CDMX’s Brugada Has 14 Actions to Fight Gentrification

In light of the recent protests against gentrification and an upcoming protest planned for July 20th, Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada Molina announced that she will present a Government Ordinance containing 14 actions as a strategy to mitigate the effects of this phenomenon, which limits the right to housing and encourages the expulsion of indigenous communities from their neighborhoods.

“Tomorrow, I will present the First Ordinance of Mexico City, which is precisely this topic, which has to do with livability, with the right to live in a livable, affordable city, with local roots and identity,” the capital’s leader explained at a press conference at City Hall.

Regarding Proclamation Two, promoted by then-Chief Executive Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Brugada Molina said the city was re-densified with a public housing policy in the central zone, strengthening housing stock and preventing it from moving to green zones, conservation areas, or the city’s outskirts.

“If there’s a public policy that guarantees that this is what’s needed to combat gentrification, there should be a social housing policy, a government policy, that helps prevent people from moving to other places, to the outskirts. That was an achievement achieved with the Second Party,” the capital’s leader emphasized, mentioning as an example the repopulation of the Historic Center, which ensured that people wouldn’t leave elsewhere.

Regarding the response to demonstrations against gentrification, the head of the Ministry of Government, César Cravioto Romero, indicated that the Mexico City government already has a protocol for responding to marches and protests, which began last week. This protocol includes establishing ongoing dialogue with organizers to clearly identify groups that provoke acts of violence.

He said that as part of the operation, a team composed of representatives from the Ministry of Government, the Human Rights, Political Coordination, and Government departments, will accompany the contingents with the goal of ensuring that public expressions are carried out with full respect for freedom of expression and without harming third parties.

“We are involving the Human Rights Commission and will also be recording everything so they can see that our actions always respect freedoms, respect human rights, but with the firmness of caring for other citizens who should not suffer harm to their persons,” he concluded.

Mexico City’s Head of Government made no mention of the the strong legislation against Airbnb that was introduced by the previous Head of Government Martí Batres in 2024 and has yet to be implemented.

UPDATE

Here are the 14 measures to combat gentrification Clara Brugada presented.

1. Stabilize city rents , which may not increase more than the inflation rate reported by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), as indicated in Article 2448 of the Civil Code. [This was already adopted in April, 2024]
2. A reasonable rental price index and real estate stress zones will be established, in order to create public policies to strengthen indigenous communities and thus prevent involuntary displacement.
3. The regulation of housing rentals for short-term occupancy and temporary accommodation platforms will be strengthened , with the intention of regulating the rental of housing for temporary use [Martí Batres already introduced legislation in 2024, will Brugada modify this under pressure from the real estate cartel and Airbnb lobbyists?]
4. The Office of the Tenant Rights Ombudsman will be created, a public body that will provide legal support, mediation, and advocacy to punish abuses or illegal evictions. It will also promote new relationships between tenants and landlords.
5. Creation of the Fair, Reasonable, and Affordable Rents Act, which will regulate rental housing prices and balance the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants.
6. The creation of public housing with a sustainable approach. Priority will be given to the construction of public housing in central areas and those under real estate pressure.
7. Creation of public rental housing for priority sectors.
8. Emphasis on progressive new housing, where housing support will be strengthened to expand living spaces in popular neighborhoods.
9. Greater coordination with the public sector to combat real estate speculation, which leads to high purchase and rental prices and its commercialization.
10. Master Plan, a public consultation among residents of the area with the greatest real estate tension in Mexico City, in the Cuauhtémoc and Miguel Hidalgo municipalities, and to curb high housing prices.
11. Community roots program, protection, and preservation of public space.
12. Incentives for local businesses to prevent their closure or disappearance, with the intention of strengthening the neighborhood economy of small businesses.
13. Community participation in management, through consultations and community participation.
14. Creation of the Land and Housing Observatory , which will monitor housing prices, contracts and land, as well as long- and short-term rentals, and will provide legal support.