Town Meeting

The quality of my images is getting worse, but our life experiences represented by the photos is getting much better. Today for example we were asked to accompany the representatives from the two select volleyball teams we train on Monday and Wednesday to City Hall. The purpose of our visit was to solicit support money for their upcoming tournament in Acapulco (they hoped to get enough for uniforms, bus transportation, and accommodations - though they had been told the previous evening when they set up today's appointment there was little hope for transport or hotels).

We arrived at the appointed time to find the scene shown here. Dozens of people waiting a turn to talk with the mayor (he is at the center of the knot of people standing under the mural) and plead their case. Two of our more vocal players went off in search of the person they had spoken with the night before, while the rest of us cooled (a relative term in the humid, outdoor conditions) our heels waiting our turn like the rest in attendance. After an hour or so, we were approved for uniforms and transportation by an adjunct without ever getting any face time with the mayor.

We learned later that this process repeats every Thursday, starting at 8:30. Any citizen is welcome to petition for a meeting. The mayor, and the rest of the government staff sitting at various perimeter tables, then work until the room is cleared people. A fascinating process of a government available to all.

I wish I had felt less self conscious and could have brought out my real camera. With all the government functionaries and police around, however, I felt it better to keep a low profile (as much as that is possible as the only white person,except for my wife, for miles around) and make do with my IPhone.