Latest news with #ClaraBrugada
New York Post
5 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Mexico City plans to tackle gentrification after protests against mass tourism
The Mexico City government on Wednesday announced a preliminary plan to deal with gentrification, a week after a fierce protest against rising housing prices some link to mass tourism and an increase in foreigners often called 'digital nomads' who live temporarily in the capital city. Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada said the plan will include regulation so that landlords cannot increase rents above inflation. Authorities will also share a list of 'reasonable rental' proposals. Brugada said her government will open a discussion with residents of Mexico's capital about her plan, but that the idea is to work on a bill that includes measures to promote affordable rent. Advertisement 4 People attend a protest against gentrification in Condesa neighborhood, one of the most popular among digital nomads settled in Mexico City, Mexico July 4, 2025. REUTERS 4 A demonstrator holds a banner reading 'Airbnb leave' during a protest. REUTERS The protest in early July was fueled by government failures and active promotion to attract digital nomads who work remotely often for foreign companies from Mexico City, according to experts. Advertisement Hundreds of people marched in neighborhoods popular with tourists, but the demonstration turned violent when a small number of people began smashing storefronts and harassing foreigners. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that the protest was marked by xenophobia. 'The xenophobic displays seen at that protest have to be condemned. No one should be able to say 'any nationality get out of our country' even over a legitimate problem like gentrification,' Sheinbaum said back then. 4 The Mexico City government announced a preliminary plan to deal with gentrification, a week after the fierce protest. Josue Perez/ZUMA / Advertisement 4 A demonstrator sprays graffiti during a protest against gentrification. AP Many Mexicans have complained about being priced out of their neighborhoods — in part because of a move made by Sheinbaum in 2022, when she was the Mexico City mayor and signed an agreement with Airbnb and UNESCO to boost tourism and attract digital nomads despite concern over the impact short-term rentals could have. During the protest, some people marched with signs reading 'Gringo: Stop stealing our home' and 'Housing regulations now!' Some anti-gentrification groups have called for a new protest this weekend.
Fox News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Officials at popular tourist spot cave to protesters who called out Americans
Local residents of Mexico City have been making their feelings known about unwanted tourists visiting their home areas. Residents were protesting mass tourism over the weekend, with hundreds of people taking to the streets and demanding stricter housing laws and legislation to regulate tourism levels. On Wednesday, it appears that government officials caved to the requests by announcing a preliminary plan to address gentrification and the other concerns of locals, The Associated Press (AP) reported. Clara Brugada, Mexico City mayor, said landlords will not be allowed to increase rents above inflation. Meanwhile, authorities will have a list of "reasonable rental" proposals to share, according to AP. Brugada said her administration will consult residents on her proposal, with the goal of drafting legislation that incorporates measures to keep rents affordable. Earlier this month, an initially peaceful march took a turn when a small group of people in masks began smashing storefronts, looting and harassing foreigners, Fox News Digital reported earlier. Many protesters were calling out American tourists. The number of Americans living in Mexico jumped 70% from 2019 to 2022, according to the U.S. State Department. Popular areas such as Condesa and Roma were affected. Graffiti written on shattered glass from rocks read, "Get out of Mexico," as AP reported. Other signs held by protesters read, among other messages, "Gringos, stop stealing our home," and "Pay taxes, learn Spanish, respect my culture." During the COVID pandemic, many Americans took advantage of cheaper rent prices in Mexico by escaping lockdowns in 2020 as "digital nomads." The number of Americans living in Mexico has continued to grow to a total of 1.6 million, according to the U.S. State Department. The Associated Press contributed reporting.
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First Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
Victim of overtourism: Mexico City vows to tackle gentrification as protests erupt against rent hikes
Demonstrators took to the streets of Mexico City to raise their voices against the government's efforts to attract digital nomads who take residency in houses once occupied by locals, who were pushed out of their accommodation due to high prices read more A demonstrator hangs signs against gentrification outside a news conference by Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada on regulating rental housing prices at the city government house in Mexico City, Wednesday, July 16, 2025. AP The administration in Mexico City has announced a 14-point plan to tackle gentrification, which has skyrocketed the prices of housing for urban dwellers. The move came after the city was rocked by violent protests earlier this month against mass tourism and an increase in foreigners, often called 'digital nomads,' who live temporarily in the country's capital. What fueled the protests? Demonstrators took to the streets of Mexico City to raise their voices against the government's efforts to attract digital nomads who take residency in houses once occupied by locals, who were pushed out of their accommodation due to high prices. Hundreds of people marched in neighbourhoods popular with tourists, but the demonstration turned violent when a small number of people began smashing storefronts and harassing foreigners. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, on the other hand, said that the protests were fueled by xenophobia. 'The xenophobic displays seen at that protest have to be condemned. No one should be able to say 'any nationality get out of our country' even over a legitimate problem like gentrification,' she said. Many Mexicans have complained about being priced out of their neighbourhoods — in part because of a move made by Sheinbaum in 2022, when she was the Mexico City mayor and signed an agreement with Airbnb and UNESCO to boost tourism and attract digital nomads despite concern over the impact short-term rentals could have. What has the govt promised? After weeks of fierce protests, Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada said that officials will chart out a plan to control rent prices, strike a balance between the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants and ensure that locals are not displaced. 'The issue of gentrification is one of the most important issues in the city today, but it is not new either. It is not only an issue for the city, but also for the entire world, and it means the displacement of thousands of families,' Brugada said. Brugada said on Wednesday that an 'objective and rigorous methodology' will be developed to regulate temporary housing rentals, aiming to prevent resident displacement and avoid 'the loss of the community's roots and identity.'
CNN
6 days ago
- Politics
- CNN
Mexico City unveils plan to tackle gentrification after mass protests
Mexico City officials have announced a 14-point plan to address the capital's housing and gentrification problems, which sparked large and sometimes violent protests earlier this month. Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada said officials will propose a law to regulate rental prices, strike a balance between the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants, prevent people from being displaced and regulate short-term rental properties. Many residents say they've been priced out of their neighborhoods, in part because of overtourism, short-term home rentals and an influx of people and businesses with higher purchasing power. Brugada said on Wednesday that an 'objective and rigorous methodology' will be worked out to regulate temporary housing rentals to prevent residents from being displaced and avoid 'the loss of the community's roots and identity.' The city government will also set up an agency to enforce the rent law and penalize offenders. Brugada said living in Mexico City should not be a privilege for a few, but rather a guaranteed right for all its residents. 'The issue of gentrification is one of the most important issues in the city today, but it is not new either. It is not only an issue for the city, but also for the entire world, and it means the displacement of thousands of families,' the mayor said. The proposal comes days after residents demonstrated on July 4 against gentrification and the rising cost of living in the Mexican capital, which some have blamed on an influx of foreigners from the United States and Europe. While the demonstration was largely peaceful and reflected growing anger about inequality in the city, some protesters vandalized stores in wealthier neighborhoods and used anti-immigration language that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum criticized as xenophobic. Frente Anti Gentrificación Mx, one of several groups that helped organize the protest, pushed back against Sheinbaum's characterization, saying the demonstration was meant to highlight the plight of those priced out of their homes and to demand reforms from the government. 'We are not against migration because gentrification is not a problem of migration (which is) a human right. We are against violence as a government model,' spokesperson Yessica Morales told CNN last week. Housing costs in the country have soared to 286% since 2005 while real wages have gone down by 33%, according to Morales, citing data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography and the Federal Mortgage Society. Mexico City's mayor on Wednesday called on protesters to engage in dialogue. 'To the people who are promoting the marches and mobilizations, I say that with all the more reason we will open the necessary discussions with them on this issue,' she said. Experts say gentrification in Mexico City has been happening for decades and can't be blamed on immigration alone. But the arrival of short-term rental platforms like Airbnb and remote work policies during the Covid-19 pandemic turbo-charged the gentrification debate in recent years. Airbnb defended its activities in Mexico City last week, saying it helped generate more than $1 billion in the local economy last year, and argued that guests who booked accommodations also spent money on shops and services in the capital. The issue is not unique to Mexico City. Across Europe, residents of tourist destinations have also protested gentrification, while local governments have announced restrictions on short-term rentals in several cities. CNN's Rocio Muñoz-Ledo contributed to this report.
CNN
6 days ago
- Politics
- CNN
Mexico City unveils plan to tackle gentrification after mass protests
Mexico City officials have announced a 14-point plan to address the capital's housing and gentrification problems, which sparked large and sometimes violent protests earlier this month. Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada said officials will propose a law to regulate rental prices, strike a balance between the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants, prevent people from being displaced and regulate short-term rental properties. Many residents say they've been priced out of their neighborhoods, in part because of overtourism, short-term home rentals and an influx of people and businesses with higher purchasing power. Brugada said on Wednesday that an 'objective and rigorous methodology' will be worked out to regulate temporary housing rentals to prevent residents from being displaced and avoid 'the loss of the community's roots and identity.' The city government will also set up an agency to enforce the rent law and penalize offenders. Brugada said living in Mexico City should not be a privilege for a few, but rather a guaranteed right for all its residents. 'The issue of gentrification is one of the most important issues in the city today, but it is not new either. It is not only an issue for the city, but also for the entire world, and it means the displacement of thousands of families,' the mayor said. The proposal comes days after residents demonstrated on July 4 against gentrification and the rising cost of living in the Mexican capital, which some have blamed on an influx of foreigners from the United States and Europe. While the demonstration was largely peaceful and reflected growing anger about inequality in the city, some protesters vandalized stores in wealthier neighborhoods and used anti-immigration language that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum criticized as xenophobic. Frente Anti Gentrificación Mx, one of several groups that helped organize the protest, pushed back against Sheinbaum's characterization, saying the demonstration was meant to highlight the plight of those priced out of their homes and to demand reforms from the government. 'We are not against migration because gentrification is not a problem of migration (which is) a human right. We are against violence as a government model,' spokesperson Yessica Morales told CNN last week. Housing costs in the country have soared to 286% since 2005 while real wages have gone down by 33%, according to Morales, citing data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography and the Federal Mortgage Society. Mexico City's mayor on Wednesday called on protesters to engage in dialogue. 'To the people who are promoting the marches and mobilizations, I say that with all the more reason we will open the necessary discussions with them on this issue,' she said. Experts say gentrification in Mexico City has been happening for decades and can't be blamed on immigration alone. But the arrival of short-term rental platforms like Airbnb and remote work policies during the Covid-19 pandemic turbo-charged the gentrification debate in recent years. Airbnb defended its activities in Mexico City last week, saying it helped generate more than $1 billion in the local economy last year, and argued that guests who booked accommodations also spent money on shops and services in the capital. The issue is not unique to Mexico City. Across Europe, residents of tourist destinations have also protested gentrification, while local governments have announced restrictions on short-term rentals in several cities. CNN's Rocio Muñoz-Ledo contributed to this report.
