It could be confused with another religious statuette, but Santa María La Juaricua, a work created by the artist Sandra Valenzuela, has a particular meaning: to fight against gentrification that for a couple of years has begun to worry the residents of the central neighborhoods in the city. from Mexico.
In the first half of 2022, almost two million people traveled to the Mexican capital, raising the demand for short-term rentals by 41%.
Among the visitors, some are here to stay, working remotely, while taking advantage of the relatively low costs of a city where they live with a salary above the average population.
For some, nomadic workers represent a breathing space for the economy after the pandemic.
But activists and researchers warn that the new temporary residents create expat bubbles and could push up inflation.
Residents of neighborhoods such as Condesa and Roma have already noticed a rise in housing prices.
Some residents have also been affected by more subtle changes in daily life, such as the rise of nightlife.
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