Mexico City

Question 1

Housing

Answer 1

835 informal settlements - not recognised by the government, considered squatters, lack government services
12million families are living in informal settlements
- overcrowding with multi-generational households
this suggests that there is a shortage of housing
32,000 new families every year, compounding a housing shortage
Living and working on the periphery of existence, working at a garbage dump leading to many problems with
- sanitation and hygiene
- hunger
- dangerous work
- disease

Question 2

Informal Economy

Answer 2

1/3 of all jobs in mexico city are in the informal economy - no taxes or safety nets or legal protection or employment rights
those taxes don’t go back into government and don’t help improve schools, hospitals, economy
-> effects of the 2008 financial crisis still linger
65 percent of music sold is pirate music
60 percent of houses are unofficial
increased 40 percent in the last 5 years

Question 3

Urban Pollution

Answer 3

urban pollution has huge long term problems
- asthma respiratory infections
- healthcare is expensive
- babies underweight
32,000 premature deaths
6 million extra hospital visits
Some of the worst SMOG levels worldwide - thermal inversion, heat gets trapped because of Mexicos bowl shape.

Question 4

Sewer System

Answer 4

having a working sewer system is vital for the sanitation and health of the city
rubbish and be dumped everywhere, streets, waterways and drains where it causes clogs

Question 5

Location and importance

Answer 5

generates 1/4 of Mexicos GDP and a 1/5 of its population
attracts young vibrant people - Estadio Olimpico Universitario
most congested Global City
5 million cars on the road
Subway system is cheap - doesn’t have good air quality -> bowl shaped valley
Historic centre has been classed as a world heritage site and the whole city has been classed as an alpha city.

Question 6

Ways of Life in the city

Answer 6

Positive
individualism, cultural diversity and consumerism
many young ambitious children
economy thriving + poverty on the decline
Lots of statues of historical figures and upscale neighbourhoods- Polanco + remnants of spanish colonial past - Xochimileo - aztec canals, aztec architecture
high end shopping ( Bosque Chapultepec)
Santa Fe - rapidly developing business districts
Museums
San Angel - Frieda Kahls work

Negative
busy days
congestion
air pollution
housing crisis

Question 7

How and Why has Mexico grown over time?

Answer 7

population of Mexico has increased by 18 million
The urban core decreased steadily since 1970
Growth in federal district has been slow

City has grown larger in all directions but more in the south, expanded into hilly mountainous areas
More roads and infrastructure
large reservoir in the east
fewer green areas

Question 8

Sustainability

Answer 8

Bike Sundays - Ecobici
no air pollution
first 30 min are free
80 docking stations

sunday isn’t a working day

improves air pollution and congestion and people can ride bikes short distances for free

Converting petrol engines to car vehicles
affordable

if energy isn’t being produced renewably then it doesn’t help climate change or congestion

Chemical engineering coating
reduces smog levels
can be used for any building

needs to be enforced by government and doesn’t solve congestion

can be enforced so smog levels reduce in urban areas

Banning cars during smog alerts
takes 1.1 million cars of the roads and encourages people to use public transport
results in sufficiently less pollution

extreme - angry population
impact on cities economy
not a long-term solution but effective in the short term

Question 9

Impact of growth on character

Answer 9

Jewish
1920s community
1930/40s many moved into the suburbs of Roma and Ondesa
spoke Yiddish
many kosher delis
restaurants
jewish museums
12 jewish schools 24 synagogues