Mexico’s Mother’s Day: A Weekend of Reduced Homicides and New…

President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Monday mañanera revealed a decrease in homicides, marking Mother’s Day as the least violent day in several years. She also announced the opening of a new trolleybus line connecting parts of Mexico City and invited Pope Leo XIV to visit Mexico.

In a briefing following Mother’s Day, President Claudia Sheinbaum shared key statistics from a recently held mañanera. According to preliminary data, Saturday, May 10, marked the least violent day since her inauguration, recording 46 homicides. She emphasized the momentous occasion, noting that it was the weekend had the lowest death toll in years, following two consecutive days of reduced violence.

The total homicides over the weekend reached 106 with Sunday accounting for 60 murders. This average of 53 daily homicides represents a significant 27.5% decrease compared to figures from the initial four months of this year. Additionally, she reported a nearly 25% decline in homicides for April compared to September, the last month of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s term.

“This is the work of the security cabinet with the four [security strategy] pillars we’ve set out,” Sheinbaum stated, outlining the approach to enhancing public safety: addressing crime’s root causes, strengthening the National Guard, enhancing intelligence and investigative practices, and improving coordination among government bodies.

Moreover, Sheinbaum touted the inauguration of a new elevated trolleybus line on Sunday, describing it as historic. The trolleybus will connect Chalco in the State of México to Santa Martha Acatitla in Mexico City, with Sheinbaum, Mayor Clara Brugada, and Governor Delfina Gómez riding together for the occasion. Following their journey, all three women posted their experience on social media.

“This project is significant for the east of the metropolitan area of the Valley of Mexico,” said Sheinbaum about the new line, which officially opens on May 18. Although not all stations will be operational at first—only nine of the expected 15—Sheinbaum remained optimistic about its potential for improving transport in the area, which has grown considerably in recent years.

“This form of transport is an innovation,” she said. The trolleybus is notable for being an electric vehicle, producing no local contamination, and operating without traffic lights. The intended reduction in travel time, from an hour and a half to just 40 minutes, could greatly benefit commuters.

In addition, Sheinbaum announced that the new federal government intends to formally invite the recently elected Pope Leo XIV to visit Mexico. This message will be delivered by Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez, who is set to attend the pontiff’s inauguration Mass at St. Peter’s Square this Sunday.

“If she can see [the pope] personally, very good,” Sheinbaum remarked. If not, Rodríguez will still convey the invitation for the Pope to visit at his convenience. Notably, Pope Francis had visited Mexico back in February 2016, during his six-day tour across various states, including stops in Mexico City and Chiapas.

Overall, President Claudia Sheinbaum’s recent mañanera highlighted significant declines in homicide rates for Mother’s Day in Mexico, marked by the lowest statistics since she assumed office. The inauguration of an innovative trolleybus line promises to enhance urban transportation for millions. Furthermore, the government will extend a cordial invitation to the new pope for a future visit, further strengthening the cultural ties between Mexico and the Vatican.

Original Source: mexiconewsdaily.com