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mtgoat666
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rich and poor in mexico
In wealthy Mexico City area, hard workers at street level
The richest man on the planet lives in Mexico, as do millions of people existing below the poverty line. Yet rich and poor repeatedly intersect,
entangled in a routine of mutual sustenance.
By Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times
April 19, 2011, 5:32 p.m.
Reporting from Mexico City— Lomas de Chapultepec, a neighborhood of huge homes behind high stone and brick walls, wakes up each morning to the sound
of sweeping.
As the dawn's dark fades to light, servants emerge from behind gates and, with witches' brooms, brush away the leaves and twigs and lavender jacaranda
petals that have fallen overnight.
Maids in pastel uniforms, security guards, gardeners and chauffeurs — these are the public denizens of this super-rich enclave. The actual homeowners
and permanent residents are rarely seen.
Of Mexico's many contradictions, one stands out. The richest man on the planet lives in Mexico, as do millions of people existing below the poverty
line. Yet rich and poor repeatedly intersect, entangled in a routine of mutual survival, of class-based enabling.
The rich sustain their comfortable lives thanks in part to an endless supply of cheap support staff. That in turn guarantees employment — albeit
substandard — for legions of working-class Mexicans.
A study issued this month by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found that Mexicans work the longest days of people in any of
the 30 countries studied by the global organization. Yet Mexicans remain among the developed world's poorest.
Mexicans dedicate about 10 hours a day (Mexican women work longer than men) to "paid and unpaid work." That's about an hour more on average than the
Japanese; Belgians work the least, the OECD says.
David Martinez runs a food stand on a corner of a particularly lovely section of Lomas de Chapultepec. He and his father before him have been here
more than 25 years.
Martinez sets up on the sidewalk under the shade of Lomas' Lebanon Street, against the bougainvillea-covered walls that conceal the houses. Next to
him is the man who sells firewood out the back of a battered blue pickup, year-round.
The 33-year-old Martinez travels to Lomas, on the western edge of Mexico City, from his home on the eastern side. Two and a half hours each way: a
five-hour daily commute: "It was six yesterday because of the rain," he said. His mother and sister-in-law start cooking every day at 3 a.m., and he
heads for Lomas with the food at 5. Long hours to earn a handful of pesos.
"What else can I do?" he asks.
From late morning to late afternoon, Martinez family members dish out tortillas filled with rice, beans, chicken cutlets and hard-boiled eggs from
steaming metal pots. They serve a steady clientele of people who work in the neighborhood; only rarely do the permanent residents partake.
"We get a little bit of everything as customers," he said. "There are office employees and construction workers. And a lot of bodyguards."
Some of the bodyguards eat at the Martinez food stand while their charges dine a block away at the Cafe O, known for its power breakfasts and Ladies
Who Lunch.
Carlos Slim, the telecommunications tycoon ranked by Forbes as the world's richest man, has a house here in Lomas — at least the house he most often
shows journalists. And Diego Fernandez de Cevallos, the powerbroker and kingmaker notoriously kidnapped last year, returned to his mansion on a Lomas
corner after his release.
A half block from Martinez, Roberto Santana Santos, 60, is another neighborhood fixture. He repairs bicycles, having inherited the storefront business
from his father, who started it 75 years ago. At the beginning, they repaired bikes for the milkman and the newspaper boy and all the other
deliverymen who conducted their business on bicycles. But their operation evolved, and today it's the rich who bring their souped-up mountain bikes
and other fancy rides to Santana for realignments, wheel adjustments and other repairs.
Slight and silver-haired, Santana has become something of a neighborhood historian. He remembers when parts of Lomas were fields and parkland, where
the mansions now stand.
Santana puts in 12-hour days, before riding home five miles away, on his bike. Business is brisk, especially on Saturdays. Residents stop by, driving
up in their SUVs, to pick up or leave off a bike. They exchange friendly greetings with Santana. Sometimes, they stop in for a soft drink, he says.
Out of Lomas, the intersection changes. "If they see me somewhere else, in a restaurant or at a theater," he said, "they pretend they don't know me."
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DENNIS
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So....what's the point of this...article? Rich people have big houses and the less wealthy work for them?
Oh yeah....there's a bicycle shop down the street.
I wonder how long it took this scribe/detective to figure all this out.
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mtgoat666
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
So....what's the point of this...article? Rich people have big houses and the less wealthy work for them?
Oh yeah....there's a bicycle shop down the street.
I wonder how long it took this scribe/detective to figure all this out. |
dennis,
what is the point of anything? do you prefer to read only threads about Pompy's ramblings through Mulege's bars and Nomads pampering of the their
dogs? Perhaps another thread about fishing, or another review of Baja Cactus by DK?
So what points do you prefer, Denny?
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comitan
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Pompy's ramblings & Russ's pictures !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
So what points do you prefer, Denny? |
If you would post some hard core porn, it would be an answer to a lot of people's prayers, as in Adiós. 
Jes kiddin'.
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bajafam
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He prefers a thread where he can bash someone for anything/nothing.
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BajaBlanca
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I enjoyed reading about Lomas de Chapultepec - when we were in Mexico City, we went thru the neighborhood probably - without noticing all these
interesting characters...when we go back at the end of the year, I am going to look them up !!
and maybe ask the bicycle guy for some donations.
I never give up trying to get stuff for these kids - I am known for my stobbornness   
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monoloco
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I have to admit that this is more interesting than the beer thread.
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Tbone
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
So....what's the point of this...article? Rich people have big houses and the less wealthy work for them?
Oh yeah....there's a bicycle shop down the street.
I wonder how long it took this scribe/detective to figure all this out. |
dennis,
what is the point of anything? do you prefer to read only threads about Pompy's ramblings through Mulege's bars and Nomads pampering of the their
dogs? Perhaps another thread about fishing, or another review of Baja Cactus by DK?
So what points do you prefer, Denny? |
I vote for Pomps Romps any day over goats latest statement of the obvious. or most anything else that's been posted here lately.
Mas Pacifico
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SteveD
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Although it's not the point of the story, having enormous wealth in Mexico is not that great concerning your personal freedoms. The super rich have
to hide behind high walls and gates in exclusive communities with constant protection from bodyguards. Fear of being kidnaped keeps them prisoners in
their own houses. I'm sure I'll be hearing from some of you that being rich is better than being poor, but for some of us having the freedom to go
where you want when you want is very important. I've always felt even less restricted in Baja, one of the reasons for coming here all these years.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajafam
He prefers a thread where he can bash someone for anything/nothing. |
Hey there sweetie....glad to see you're still up to your snapper in coexistance.
Since you seem to have so much meaningless time on your hands, perhaps you should take up writing. Maybe a book....or an illustrated manual.
Something like, "Whelping in Baja as an alternative to the Fideicomiso."
Automatic best seller....depending on graphic photos, of course.
We'll be looking for ya on Oprah. 
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bajafam
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Oh good. For a minute I thought you were ignoring me.
My day is complete, dear.
I'll mail you the first copy, signed of course. My mom will be thrilled that I am putting my writing degree to good use.
FWIW, the bajafam Mexico property IS in our son's name because it's his; and no fideo necessary. Thanks little dood! Not only did we save some cash by
having you in Mexico, we saved thousands on the prop too!
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Cypress
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Rich and poor in Mexico? Or anyplace else. This is a no brainer. Yep! I'd rather be rich than poor in Mexico or anyplace else in the world. So what's
the point. Anybody got a solution?
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajafam
Oh good. For a minute I thought you were ignoring me.
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I tried. You wouldn't allow it. Do you get off on this kind of stuff?
Anyway....since you have a card carrying member of the Mexican Party in your bag of tricks, perhaps you should enroll him in one of the Cartel
Montessori Schools. Give him a cutting edge education....so to speak.
He'll be forever grateful.
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bajafam
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Do you get off on this kind of stuff?
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Funny I was going to ask you the same thing.
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tiotomasbcs
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I found the article a reminder of how lucky I am, for many reasons! Now, break out the boxing gloves; Michelle no Belle vs Dennis the Menace. Such
diversity. I preferred the Beer thread, Mono. but this has some degrading prospects! Tio
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mtgoat666
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| Quote: | Originally posted by SteveD
Although it's not the point of the story, having enormous wealth in Mexico is not that great concerning your personal freedoms. The super rich have
to hide behind high walls and gates in exclusive communities with constant protection from bodyguards. Fear of being kidnaped keeps them prisoners in
their own houses. I'm sure I'll be hearing from some of you that being rich is better than being poor, but for some of us having the freedom to go
where you want when you want is very important. I've always felt even less restricted in Baja, one of the reasons for coming here all these years.
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money can't buy me love! but it can buy all the toys and sex a man could want!
i am amused when people say it is "horrible burden" or "confining" to be rich. hogwash!
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El Jefe
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Cypress
Rich and poor in Mexico? Or anyplace else. This is a no brainer. Yep! I'd rather be rich than poor in Mexico or anyplace else in the world. So what's
the point. Anybody got a solution? |
The solution is quite simple. Tax the hell out of the rich and redistribute it to the poor in the form of health care, food programs, old age benefits
etc.
The USA is headed in the same direction as Mexico. A very rich minority controlling everything and a lower class brainwashed to believe that's just
the way it is.
Revolution! Power to the people, right on!! Oh, just don't touch my retirement check.
No b-tchin\' in the Baja.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by tiotomasbcs
Michelle
but this has some degrading prospects! Tio |
What's a Michelle? Is that French for Sweetie?? Must be.
Some degrading prospects????? Only Some????? OK....I'll kick it up a bit. Any job worth doing is worth doing well, ya know.
As for gloves....those of choice for my main event with Sweetie are pure Latex. I'll have to order a case.
I'm appointing you Quality Control Officer over all that transpires in the future, Tio. Your former "Some" evaluation is most upsetting.
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Cypress
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| Quote: | Originally posted by El Jefe
| Quote: | Originally posted by Cypress
Rich and poor in Mexico? Or anyplace else. This is a no brainer. Yep! I'd rather be rich than poor in Mexico or anyplace else in the world. So what's
the point. Anybody got a solution? |
The solution is quite simple. Tax the hell out of the rich and redistribute it to the poor in the form of health care, food programs, old age benefits
etc.
Oh, just don't touch my retirement check. |
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