CDMX will dedicate Cycloton in honor of La Palma de Reforma

Mexico City is preparing to say goodbye to one of the capital's iconic elements located on the famous Paseo de la Reforma Avenue: La Palma de Reforma.

This copy has been adorning the streets of the nicknamed “City of Palaces” for at least a century. However, in recent days the head of government, Claudia Sheinbaum, said that it would be removed because the palm was infected with a fungus.

In this regard, the head of the CDMX Environment Secretariat, Mariana Robles García, explained that the “recommendation of specialists is to remove this copy from the gazebo de la palma and look for a replacement”.

Faced with this sad news, the director of the City Sports Institute (INDEPORTE), Javier Hidalgo Ponce, shared through his official Twitter account that the Cycloton of this Sunday, April 24, will be dedicated to La Palma, the day when it will also be withdrawn.

“This Sunday is Ciclotón and it's in #HonorAlaPalma” published the director of INDEPORTE along with an illustration of the roundabout of la Palma with some cyclists. It specifies that it will be from 08:00 to 14:00 in the afternoon.

But the reaction of netizens was negative, as much criticism has been given to the decision to remove it after so long. So users of the social network expressed their discontent with ironic messages against the city government.

“Yes, not a palm could keep alive and healthy the government you defend”; “In honor of La Palma that @GobCDMX/@SEDEMA_CDMX let die by not attending to complaints of plague/fungus 5 months ago??? Neither the mockery forgive, inept!!!” ; “Devastate a jungle it dies a symbol of 100 years pretend to pay it honors, how miserable”, were some of the comments.

Likewise, the journalist and chronicler of the capital, Hector de Mauleón, expressed his displeasure at Sheinbaum's announcement to pay tribute to the ancient palm tree.

On April 21, the chronicler argued that they had taken away from the city an object that had remained for more than a century and that “will remain in memory”.

And it is that the tree was placed there, it is presumed, between the Porfirian era and the Mexican Revolution. Although in the first instance, when the roundabout in which it is located was completed in 1865, the year of the second Mexican Empire, a first palm tree was placed.

Although it was changed to the one that is currently, ironically, by a fungus that affected it. It is said that in reality a statue dedicated to Miguel Hidalgo would be placed, a project that only remained on paper, and that the palm tree was placed so as not to leave the place helpless. Whether or not this version is true, the palm remained. Until now.

According to official information, it is estimated that there are currently 15,000 palm trees in Mexico City, and that about 25% of them have some kind of plague. Following the explanations given by the experts, the Head of Government announced that the palm in particular could not be saved.

Likewise, he announced that he will be removed on Sunday afternoon night and made a query to know which other tree it would be replaced with.

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