The municipal president of Jocotepec, has decided to withdraw economic support from its municipal gymnasium,
The exercise equipment is out of order and users are waiting for government support to repair it. Photo: Héctor Ruiz.
Héctor Ruiz Mejía.- The municipal president of Jocotepec, José Miguel Gómez López, has decided to withdraw economic support from its municipal gymnasium, according to the gym’s users. Mayor José Miguel reports that the sports center’s annual cost to the city of Jocotepec is 24 million pesos, and was “no longer affordable” to City Hall.
After the mayor’s announcement that the gym located on 30 Degollado Street was going to be dismantled, a committee of gym users was formed to meet with the City to discuss allowing the recreational center to remain open. Consequently, it was agreed that the gym facility would remain in operation, but without any economic support from City Hall.
As a result of the City’s funding termination, the per visit fees were increased from 10 pesos to 15 pesos per visit, and the monthly fee has risen from 100 pesos to 150 pesos per month. «We had to organize among ourselves, and we agreed to raise the fees and to have more control over the payments. The users, especially those in the morning, have been very motivated to help this [gym facility] remain open,» said one of the users, who preferred to keep his name anonymous for fear of reprisals.
A regular user of the gym who was a part of the committee disputed the Mayor’s assertion of a 24 million peso annual cost to operate the facility. According to Alberto Reyes, ex-director of COMUDE, during his administration the monthly rent of the facility was around 3800 pesos, and if maintenance, cleaning and trainers’ payroll is included, the monthly outlay should not have exceeded 15,000 pesos per month.
The gym has a membership of 70 people. Photo: Héctor Ruiz
In Semanario Laguna’s interviews of gym users, the importance of keeping the gym open was stressed, since the facility’s cost is accessible to the great majority of the people; and by closing the facility, many people would not have the opportunity to exercise. «Maybe there are people who have the possibility of paying for a normal gym, but there are many other people that you take this away from them and what do they do?» commented one of the interviewees.
Seminario Lakeside’s request to the City’s Social Communication Department for comment in this matter was unanswered. Carmelo Gutierrez, manager of the new Sports Management Department, only responded to a request for comment with an assurance that he «did not have at hand» information concerning the gym’s monthly expenses, but denied that financial support will be revoked by the City.
Translated by MaryAnne Marble
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