Mexico City Mayor Counters ‘Express Kidnappings’, Overwhelming Corruption With Happy Thoughts

In a city where ATM-goers are held at gunpoint and asked to empty their bank accounts for instant ransom payments, where cops are too busy taking bribes to care, where sinkholes and water leaks and litter (oh, my!) are parts of everyday life, encouraging happiness is the key to solving problems. (Wait, what?) Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard–that’s him on the left, chumming it up with Rudy Giuliani–gets a pat on the back from USA Today for promoting simple joy in hopes of transforming his town:

The city trucked in sand to build “urban beaches” at seven public pools, screened outdoor movies and inaugurated “bicycle Sundays” when thousands of cyclists, skaters and pedestrians take over the main avenues. [...] The big idea behind these relatively inexpensive measures is that by encouraging happiness, rather than solely economic growth, he just might change residents’ image of their city — and themselves.

We hate to point out the obvious, but when your daily commute is punctuated by a hint of raw sewerage, isn’t it a bit hard to think happy thoughts? Even Peter Pan would be hard-pressed to get off the ground in D.F.

Mayor tries to transform Mexico City [USA Today]
Image [Google]