City considers methods for collecting the garbage fee; How to remove gum from city parks; The history of urban planning in El Centro; Symphony plays El Valle

Bored? –
(De El Mercurio del miércoles, 26/11) Convocan a conversatorio (Call for discussion) – The Casa de la Cultura Núcleo del Azuay is inviting the public to participate in a conversation about the Historia del Urbanismo del Centro Histórico de Cuenca (History of Urban Planning in the Historic Center of Cuenca).  The talk will cover the evolution of El Centro from a comprehensive perspective of the various periods of its development including the prehispanic, colonial, and republic of the 19th century.  The event will be el viernes, 28/11 a las 11:00 in the Biblioteca Manuel Muñoz Cueva (Luis Cordero 7-22, 3d floor).  Free.  <Might be interesting for those of you interested in local history.  If you’re not interested, this won’t do anything to alleviate your boredom.>

(De El Mercurio del miércoles, 26/11) Festejos en Morona (Celebrations in Morona) – The Morona Santiago Province will celebrate its 72 years of political emancipation (independence?) with the Feria Nunkui 2025 on el sábado 29 & domingo, 30/11 in the Plaza Tiwintza.  The fair will include livestock and beekeeping exhibits, businesses, food, and a show dedicated to rum and coffee.  <Both at their best when flavoring ice cream.>  There will also be a grilling festival with exhibitors from all over the country.  On sábado, 29/11 a las 18:00, there will be national and international performances highlighted by Colombian vallenato singer, Silvestre Dangond.

(De El Mercurio del jueves, 27 /11) Sinfónica dedicará recital al Garaicoa (Symphony Orchestra to dedicate concert to Garaicoa) – The Orquesta Sinfónica (OSC) will dedicate a special concert to the Unidad Educativa del Milenio Manuela Garaicoa for its 80th anniversary.  The concert will be el viernes, 28/11 a las 19:30 in the school stadium (av. 24 de Mayo y Vía al Valle).  The program will include works for orchestra and popular adaptations such as Danza Armenia, Anhelos, I will survive, and What a feeling as well as boleros and cumbias.

(De El Mercurio del jueves, 27 /11) Muestra de Arte Circular (Circular Art Exhibition) – Arte Circular 2025, an exhibit that transforms used tires into art pieces will be in Cuenca from el 28-30/11, with hours from 10-17:00 in the Jardín Botánico.  There will be 22 artists including youth with neurodivergencias (neurodivergences) making art with this material that can take centuries to degrade.

(De El Mercurio del jueves, 27 /11) Feria de la salud (Health fair) – El 28/11 from 9:00 to 14:00, there will be a health fair in the Centro de Salud Tomebamba in the Casas para Todos barrio in the south of the city.  There will be information booths about violence <Makes sense, in that being a victim or perpetrator of violence is bad for your health, both physical and mental.> and adequate nutrition.  There will also be electrocardiogram services and regularly scheduled vaccinations for children.

(De El Mercurio del miércoles, 26/11) Retiran chicles del parque Calderón y otros espacios (Removing chewing gum from parque Calderón and other spaces) – EMAC EP employees will be removing gum stuck to the sidewalks and other areas in the Centro Histórico using steam machines.  The machines combine a chemical solution with water and heat the mixture which creates a steam which can degrade the gum for easy removal.  The workers have protective gear including masks, gloves and other tools to protect themselves.  <So how come the guy in the accompanying photo isn’t wearing any of that stuff beyond a special jacket and pants.>

(De El Mercurio del jueves, 27 /11) Tres vías para el cobro de tasa de recolección (Three ways to collect garbage collection fees) – The Empresa Municipal de Aseo de Cuenca (EMAC – Municipal Sanitation Company of Cuenca – the garbage company) is working on an alternate plan to make sure that the fees for garbage pick-up will be collected since the termination of the agreement with the Empresa Eléctrica Centro Sur.  María Caridad Vásquez, manager of EMAC EP, reported that the company has a list of 248,000 users, a result of cross-referencing municipal records, ETAPA’s drinking water database, and the company’s collection points.  The list managed by Centro Sur had 258,000 users.

Vásquez explained that they are analyzing 3 ways to collect the fee.  The first is to set up a financial system using banks and cooperatives and add the garbage fee as an additional service similar to how they collect other utility bills.  The 2nd method is to set up EMAC’s own channels such as customer service offices and an online payment system or payment button.  The 3d alternative is to establish an agreement with ETAPA EP to use its collection points and the system of paying municipal services.  But first, the Consejo Cantonal has to pass an interpretative ordinance since the current technical study calculates the garbage bill based on electricity consumption.

The proposal <and this is where it gets really, really confusing> is to use the average electrical usage between enero and agosto from Centro Sur records as a temporary base while working on a comprehensive reform with social criteria to update rates.  <Somehow> setting garbage rates as a function of water usage can generate inequities.  A 2015 study said that electrical use correlates better with generating garbage.  <Meanwhile, no one seems to be paying for garbage collection.>