Miguel Franjul, the executive editor of the Listin Diario, is asking whether it was a wise decision to separate the capital city into four municipalities. Twenty years ago, the proponents advocated the separate municipal administrations would decentralize many processes and bring government closer to the people.
This never happened, writes Miguel Franjul in his editorial. He points out that what people can see now is a massive bureaucracy that has eaten up city government resources. Instead of a more efficienct city administration, there is more impossible traffic, a loss of public spaces, and a lower quality of living, writes Franjul.
In his editorial, Franjul calls for an end to the chaos and inefficiencies. He mentions a litany of malaise — sidewalks occupied by informal businesses, massive potholes, chaotic traffic and a complete lack of driver civility in the city.
Franjul suggests the municipalities (North, East and West Santo Domingo, the National District, Los Alcarrizos and Boca Chica compete among themselves. Who can clean up best and plant the most trees in spaces that have been taken over by bus drivers and dump trucks? Who will do the best job?
He says to continue the present practices is “unacceptable” and calls for change.
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Listin Diario
20 December 2020