Mexico City

MEXICO CITY

Mexico City is the largest metropolitan area in the western hemisphere and the second largest city in the world, second only to Tokyo. With a population of over 24 million, over a quarter of the entire Mexican population resides here. For a long time, the city was little more than a giant barrio, with small isolated safe areas renowned for their historical or economical importance. Then the one-two punch of the collapse and the Earthquake of 1995 hit, destroying the city. People were already dying from the wasting plague and starvation before the quake, in the midst of a world economic crisis, there was simply no country that could afford to provide aid, and when the quake hit (measured at a 9 on the Richter Scale), it was the final straw. The quake and its aftershocks was responsible for the deaths of over 1.5 million people in the worst earthquake ever recorded. The death toll didn't stop there, the economy was devastated, and in addition to the wasting plague still lingering in the country now Cholera became a very real epidemic. By the end of the collapse the death toll in Mexico city had reached over 12 million.

It wasn't until 2000 that Mexico could even begin to rebuild its capitol. Even then, finding enough laborers to even start was proving difficult amongst the highly religious people, rumors of ghosts and demons roaming the graveyard of a city proved more than many locals could handle, especially since many bodies were still undiscovered. An agreement was made with the nomad Aldecaldo Clan, who descended on the city as heroes. With their expertise, the rebuilding of Mexico City was soon underway, bigger and better than ever before. It was decided that the city would be modernized. Historical sites would be preserved where it was possible, but everything else would be demolished. They worked from the inside out, first building the Massive arcology, and outfitting it with the latest solar panel technology to provide energy enough for the work to continue. Upon the arcologies completion, Capitol offices, government facilities, and utility companies were immediately placed in the structure. It is said that the entire country is run from the massive arcology at the heart of Mexico City. The reconstruction was slow and grueling, but in 2013 it was finally completed. The new city was magnificent. The best in modern construction techniques were implemented to full effect.

Mexico City is now unrecognizable compared to the pre-quake district. And with the Mexican economy flourishing like never before, it is the true jewel of the Americas. Many of the historical and artistic sites were either saved or rebuilt, and sit tastefully amongst modern glass and steel structures. All buildings erected in Mexico City must be reinforced to withstand a category 8 earthquake as a preventative measure against such a tragedy ever occurring again.

The Cuidad arcology itself is massive, and is the economic and governmental heart of Mexico. One of the largest ever built, in addition to the government and utility headquarters it also provides living spaces for some 2 people, as well as several shopping centers. Many people living in the arcology rarely venture outside. Those that do however are treated to the glory of Mexico City itself, a shining metropolis built over the graves of its own third world past. Cheap, affordable housing is abundant, an anyone who is willing to hold down a job need not fear going without food or comfortable shelter. The police forces inside the city are efficient, though somewhat overzealous. The mass government corruption has been virtually abolished in Mexico City, and every level of government here is scrutinized thouroughly. Even before the reconstruction was completed, Mexico City's population began to surge again, as people from outlying areas, and illegal immigrants from North America flocked here for the employment opportunities.

Of course, the city is not free from its share of problems. Even a city this size can't support everyone, and enormous shanty towns and barrios have sprung up around its borders. Mostly these are populated by those unable, or unwilling to find honest employment inside the city itself. It is a haven for criminal activity, and police don't venture into these areas in groups of less than 20. Gangs, not tolerated in the city itself, are fully in control of these areas and fight with each other over territory constantly.

Despite the best police efforts, the gangs have been able to expand into the city and are in a constant struggle with police, and nomads, over control of the District of Delegación Cuauhtémoc, most notable for Tepito, Mexico Cities massive flea market. Tepito is almost stand alone as a nomad market, in that it is actually placed inside the city limits. This once again illustrates the affection mexicans have for nomads. The Tepito Market is clean and somewhat organized, making it the

only Nomad Market in the western Hemisphere of its kind. Conflicts between the nomads and the gangs are minimal, as the local police are more than ready to step in and eliminate any conflict. Yet another unique feature to this Nomad Market, the mutual tolerance and respect of the nomads and the police. Other than that, Tepito is the same as any market anywhere in the world, only on a massive scale. Anything can be found here, the latest bootlegs, technology, drugs, weapons, and more. There are rumors of a slave market, but no investigation has ever yielded anything.

Despite the modernization of Mexico, the native population remains highly religious, and the locals are almost exclusively Catholic. And while religion plays a pat in the lawmaking, trends towards a more liberal government have begun taking effect. Prostitution is legal and regulated, though restricted to certain "red districts", abortion is legal, but very much frowned upon.

The biggest danger to tourists and any caucasion in the city comes from kidnapping for ransom. While this is rarely a problem in Mexico City proper, visiting tourists are advised to avoid the barrios and market.

(Written by Deric Bernier)