Post, in the curriculum it says that she has a “Law Degree – In progress” and that she has taken courses on “good government” “Municipal Public Servants” among others. Reading the resume, she does not have experience in the environmental sector.

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