Juan Tejedor
09/02/2021 17:00
Clarín.com
Zonal
Updated 09/02/2021 17:24
On the sidewalks around the Municipality there are official advertising posters covered by the face of
Martiniano Molina
covered by the F
lorencio Randazzo team
covered by posters of
Facundo Manes.
If it is true that the campaign prior to the PASO comes to half-speed, the militancy that pastes posters in Quilmes did not take notice.
“I want to enact a clean campaign ordinance and for this to be the last as well.
So that it is a little more orderly - says
Mayra Mendoza
-.
Quilmes costs a lot to order ”.
Mayor of
Quilmes
-the first woman in the history of the district-, of
La Cámpora
-the first of Greater Buenos Aires and the only one who won the position in elections-, 37 years old, feminist.
In the middle of his office, between his desk and a living room set, is the portrait of
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.
Peronism
- Why the Peronism, with so much time of hegemony governing, could not solve this region of the Conurbano ?.
-We had a radical government in '83 and then (1999/2003) as well.
In that sense, Quilmes is different.
Later, clearly the growth of the Conurbano, the settlement of many families that today are popular neighborhoods, was very fast and there was no possibility of planning the infrastructure that was needed.
But there was also wasted time, many solutions within the families, because during the years of government of Néstor and Cristina many rights were assured, but
perhaps a municipal administration that did not finish giving everything.
There was a national context that was wasted.
The only portrait on the walls of the office, that of Cristina Kirchner.
Photo: Andres D'Elia
-How do you get along with the neighboring mayors who are from other aspects of Peronism, from other generations, from another party?
-Generally well with everyone.
I have a very good relationship with
Jorge Ferraresi,
although he is no longer in Avellaneda.
Also with Martín Insaurralde, with Cascallares, Watson.
I have an almost permanent consultation with Mussi because he has more experience, years of management, as each one gives his mark, we have a more disruptive, more creative view of management.
- And with the Peronists of Cambiemos?
- Those are not Peronists, they are neoliberals.
No one who can identify with Peronism can be on the side of the banks, financial speculation, corporations and against the people.
I don't know who the expressions of Peronism are within Cambiemos, I don't know who they can be.
Women
-How was the list of the Front of All in the Municipality put together?
-Cecilia Soler (first candidate for councilor) is our Secretary of Public Works.
There are more than 200 works that we started in these two years.
Cecilia is 32 years old, she is an architect, she has a social commitment which is the main thing, she is a political activist for many years, she has verifiable experience and management.
And apart is a woman.
Gestures and "filiminas", to explain steps and projects.
Photo: Andres D'Elia
-The three places in La Cámpora are occupied by women. And on the list for the Buenos Aires Legislature is Berenice Latorre. Was there a decision in that regard?
-It has to do with my way of building, which gives me possibilities.
Perhaps other districts can only define their candidate among men.
I have options for women.
-Only women?
-No, there are companions too.
If I have to decide between a man and a woman,
I will choose a woman
, without a doubt.
But in this case, in addition, it happened that the rest proposed men and since there is a Parity Law, women were also needed.
-Quilmes is a feminist municipality.
- There is something that seems good to me to clarify it because I always raise it: feminism is not machismo in reverse, let's know it.
Machismo is cruel even to yourselves who have the role of provider, who cannot be moved.
No, huh.
My way of seeing things has to do with working together, men, women or people, no matter what gender they choose.
Today I make a difference
because it is necessary to push women forward, but I want an egalitarian society.
-It's a job?
-It is a recontra job but I want an egalitarian society where no one feels uncomfortable.
We have so much to think about solving Argentina's problems, see if we are going to get uncomfortable with each other because of the gender we have or the sex we choose.
The field
-The photo of Olivos, the birthday, the VIP vaccines ... In the end, La Cámpora ends up being more tidy than the rest of Peronism?
-With La Cámpora, as they see us work, certain constructions of demonization are being finished.
One can see what Luana Volnovich is doing in PAMI, what Fernanda Raverta is doing in Ansés, what Wado is doing from the Interior Ministry.
When they see us working, I think all those prejudices end.
-You say "discipline, conduct, work and work." And when issues arise that cannot be denied because there are photos, videos ...
-And well, they are headaches, situations that generate anguish because it is like that, it is a lot of effort and work every day.
But I think the president was very sincere when it came to asking for forgiveness, and I hope it will serve and reach not only for him but also for all his surroundings and the people who also work.
there is an expectation of transformation that sometimes the neighbors have, that it is impossible to fulfill it in two years.
And in a pandemic.
Then some may feel that we did not get to do everything they imagined.
-Did someone do the perfect quarantine?
-Maybe no one.
But those of us who have the greatest responsibility have to set an example.
I
did not see my five-year-old daughter for six months
from the moment the Covid outbreak exploded in Villa Azul.
He went to my parents' house and I didn't see them or my daughter.
Only by video call or from the door.
That is what most of us, all, all of us lived through last year.
Mayra Mendoza received Clarín for the first time as mayor of Quilmes.
Photo:
-In these days of the campaign, Alberto Fernández and Kicillof were in Quilmes. Cristina no.
-Cristina is always here, she doesn't need to come.
We also have to be able to be representative and demonstrate what she did in government.
-Is it the absolute reference?
-Yes total.
With Máximo Kirchner.
Those of us who have greater responsibility have to set an example.
I did not see my five-year-old daughter for six months from the moment the Covid outbreak exploded in Villa Azul.
-The sparks in the internal election of the Buenos Aires PJ, did they generate internal tensions in the municipalities?
-No.
For everyone, the possibility of Máximo presiding over the PJ of the province was a joy.
It was received very well.
The sparks, I think it was a minority, an almost marginal expression.
-With Maximo at the head of the PJ, three municipalities, are they heading to be the new "barons of the Conurbano"?
-No, I don't know, no, not at all.
What we want is to go through the parts, each municipality has to be able to make its contribution and think about how we do so that this province is viable.
- Do you look similar to those mayors, that there are still some left?
-If they are partners, yes.
I am a Peronist for Néstor and Cristina, we have no doubts about that.
Perhaps they come from a previous story, but we are all working for the same interest, there is nothing that differentiates us.
(Ask for management advertising brochures: works, projects, reports)
-Look, we did them by locality and some by neighborhood.
We were showing in each place what intervention we are doing: the schools, the water networks, the new Eco-point, the asphalt, the LED lights, the community alarms, the cameras.
This is information that the neighbor has to know and that they evaluate us not because of prejudice but because of the result of the work.
They may like more or less the organization I come from, how I cut my hair ...
-Do you think they evaluate you out of prejudice?
-Very much.
The same neighbors tell me: for being young, for a woman, for La Cámpora.
Because of the stigmatization of one, for being a feminist ...
-These labels cannot also play in favor, from another plane?
-There is a part and a part.
But we still live in a very patriarchal society, it is a cultural issue.
There are moments that are quite cruel.
But I work so that it is different and that those who come do not have to suffer it.
Management
-What difference is there between Quilmes today and December 2019?
-There is an investment, for example, in security matters that had not been had in the history of the district, more than 2,000 million pesos, which gave us the possibility of having 130 new patrol cars.
We also add cameras, of almost 700 50% worked, today they all work and we incorporate 500 more.
We started with community alarms, we are setting 800. A whole investment to try to prevent crime, which is one of the biggest concerns we have in all of Argentina, but mainly in the Province of Buenos Aires and the Greater Buenos Aires.
Feminism on trial: she is the first mayor in the history of Quilmes and the only current one in the southern region of the Conurbano.
Photo: Andres D'Elia
-Is security what people demand the most?
-It is the most difficult thing to solve.
If you have a robbery with a situation of a violent act, it is very difficult to solve, in terms of the responsibility of the Municipality.
We are working hard on investing in security and also on everything that we find really destroyed.
You couldn't even guarantee trash pickup.
We have 12 trucks operating to collect waste from a district of 700 thousand people and 125 square kilometers.
Now I'm 27. I would have to be 43, one per zone.
I still lack but it is a management commitment.
-Is the future plan for two years or for six?
-For twenty!
On our part, beyond the management model that one faces, it has nothing to do with me.
The idea is to be able to take off this district, put it on an equal footing with Avellaneda, with Berazategui, who grew up, had a different development.
And so much laziness of so many years cannot be transformed into two or four, not even in eight years.
You have to work a few years and be consistent and achieve state policies.
What I could have found to be good from the previous management, I not only sustained it but I am going to strengthen it.
- Punctually what?
-The Civil Defense area was equipped, for example.
We are still going to strengthen it but it has recovered, it has been equipped, we are going to maintain it and now we are going to buy new vehicles.
Afterwards, I can't say much more.
Elections
-Going back to the local army, was the list your decision, the 12 candidates?
-Yes,
I defined it
.
Obviously chatting, collectively building which was the best list, the most representative of different spaces in Quilmes.
There are three representatives of La Cámpora and not in all main places: first, seventh and eleventh.
The rest are companions who come from other traditions, from other stories.
But I
am not interested in having candidates from the Cámpora,
but we all understand that an active management is necessary, that does not rest, transparent, in the face of the neighbors.
Who can represent that is part of the list.
-In 2019 you won by seven points. After 20 months of management and the pandemic, is it easier or more difficult?
-Of course more difficult, of course it is.
Like it or not, there is an expectation of transformation that neighbors sometimes have, which is impossible to fulfill in two years.
And in a pandemic.
Then some may feel that we did not get to do everything they imagined.
That is why we say: it is a long-term project, we are going to drop everything and try to make it as intensive as possible.
But you cannot transform Quilmes overnight.
"The sparks inside the PJ come from a marginal sector."
Photo: Andres D'Elia
-In the Deliberative Council they are just, half and half. And they have six that are leaving.
-As it is.
It is typical of democracy and how the citizens of Quilmes choose.
-Is it difficult to agree in Quilmes when at the congressional level the positions are usually opposite and staunch?
-Depending on what topics they want to deal with, they are working with modifications that they ask for.
There are some that are archived and do not come out, neither of one nor of the other.
But what is needed to govern, like the budget, comes out, are governance agreements.
And there are others that depending on the theme are coming out or not.
-Is there consensus in the Deliberative Council of Quilmes?
- On some subjects yes, on others I refuse, flatly.
What does not benefit Quilmes will not happen.
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