An Open Letter to the Major

OPEN LETTER 

(Approach: A piece of constructive criticism to a local politician)

Mr. Major,

Most of us the citizens of Cali, voted for you hoping for a change in the way this city has been governed. There's been three months and any positive change is shown: the state of streets is terrible, according to the press the progress that had been achieved in traffic has declined, citizens still feel unsafe especially at night hours.

One important problem that requires a fast solution is transportation. The Mio which is larger than the old buses, has air conditioner and their own corridors, was supposed to be the answer. And it was half solution, but we’re still missing greater coverage, more buses. If your government is not looking for that urgent solution, it is possible that a crisis come, such as is happening now with Transmilenio in Bogota.
  

A second stage of mega projects has been informed. While the first stage positively changed the look of the city, we thought before starting another, the priority should be a plan to improve roads. Although the last mayor made mistakes, we must recognize some good aspects like: recovered a sense of belonging to Cali, have improved the finances of the city and have put order in transit. Now there is a feeling about the situation in the city, that didn’t continue to stabilize, but instead has taken a step back.

On the one hand we citizens are too passive: we simply criticize the rulers and not take actions to make them do their duty. And on the other hand, we all know that politicians promise too much and once they’re elected, they easily forget their promises. As in the fragment in Alice Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll:

“Alice could not help laughing at this, and replied ... -I do not like so much marmalade.

-Ah! For it is an excellent marmalade, insisted the Queen.

-Well, in any case, today I do not want anything.

-Today is when you could not have it, even if you felt like it -said the Queen. The rule is marmalade tomorrow and yesterday ... but not today.

-Once will have to play "marmalade today" -Alice objected.

-No, he cannot be -refuted the Queen. It must be marmalade every other day and one not: and today can never be another day, is not it? ...”    

Mr. Major, we know you’re working on an administrative reform that we need without any doubt, but we believe there are more immediate needs that touch each of us directly, the inhabitants of this beloved city, who continue to have confidence in you and who still have high hopes of receiving the marmalade today.

Truly,

K.