The gods are restless

Tezacatlipoca — Lord Smoking Mirror, god of the world of things, and trickster extraordinaire — gave his own opinion on PEMEX reforms the other day.

Senators Javier Castellón Fonseca, José Luis García Zalvidea, and PRD congressional press spokesman Rubén Sánchez took part in the demonstration held Sunday to show support for PEMEX reform plan worked out by the Congressional coalition of the left (PRD, PT and Convergencia, know as FAP,”Frente Amplio Progresivo” in Spanish and “Fights Among Progressives” in English). Most of the changes would restore PEMEX’s overall structure to what it was before the Salinas “reforms” which broke PEMEX up into several different sub-corporations, reducing the overall number of subsidiaries to two. The board of directors would be restructured, with eleven members, mostly from outside the corporation, with union membership cut substantially. PEMEX would keep more of their own assets for reinvestment and, as it could in the “good old days” contract for outside services, but not give the outsiders a stake in the company. The plan is not supported by everyone within the coalition, but it is probably as close as you’re going to get to agreement to anything even close to the other plans being submitted by the PRI and PAN.

Any plan will mean shifting federal revenues to the taxpayers. During the demonstration, the Senators, and the press liaison had their pockets picked Somebody found Sanchez’ wallet (with no cash — fancy that).

Tlaloc — the rain god — gave his opinion here in Mazatlan on coastal development and timeshares.

Neighborhood associations and environmentalists have been loudly complaining about the shoddy municipal oversight on development projects, and condo builders who seem to think height and size restrictions are suggested minimums, and only meant for full-time Mexican residents, not foreign retirees or vacation rentals. After this weekend’s rains, the three story hillside development — along with that hillside — is no more.

As — so it seems — are the developers, who have skipped town.

From each god according to their ability. To each mortal, according to their needs.