Mayor Natalia Chueca has said that the city government will listen to their demands at Monday’s scheduled meeting, while defending the position that during El Pilar, “the official troupe takes part, not the neighborhood troupes.”
Chueca explained that the decision is mainly due to operational and security concerns. “Historically, that has always been the case,” she said, noting that the celebrations feature “multiple events over just a few days,” with a program running “from morning until night.” In this context, the mayor warned that the municipal staff and resources available to organize the festivities are limited, making it impossible to accommodate the parades of all district troupes at the same time.
CHUECA WILL SEEK COMMON GROUND WITH NEIGHBORHOOD TROUPES
The mayor insisted that the City Council does not want to start a dispute with the groups and presented Monday’s meeting as an opportunity to find common ground. “We will listen to them on Monday and try to see whether there is any way to help them understand the city’s operational limitations,” she said.
Chueca focused in particular on what would happen if all neighborhoods wanted to bring out their troupes on the same days: “There simply are not enough resources to accommodate them.”
Meanwhile, the troupes have begun mobilizing against a decision they see as a setback for a tradition they maintain throughout the year. Several groups have shared messages on social media saying they are “reaching their limit” and highlighting the time, effort and resources they devote voluntarily to keeping the tradition alive in their neighborhoods. Their response will take to the streets on September 26 at 5:00 p.m., with a rally in Plaza del Pilar, just weeks before the celebrations begin.
