Back to the real nitty gritty news this past week… It looks like the mayor has buckled under pressure. It looks like the people do hold the power. They just have to exercise it, but I’ve noticed that in this country, they very seldom do. They really have to be pushed to the wall before they react, and I guess that this entire parking meter matter has done just that. Let me put it into context for those of you who haven’t been following the development of this story. First, workmen appeared around town, drilling holes in the sidewalks and installing those old-fashioned parking meters. Residents and shop keepers complained. Upon his return from his trip to Montreal –accompanied by his relatives- the Mayor said he knew nothing about the whole affair – and neither did the cops. Then the residents on the south side organized a demonstration to manifest their discontent with the meters. The Mayor said he’d look into the matter and see if there was any legal way to annul the concession granted by PV’s former mayor (the one who’s being sued for a multitude of alleged wrongdoings), but it would cost –are you ready for this?- $200 Million Pesos in penalties to annul the contract, his spokespeople said (Oct. 20). Five days later, the former mayor made a statement, «We had to put order to the city.» Then we learned that there are two ways to revoke the contract, but regardless which of the two methods is used, it would still cost the City $200 Million Pesos (Oct. 28). On October 30th, both opposing parties, the PAN and the PRD joined forces to protest the installation of the meters, publicly, supporting the demonstrators in front of City Hall. The next day, workmen were removing the meters in the Romantic Zone on the south side of town as demonstrators were calling for the former mayor and his cohorts to be sent to jail. Wow! Never a dull moment in Party Vallarty, folks. One of our readers even sent us a photo of the event, as proof.