Puerto Vallarta Mayoral Candidates Talk About Reopening Malecón to Traffic

Popular candidate for Puerto Vallarta Mayor, Juan José Cuevas García (PAN), joined a growing number of people in a promises to reopen the malecón to light vehicle traffic again if he is elected as the next mayor of the city.

Cuevas also discussed the possibility of opening the malecón to traffic only during certain hours and days when there is less pedestrian traffic using the area.

The issue of opening the malecón to traffic is echoed by many of the candidates for mayor as growing demand by the voters and business owners have been heard.

In November 2011 a symbolic ceremony inaugurating the new city malecón was held with big promises to the community, tourists, and business owners, but many say those promises have fallen flat and the new malecón is having a negative impact on businesses downtown.

Over the last couple of years many businesses in centro have closed pointing to the new malecón and redirection of traffic as the reason for their business losing more than half of their income since the boardwalk was completed. Some downtown businesses have gone as far as displaying signs in their storefront windows informing the public about the economic downturn they have experienced since the malecón reconstruction and calling on the boardwalk to be reopened to traffic to ease congestion impacting their once thriving businesses.

The businesses most impacted are on the streets that were forced to take on the extra traffic as a result of a major downtown street being closed. Those streets were once easily walked for browsing and shopping however the new traffic increase has cut down the pedestrian traffic that many stores in the area for a decade or longer once depended on for business.

Businesses on the malecon are closing under unrelated circumstances where the landlords believe their property value has increased with the new malecon and they have priced out their tenants on rent and forced them out of business.

The city mayor has stated the cost to reopen the malecón to traffic would cost too much money and require assistance by the state to cover the cost.

The issue of reopening the malecón to cars has been a hot political issue that has pinned foreigners against the Mexican voter and many business owners in downtown Puerto Vallarta.

Many foreign residents have voiced their support for keeping the boardwalk closed to traffic, however many of the Mexican nationals and registered voters disapprove, leaving politicians in a no win situation.

Vallarta Daily posed the question “Walk or Drive on the Malecón?” to its readers back in August and overwhelmingly foreign readers voiced their opinion of keeping the boardwalk closed to automobiles, and a handful of Mexican nationals voiced their disapproval of closure.

Whoever is elected mayor in the June 7 elections will face growing pressure from both sides of the issue and will ultimately shape the future of downtown and businesses for many years to come.

Popular candidate for Puerto Vallarta Mayor, Juan José Cuevas García (PAN), joined a growing number of people in a promises to reopen the malec . . .

Follow Us On Google News | Get Our Newsletter



Trending News on PVDN

  • protests3Mexico City Protests: There is a fine line between anti-gentrification and xenophobia The line between anti-gentrification and racism is clear if you choose to see it: genuine activism targets policy and practice, not nationality or ethnicity. I have lived in Mexico for two decades, and I have never witnessed the level of anti-American sentiment that exists today. All of it is tied to the buzzword "gentrification," a…
  • puerto vallarta lettersPuerto Vallarta needs a new image to create meaningful reasons for travelers to visit Business leaders at Jalisco Tourism Secretariat forums stressed the need for renewing Puerto Vallarta image and diversifying attractions to appeal to national and international markets. Local business leaders and tourism specialists agreed this week that Puerto Vallarta needs a fresh look and a broader range of attractions to compete at home and abroad. In a…
  • puerto-vallarta-police-chase-bahia-de-banderasPuerto Vallarta police chase ends in deadly collision in Bahía de Banderas A Puerto Vallarta police chase along Highway 200 ended in a deadly collision in Bahía de Banderas, leaving two people dead. A high-speed chase that began in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, and ended in Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit, left at least two people dead and raised new questions about police engagement and road safety in the…
  • Where do foreigners come from and where do they live in MexicoMexico City Protest on July 5 Challenges Gentrification and Airbnb’s Impact on Housing Residents of Roma and Condesa will gather at Parque México on July 5 to protest gentrification, rising rents, and Airbnb’s effect on local housing. This Saturday, July 5, Mexico City will witness its first organized citizen protest against gentrification—a peaceful but urgent gathering taking place at 3:30 p.m. at the Lindbergh Forum in Parque México,…
  • puerto-vallarta-rainfall-hurricane-flossie-july-2025Puerto Vallarta braces for torrential rains as Hurricane Flossie gains strength Puerto Vallarta faces a high risk of flooding as Hurricane Flossie intensifies in the Pacific. Torrential rains and overwhelmed drainage systems pose major challenges for the city. Puerto Vallarta, a city wedged between the Sierra Madre mountains and the Pacific Ocean, is no stranger to dramatic weather shifts—but this summer, the skies are testing the…
  • protestProtest graffiti and smashed windows mars anti-gentrification rally in Mexico City Residents and activists joined an anti-gentrification rally in Mexico Park, but the anti-gentrification rally Mexico Park turned destructive as masked youths defaced local shops and broke windows. A rally against gentrification held yesterday in Mexico City’s Parque México drew residents from Juárez, Roma, Condesa and Hipódromo alongside local activists. Organizers billed it as the city’s…
  • Body with signs of crocodile attack found in Ameca River, a leg was found last monthPurple Flag Warns Beachgoers after Crocodile at Los Muertos Beach Authorities raised a purple flag after a crocodile at Los Muertos Beach was spotted swimming near shore, advising visitors to avoid entering the water until safety checks ended. Local authorities recorded a crocodile swimming in the vicinity of Los Muertos Beach, one of Puerto Vallarta’s busiest tourist spots. Lifeguards spotted the reptile in shallow water…
  • mexico city real estateGentrification in Mexico City is not the reason for the high cost of housing City housing shortage, not gentrification, drives prices skyward as planning lags behind demand and foreigner influence remains minimal. High real estate costs in Mexico City stem from a deep and persistent housing shortage—exacerbated by land constraints, tangled regulations and speculative investment—rather than by the presence of foreign residents. Despite headlines blaming “gentrification,” foreign-born residents make…
  • puerto vallarta loses three blue flag beachesPuerto Vallarta retains four Blue Flag Beaches, down from eight Puerto Vallarta will enter the 2025–2026 season with four international Blue Flag distinctions in Puerto Vallarta, even after tourism-driven environmental damage cost it half of its previous honors. The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) in Mexico confirmed that three resort flags will be revalidated at Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, The Westin Resort &…
  • cancun-beaches-50-tons-sargassum-cleanupSargassum in Quintana Roo Hits 76 Beaches from Cancun to Tulum, Only 24 Clean Beaches Sargassum in Quintana Roo has reached moderate to excessive levels on 76 beaches—including Cancun—as cleanup crews race to protect tourism and coastal ecosystems. A recent survey from the Quintana Roo Sargassum Monitoring Network and the Sargassum Citizen Observatory shows 76 out of 100 beaches on the state’s Caribbean coast now face moderate to excessive seaweed…
Scroll to Top