Merida, Yucatan — The federal government gave with both hands when doling out security subsidies to the White City on Friday.
Already perceived as one of Mexico’s safest cities, Merida received 52.5 million pesos in federal aid. The money is meant to keep the Yucatecan capital a safe haven.
A total of 252 municipalities in the country — 48 less than last year — were chosen to obtain the federal subsidy for strengthening public security in 2019.
Nearly 4 billion pesos is being distributed this year, 79 million less than what was handed out the final year of the previous administration.
The two cities with larger security subsidies are the border city of Tijuana, with 54.4 million pesos, and booming Guadalajara, with 54 million.
Mérida will receive 6.6 million pesos more than Ecatepec, in Estado de México, one of the most crime-ridden cities in Mexico.
The city’s subsidy is also higher than what officials sent to Chihuahua (38.2 million); Ciudad Juárez (43.8 million); Leon, Guanajuato (38.3 million); and Acapulco (37.1 million).
In the list published in the Official Gazette of the Federation also highlights Puebla (48.6 million pesos) and other municipalities affected by rampant fuel thefts.
Officials tweaked the formula used to decide on each city’s allocation. Criteria included population, police capacity and existing crime rate.
Source: La Jornada Maya
