Mexico City Mayor Sweeps His Town’s Problem Under 3 Huge Ice Skating Rinks

Remember how Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard solved problems like frequent kidnappings, rampant corruption, and the failure of basic services like sewerage and water this summer? He spent fistfuls of cash for trucks to haul in tons of sand and create ‘urban beaches.’ Well, he’s at it again with a new, money-guzzling public project fit for the winter months!

The government of the Federal District announced the installation of three ice skating rinks, slides and giant Christmas trees for the holiday season. [...] The installation of one rink measuring 3,000 square meters, like the one that’ll be placed in the plaza of the capital Zócalo and is equivalent to two ice hockey rinks, will cost 4 million pesos.

If you do the math, that’s $1,083,705 for the construction of all three rinks. (Upkeep not included.)

The move reminds us of “bread and circuses,” a policy of pandering to the public with lowbrow entertainment implemented by latter-day Roman emperors. The point was to distract the people from the way unbridled decadence and orgies were crumbling the Empire from the inside; unfortunately for the Mexicans, group sex won’t be a part of the holiday festivities. (At least the official ones.)

Guarde el bikini y saque guantes: [La Crónica]
Image [La Crónica]

Thanks for the tip John!