san-jose.cr

Having spent a great deal of my time as a child in San Jose, then having moved away for several years AND revisiting the city during my adult years, the contrast between my remembrance of the town and that which was present during the late 90s was uncanny.  Many things had changed, and not just the obvious sad fact of the deteriorated facades of most historical sites, but the people had also changed –and not necessarily in a good way-.

The landscape was outright sad, and even the few festivities that sprung usually around the Christmas holidays were no longer there. The middle and high classes had entirely forsaken the city, and the little commerce that remained serviced only the necessities of the poor folk that now had taken over. San Jose was beginning to look like one of those desecrated Central American capitals during the years of the grievous civil revolutions.

Then, the almost unconceivable occurred: the Municipalidad de San Jose (The Mayor’s Office) begun working  not only on a project of general beautification of the local infrastructure and cultural sites but also forged alliances with local and foreign entities to gain extra financial aid and planned the outlook of a repopulated national centre –as capitals are intended to act as-.

The Mayor Mr. Johnny Araya became then one very prominent figure in the country, whereas the office had always been something of a no-show in the past, he managed to stage the first serious attempt at responsible citizenship and urban leadership. The task was humongous, for during all those years of governmental indifference and population boom the city had lost its natural boundaries to the disorganized urban explosion.

Now, about 10 years later the plan was crafted, the city is slowly regaining its status as the focal point of cultural life of the nation. The Central Cathedral, as well as the emotionally relevant church of La Merced were restored to almost their original beauty, boulevards now cross the center from all four cardinal points, classical street lighting and security enforcement have dissipated the spots where darkness and crime had taken refuge and commerce has found new relevant interest in exploiting the venues that were once so important.

The work is presently far from completed, but the effort placed has served its most fundamental purpose: regain the hearts of the disillusioned inhabitants. Praises are owed to Mr. Mayor.