Vicky Pérez

Arrival and First Steps in San José

I arrived in Los Cabos at the end of 2002. After regularizing my status, I immediately obtained a work permit. I submitted my resume to the Tropicana group, and that's where I met Mrs. Armida Castro, who became a key figure in my professional life and opened many doors for me in this destination. I worked as her assistant at the Tropicana hotel, which at that time had a restaurant, souvenir shop, and jockey club. The place was a meeting point for both locals and tourists, especially for events such as Rosalía de Cuba's performances and New Year's brunch, as well as Sunday breakfasts after mass that brought entire families together.

Community Relations and Participation

My closeness to Armida and her relationships had a positive influence on my experience, allowing me to actively participate in meetings convened by the historic center. Due to Armida's busy schedule, she often asked me to represent her, which led me to be punctual and take detailed notes at each meeting, convinced of the importance of documenting agreements and proposals.

My Appointment to the Association

Fernando Rivera, may he rest in peace, invited me to be the association's technical secretary, a position that was officially granted to me by the board of directors headed by Enrique Silva. Fernando, a consultant and advisor, played a very active role in the historic center. I was responsible for managing official calls and minutes, and for keeping everything in order, laying a solid foundation for the association's work.

Protocolization and Organization of the Association

One of the most significant initial achievements was the notarization of the first quadrant of the center. This step was essential in order to operate from a recognized position and clearly define the scope of our actions. I have always found it easier to work when I know exactly what is expected of me; this allowed me to organize my ideas, thoughts, and actions, contributing to the creation of 10 committees within the association.

Challenges and Interagency Collaboration

The work required us to consider multiple factors beyond our direct control: we depended on collaboration with federal, state, and municipal governments, as well as other actors, to validate the processes. Securing resources for the renovation was a marathon effort that required a joint effort.

The Renovation of the Historic Center: A Before and After

Describing the renovation of the historic center is to talk about a turning point: it involved a profound restructuring that strengthened the community. Committees and counterparts were created to address each aspect. An invaluable contribution was the executive project led by Irene Bustos, which served as a letter of introduction to authorities, guests, private investors, and the general public. The credibility of our project was essential to moving forward.

Project Details and Technical Considerations

Aspects such as the type of trees to be planted were analyzed in order to avoid damage to the pavement and facilitate maintenance. The layout of the streets, the use of porphyry, the installation of streetlights, and trash cans were topics that were discussed and resolved collectively. The project included underground installations and preparations to offer Wi-Fi, anticipating future needs.

During the construction work, residents were taken into consideration, with concessions granted so that they could access their properties 24 hours a day. My job was to resolve any issues, foster unity among residents, business owners, and the board of directors, and serve as a liaison to strengthen communication and collaboration.

Safety, Communication, and Business Participation

I took responsibility for aspects related to security and traffic. The purchase of radios was included in the budget, and thanks to a private donation, the tourist police were provided with skateboard-type vehicles for their patrols. Communication with the General Secretariat of the Municipal Presidency was constant and effective, which facilitated problem solving and the processing of requests.

Committees and Featured Contributors

Gabriel Corral, who owned a real estate agency, along with four others, was in charge of the treasury. I also remember Nathalie Buchler on the boutique hotels committee, Patricia Mendoza on the galleries committee, and Irene Bustos on the architectural committee. Businesspeople such as the Sánchez family, Magdalena Torres, and Lety Klein actively participated in the process.

Ongoing Work and Current Challenges

I have worked closely with various boards of directors and figures such as Marco Klein, Armida Castro, Fernando Rivera, Andrea Ehrenberg, Rosal Luz Treviño, and Fernando Hernández. We ended up with more than 80 member businesses, including restaurants, shops, craft stores, jewelry stores, galleries, and residents. After the fourth stage of the project, the association lost momentum, but recently work has resumed under the leadership of Blanca Pedrín.

Social Commitment and Citizen Perspective

I stay up to date with local news, as I believe that news reports accurately reflect reality. I am concerned about the lack of infrastructure, such as the abandoned theater in San José and the lack of parking spaces. I continue to push for the installation of a tourist information center that provides real assistance, beyond just handing out brochures.

Value of Citizen and Business Participation

Institutions are key tools for citizens when negotiating with the government and other entities. The participation of the business community is essential. My greatest contribution to the Historic Center Association has been the time I have dedicated to it, and every day I feel satisfied and deeply grateful for the opportunity to collaborate on this collective project.