New complaint filed against Noboa; City to expand outdoor dining options; Relocation of street vendors is underway; Water cutoffs Wednesday and Thursday

Martes, 14/1/2025

Hola, Todos –

Actividades –

Regresa monólogo “El Amado Inmóvil” (Return of the monologue “The Immovable Beloved”) – Juana Estrella returns with her detective monologue on los 15, 16, & 17/1 a las 20:00 in the Sala Alfonso Carrasco in the Casa de la Cultura. The work takes the theatergoer back to the 80’s when a mysterious case shook Cuenca, and digs into the most hidden secrets in a conservative society. The case takes its most interesting turn when “La detective Estrella” discovers that the main suspect was a ballet student of Osmara de León, a dance pioneer in Cuenca. This is an autofictional story based in real events, but with names and situations modified to protect the identity of the actual protagonists and for dramatic ends. Tickets available at WhatsApp 099 213 1205 or at the theater box office. Cost: $10.00

More areas of Cuenca’s historic district will allow sidewalk dining and other business activities after the municipal council works out final details. (El Mercurio)

A Roy Lichtenstein le dedican un homenaje (A tribute to Roy Lichtenstein) – The Casa de la Cultura will present a new exhibit for lovers of contemporary and pop art with the show “Tramas” by Javier Guadalupe. The opening will be el miércoles 15/1 a las 19:00 in the Sala Proceso of the Casa de la Cultura (Luis Cordero 7-22). Free.

Titular –

En debate, González y Noboa no coincidirán (In debate, Gonzalez and Noboa will not appear together) – See Tuesday’s article in CHL.

Cuenca –

Mobiliario exterior en 25 zonas permite ordenanza (Ordinance permits outdoor furniture in 25 zones) – The City of Cuenca, through an ordinance addressing the occupation of public space in the Centro Histórico, will regulate the installation of outdoor furniture in 25 areas. This will allow businesses to provide open air services. Some of the areas are Calle Larga between Benigno Malo and the Escalinata Puente Juana de Oro, Plazoleta de la Merced, Benigno Malo past Calle Larga, Honorato Vásquez between Luis Cordero & Borrero, Calle de las Herrerías, Plazoleta de la UNE, Plazoleta San Francisco, Plaza del Farol, Plazoleta del Carbón, Bajada del Padrón y Plazoleta de la Música.

The ordinance which still needs to be ratified, will establish specific conditions for food and beverage establishments, excluding bars and discos. Among these are a minimum frontage of 3.50 meters and a free space of 1.5 meters for pedestrian circulation without interference from ramps, vados (fords?) or urban furniture. At first hours were from 12:00 to 00:00 <noon to midnight for those of you who have not adjusted to a 24 hour clock>, but have been extended to 7:00 to 00:00 to allow breakfast service. <So you can sit and sip your venti skinny latte, no foam and extra caramel syrup (did I get that order right or was it gibberish?) while inhaling the aromas of rush hour trafffic.> The second council debate was suspended so the local ordinance could be revised to align with national legislation.

De El Mercurio del lunes, 13/1 (2 articles):

Reubicación de comercio autónomo inicia en 7 días (Relocation of self-employed vendors begins in 7 days) – From this coming 20/1, the process of relocating the vendors from the sidewalks around the mercado 9 de Octubre will begin. They will be moved to the Plataforma Valdiviezo on calle Antonio Valdiviezo between Vargas Machuca y Tomás Ordónez. Mayor Cristian Zamora said that about 350 people will be relocated by the end of the month and that the sidewalk space that is freed will not be re-occupied illegally. If anyone re-occupies the space the full weight of the law will be applied. He recognized that this solution is partial due to the limited quantity of new spaces, and explained that although the Plataforma Valdiviezo was completed in diciembre, relocations were delayed so as not to interfere with the vendors’ Christmas and New Years sales.

Mayita Pérez, president of the Asociación de Comerciantes “16 de Septiembre” had some concerns. She said the spaces were very small, it is still unknown who will be picked to occupy the new spaces, and that there are about 1,000 vendors but only 300 spaces. Last deciembre, Diego Cedillo, director of the Mercados del Municipio, said they were considering relocating the oldest vendors who were included in a previous census. The vendors are asking for a transparent process. Mayita Pérez also asked that the spaces be assigned only to the vendors in the 9 de Octubre zone, avoiding the entry of venders from other mercados.

Venta de autos nuevos cayó en 18.2% en 2024 (New car sales fell 18.2% in 2024) – In 2024, 108,266 new cars were sold which is an 18.2% drop compared with 2023. This is the 2nd consecutive year in which new car sales have dropped. Of the sales in 2024, 98,042 were of light vehicles and 10,244 were heavy vehicles. Sales of hybrid cars rose to 12,726, 12 times more than were sold in 2020. 1,778 electric cars were sold, down 2.5% from 2023. Genaro Baldeón, executive president of the Asociación de Empresas Automotrices del Ecuador (AEADE) said the closeness of the presidential elections, problems with security, and the energy crisis affected consumer confidence. Also there was a contraction in credit.

Nacional –

Nueva denuncia contra Noboa presenta el PSC (New complaint against Noboa filed by PSC) – The Partido Social Cristiano announced that it had filed a complaint against the president/candidate Daniel Noboa with the Tribunal Contencioso Electoral (TCE -Electoral Disputes Tribunal). The complaint is for commission of very serious electoral infractions such as inducing a vote for himself while sitting as a public servant and performing his duties and for participating in openings or deliveries of public works. The TCE also accepted a denunciation for processing from Jorge Escala, the presidential candidate for Unidad Popular against Noboa for staying in his position without asking for the licencia (leave of absense) to conduct his campaign. <Do you think this will get resolved before the election or will we be in a country with a sitting president who is guilty of election law crimes? Sound familiar? Can’t seem to escape dirty politics.>

Water shutoffs –
This wasn’t in the print edition of El Mercurio. I got it from my neighborhood WhatsApp group.

ETAPA reports there will be service suspensions el 15/1 and el 16/1 in the following neighborhoods for maintenance work at the Cruz Verde water distribution station.

1. Unidad Educativa Técnica Salesiano
2. Universidad del Azuay
3. ECU911 Austro
4. Parque de La Madre
5. Unidad Educativa La Salle
6. Complejo Deportivo La Gloria
7. U. de Cuenca campus central.

And that’s all for today so hasta ? –

Jeanne