Homeless Crisis Plagues Tourist Hotspot

The Tourist Care and Protection Center (CAPTA) module at Founders Park, located on Fifth Avenue, has become an unofficial "public restroom" for the homeless population. This issue has become a significant social burden, with no one intervening to stop the men who frequent the area.

Following numerous online complaints about the deteriorating conditions at Founders Park, an investigation was conducted. The external wall of the CAPTA module was found to be stained with feces, with toilet paper littered under the nearby Chiit palm trees. Local vendors, situated next to the CAPTA module, have raised concerns about the neglect of the area. They report that homeless men loiter in the park, behaving as they wish without any interference. The local residents are also troubled by this persistent issue.

Blanca F., a local vendor, shared that she has witnessed a municipal worker from the CAPTA module having to use lime to combat the foul smell of feces. This is due to individuals defecating outside the small building, using the surrounding Chiit palm trees and other plants for cover. "This is a tourist area; it's Fifth Avenue. Founders Park is a historical site in our municipality, with thousands of tourists passing by every day. But the stench and the neglect are unbearable. Men come to Founders Park to drink alcohol, and it's reached a point of saturation," she emphasized.

Residents are calling on the authorities to address this ongoing issue. They point out that this is not the first time the problem has been highlighted. The issue extends beyond the lack of security to include the maintenance of public spaces. In the past, the same CAPTA module was used as a "public restroom".

During the previous municipal administration, the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone (Zofemat) staff had to remove plants that were aiding the growth of a coastal dune in the Maya Portal. This action improved the view of the Caribbean but also made it easier for the homeless population to use the area as a restroom.

In Founders Park alone, there have been up to 25 homeless people and alcoholics counted. They also frequent Juarez Avenue, Leona Vicario Park, and the underside of the federal highway bridge, all of which have been used as "public restrooms".

Artisans in Founders Park are demanding a permanent police presence in the area. They also suggest that the Municipal Tourism Secretariat install a metal mesh around the module to prevent the homeless from getting close. Improved lighting could also deter them from using the darkness to their advantage. "The module is surrounded by Chiit palm trees, which are protected and endangered. Cutting them down is not the solution. We need to improve the public image and save ourselves the embarrassment," said local merchant, "El Güero".