City budget debated (see the breakdown), Discussion of Cuenca air fares, Visit the planetarium, Make your own movie

Lunes, 12/8/2019

Hola, Todos –

Actividades –
De la pagina cultural –

La Casa Municipal de las Posadas – This example of domestic colonial architecture was built as a hotel on the road to Naranjal in the late 1800’s for commercial travelers from as far away as Peru. <I wonder what the road looked like then? Barely wide enough for a horse and cart?> It is now linked to the Department of Culture, Recreation and Knowledge and used as an exhibit space and for cultural research.

The planetarium in Parque de la Madre.

Otro Festival de improvisación y movimiento (Another Festival of improvisation and movement) – This intensive weeklong event with workshops, talks and events will start el lunes, 12/9 a las 9:00 in the the Teatro Carlos Cueva Tamariz. <I wonder if they have movement workshops for old, inflexible, chubby people who haven’t been able to touch their toes for decades — and whoho may not even have seen their toes for decades except in a mirror.>

Colonia vacacional – There will be a summer camp in the CIDAP auditorium for 7-12 year olds from 5-16/8 at 9-12:00. Kids will be “Jugando con artesanías” (Playing with craftsmen) and learn how to make una palla andina (Andean pipes).

Cine comunitario – There will be a workshop from 20-31/8 from 9-13:00 at calle Benigno Malo y Vega Muñoz for youth between 15-30 on how to make our own movie. For more info or to register, go to luisa.aldhea@gmail.com. Free, but limited spaces.

Planetario – The planetarium is open from lunes a viernes from 9-12:00 and 15-18:00 and on weekends from 9-12:00. Entrance is free, no reservations needed except for groups over 10.

Otras cosas –

Titular – Johana y Claudio, brillan (Johana and Claudio, shine) – The two Ecuadorian speedwalkers won golds in the 50 km. race at the Panamerican games in Lima.

Budget debate – The Cantonal Council held its 2nd and final debate on the budget for the rest 2019 Monday. The first debate was held Sunday night and the budget amount was $214,676,725. <This is for you numbers junkies> The budget for various departments is:
Public Works 48,882,331 <potholes and streetlights>
General Administration 9,421,902 <this is what everyone wants to cut>
Financial Management 3,732,854 <does this include slush funds?>
Administration 10,267,176 <how is this different from gen’l admin?>
Culture, Education & Knowledge 5,043,422 <is this why OSC concerts are free?>
Social & Productive Dev’t 7,796,029 <safety net items?>
Avalúos y Catastros 6,888,632 <assessor & property records>
Control Municipal 2,324,377 <is more admin. hiding here?>
Areas Históricas y
Patrimoniales 1,047,892 <this keeps us on the UNESCO list?>
Tranvía Cuatro Ríos 44,261,976 <but still with no completion date>
Category of tranfers and donations for investments:
Hospital De La Mujer y El Niño 1,000,000
Funcación Municipal Turismo para Cuenca 1,000,000 <that works out to about $1 per tourist> Consejo de Protección de Derechos 600,000 <protection of rights>
Consejo Cantonal de Salud 500,000 <city health dept>
Fundación Municipal Bienal Cuenca 500,000 <money for arts!>
Fundación Iluminar 90,000 <I think this is special lighting like the Xmas lights and special lighting for buildings>
Comité Permanente de Festejos 112,000 <party money>
Consejo de Seguridad Ciudadana (CSC) 2,400,000 <public safety>
Corporación Aeroportuaria de Cuena 600,000 <airport>
Subsidies for public businesses:
Desarrollo Económico (EDEC EP) 1,479,937 <econ. development>
Urbanización y Vivienda (EMUVI) 1,416,851 <affordable housing>
Debt repayment:
Banco de Desarrollo del Ecuador (BDE) 588,533 <to remodel SF Plaza>
” ” ” 1,180,051 <reconstruction of el
museo Remigio Crespo Toral>
Other stuff:
Publicity 307,463 <to explain all the Tranvía delays?>
Consultants 2,755,946
Rentals and cars 2,005,482
Services 1,468,410
Insurance 1,695,500 <wonder how much this would be for a same size city in the US where people solve their financial problems by suing the city?>
Vigilancia 3,737,650 <surveillance – security cameras? cops?>
<Sorry if I bored you stiff, but you can tell a lot about a government by looking at its budget.>

Airfare debate – The Comisión de Desarrollo Económico y Productivo (Economic and Productive Development Commission) of the Asamblea Nacional formed a Mesa de Trabajo (Work Table) <a subcommittee?> to talk about airfares to Cuenca which are extremely high. Several participants complained that the fare between Quito y Cuenca could be higher than for an international flight. The president of the Cámara de Industrias, Producción, y Empleo de Cuenca (CIPEM – Chamber of Industry, Production and Employment of Cuenca) said he wasn’t in favor of controlling prices, but opening Cuenca to other airlines, and letting competition decrease fares. <Unless, of course, there’s price fixing going on.>

Empresarial – Today’s article is about the rules for paying the 14th month salary. <You can read it for yourself at www.elmercurio.com.ec or consult with your lawyer or accountant if you’re an employer.>

And that’s all for today so Hasta ? –

Jeanne
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Editor’s note: Jeanne’s Periodico is a translated digest of news from the Cuenca daily newspaper El Mercurio. If details, such as event dates and times, do not appear in the translation, they did not appear in the newspaper. The text between the carrots, or guillemets (< … >), is Jeanne’s personal opinion and not part of the news translation.