GENTRIFICATION IN MEXICO AND HOW NOT TO BE PART OF THE PROBLEM | Opinion Piece 💭

[@sonjaarrasi]

Love this video! Thank you for putting out such intentional and important information.

[@ClauChasesColors]

I appreciate the feedback! Thank you so much for watching 🙏

[@dwrisdon2487]

Tu hablas como la consiencia de una cultura. Te apolyo completemente. Hace diaz años que he disfrutado el placer de vivir en un pueblo, Yelapa. Viviendo, hablando, comiendo, bebiendo con la gente local. Era uno de los mejores periódos de mi vida. Hace dos semanas, que ya tengo mi residencia temporal. Estoy planeando un viaje para que mi consiencia llegará a ser mexicano otra vez. Gracias, memo

[@ClauChasesColors]

Muchas gracias por ver el vídeo y compartir tu experiencia, Memo. Felicidades por la residencia y espero disfrutes de Mexico a lo máximo 🙌

[@joespurgeon7250]

Hola Clau: Thank you for delving into subjects that I can tell you are passionate about and rightfully so. So many of the new channels seem oblivious to the every day occurrences in the life of an average Mexican national. So many seem like tourists trying to make an extra bit of money while traveling. I wish that the more established channels would refrain from encouraging those that have never, or seldom, crossed the border for any more than a weeks stay at a resort, to move to Mexico and work remotely or retire early on $ 1,000 U.S. a month. I have followed your travels and have commented before of your seeming knowledge and genuine love for Mexican Culture and way of life. In my 65 yrs. of traveling, spending extended time with local families we have become close with, I developed a love for the whole of Mexico . Keep up your great attitude and your love of the colors you chase.

[@ClauChasesColors]

Hi Joe! Thank you so much for your continued support, it never goes unnoticed 🙏🙏 I appreciate you and your love for Mexico and its people. I’m not surprised you relate to the message of this video.

[@RedroomStudios]

Joe - why is it ok for the US to have a wide open border for endless undocumented immigrants who have no money but somehow Mexicans being affected by gentrification is a crime against humanity? I really think Mexico is getting the better end of the deal. who are you to say who should and shouldnt come to Mexico? why is ok for you and Clau but not others?

[@joespurgeon7250]

@Redroom Studios. My opinions are based on what I have experienced over many years of traveling and living in Mexico. Once again " my opinions". You mention an Open Border Policy in the U.S. allowing illegal immigrants with no money to come across the border. They are not allowed, they come illegally.The percentage of which are Mexican is +- 25%.. one in four. Many of whom have paid more than a years wages to a Coyote to get them over the border. They don't have much if anything to do with the cost of gas, food, housing or utilities going up in the U.S.. Unlike in Mexico, when deep pocket North Americans willing to spend big money on everything from food to housing drive up the cost of living to the locals, if making minimum wage, which is about $ 6.00 a day, or a decent wage, $20.00 hard to make ends meet. I don't think that I should be the only one to come to Mexico to live. I do think that way to many expats are living here on tourist visas illlegallly and not trying to assimilate into the local culture by getting their residency. My opinion.

[@peterresch1667]

Thank you for the wonderfully thoughtful and thought-provoking video. We look forward visiting Mexico (Guadalajara) for the first time next year. Once we finally do make it there, we will promise you this. We will be respectful to the culture and the people who call Mexico home. Our most memorable moments while travelling always happen when we interact the local people.

[@ClauChasesColors]

What a nice comment - thank you so much for watching Peter and I hope you have an amazing time in GDL. We obviously love it and I’m certain you will too! Feel free to browse our library, you might find some ideas for your trip 😊🎥

[@papawgotagopro]

Thank you for sharing information and your thoughts. I’m a fellow KZbinr that travels throughout Mexico vacationing and researching for my retirement home in just under 2 years. Views are easy to get if the “cheap factor” is emphasized and I’ve stayed away from that. You’re advice to explore outside the expat bubbles and to learn some basic Spanish is the best advice and I wholeheartedly agree. Also the advice to leave the expat Facebook groups, or to at least not limit yourself to them. We’ve now set our sights on a very non traditional expat city and we’re very comfortable with our decision. I have only about 10% Spanish ability and I’m trying to get better. The kindness and patience of the people I meet really motivates me to try to be as kind. Thank you again and you did a great job of relaying information without being judgmental. Very helpful.

[@ClauChasesColors]

I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed the video and more that you found it somewhat balanced, this kind of topics are usually hard to address and post publicly. I appreciate your support and thank you for sharing your Mexico experience 😊

[@RedroomStudios]

oh yes... the expat FB groups. I tried joining a couple of them before I came to Mexico and then unjoined them within 10 minutes. just toxic crap imo. all the lecturing about covid protocols and telling people not to come to Mexico if they werent vaxxed or didnt plan to wear masks. no thanks. I was done.

[@EnoughTimeTravel]

Important topic! Thank you for sharing your views 🙏🏻

[@ClauChasesColors]

Thank you so much for watching 🙏

[@azfo123]

Hello Clau, Very thought provoking piece. Thank you for articulating your thoughts. I agree with your comments. We intend on blending more with locals and we do shop at local mom/pop shops for fresh vegetables and fruits. We frequent local restaurants more than westernized places. We enjoyed your videos, very well done. Thank you.

[@ClauChasesColors]

That’s so great to hear! Thank you so much for your support Frank 🙏

[@el-Conde-MonteCristo]

Impressed !... You did your Homework on this subject... You made sense from beginning to end... I followed you all the way. I'm not to familiar with what's going on in Mexico with the "Expat/Digital Nomad" invasion, but because I think somewhat like you on this subject, I've had a few debates with some youtubers exploiting the cheap labor in Mexico. (someone told me minimum wage is about $10 dls. a day in Mex.) I hadn't watched many "Expat/Nomads" videos before I realized ; "something is wrong with this picture"... My reply in their comments section was (one of several) ; "Minimum Wage in Mexico should be the same as in the U.S" exploitation is not part of NAFTA. Why do some expats complain about unfriendly Mexican people at the store ?... Who has more money in their pockets ?... Who's living the good life ?... At the expense of Whooo ?... I haven't seen it with my own eyes but $10 dls a day for a Mex. vs $100 dls a day (minimum) for an expat puts the writing on the wall for me... In reality most expats have greater wealth than $100 dls a day and having a blast in Mexico. I call it an Invasion... Even I can't afford Mexico, it cost me a fortune last time I went... What went wrong ?; Everything went up except the Minimum Wage in Mex.... Mexico could end up like Cuba, same thing happened there in the last Century... The deep pockets had all the fun !. and look at Cuba now.

[@el-Conde-MonteCristo]

Gentrification-Invasion same thing... Especially when done by exploitation.

[@ClauChasesColors]

Thanks so much for watching this video and sharing your thoughts! It’s one of my longer ones and hasn’t picked up as much as others; was hoping to hear from more people regarding this topic that’s having deep implications in many local communities across Mexico.

[@el-Conde-MonteCristo]

@@ClauChasesColors Please duplicate (if possible) this video in Spanish and in your Native language. Willing to bet you'll get Millions of Views. It's History in the making and you have a Head start on it. I can make more comments regarding Mexico's future based on past History. At this point I wonder what Mexico has to say... The ball is in their court and they may not know is there, making it a good reason to translate.🙏

[@ClauChasesColors]

@@el-Conde-MonteCristo I really appreciate this suggestion; thank you so much for the words of encouragement! I've been considering doing videos in Spanish for a while now, I'm just a little hesitant because I don't think my Spanish is good enough...

[@el-Conde-MonteCristo]

@@ClauChasesColors Your Spanish is better than mine... Spanish has a lot of "Variants" (tone-accents) all are "good enough"... Your style will get lots of attention... You have my Vote.👍

[@stephenwilliams4406]

Hello Again, VERY informative video. Thank you for your insight on these topics. Will be back in Ajijic 12/1 to 12/18, then back again the months of February and March. In December, I'll plan a weekend in Guadalajara using so many of your recommendations, also another few days in Talpa de Allende, Mascota and San Sebastian. Love to watch your well thought out videos.

[@ClauChasesColors]

Hi Steve! Thank you so much for watching 🙏 Your support is always appreciated and it makes me happy to hear you find my videos helpful. Sounds like you have a lot of fun trips coming up!! Enjoy every minute! I love being in Mexico around the holidays 🎄😊

[@mayagrissen670]

Hi ...Bobo !!! very interesting topic that you approached !!! hugs & kisses !!! From Italy ...with Love !!! ❤

[@ClauChasesColors]

Aw thanks Maya, I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it 🥰🙏

[@RedroomStudios]

hey Clau... sorry for the late reply. this video never showed up in my recommendations and I hadnt seen anything from you for so long that I came directly to your channel and found it. its a tough and complicated subject that can get a lot of emotions tangled up in it. I think you did a really good job of addressing the subject and expressing your own opinions. your heart is in the right place for sure. I agree with you on a lot but not everything. firstly I would say that a city as big as Mexico City should expect to see an ever more cosmopolitan population just like every other world class city. people migrate for all kinds of reasons, but yes mainly financial / economic. the part of the world I am from is close to Toronto Canada. more than 50% of the population in Toronto are from foreign countries. NYC, SF, LA etc have high immigrant populations as well... I would suggest much higher and far more diverse than what CDMX is currently experiencing. in the southwest of the US they are dealing with a lot of illegal / undocumented / poor immigrants and of course there is some political backlash to that, but somehow its ok for this to go on. my point is that I think that cities in the US and Canada who are taking in millions of immigrants per year, many who are financially challenged and have no interest in assimilating face a far greater challenge than CDMX taking in perhaps 10's of thousands of financially stable people in a few neighborhoods. poor or desperate people will work for less and take jobs and drive down wages for native born people. yes, both cases present challenges but one does far more damage to the established order. much of the "white" part of North America is completely devoid of their founding culture at this point. there are many ghettos where the immigrant populations cluster. in the US and Canada we see diverse dining options as a benefit rather than an attack on our culture. I agree that gentrification causes problems... but it is far preferable to decay, neglect and ghettos. I think Mexico has an incredible advantage in the strength and vibrance of its culture. you would need to double the population of the entire country with gringos before it had any effect on the culture here. Mexico is modernizing with chain restaurants and grocery stores etc. this would be happening regardless of immigration from Canada and the US. now, having said all that I agree with you about the clusters of expat communities. I dont understand why people are drawn to that. of the 20 or so places I have stayed in MEX I have always chosen to live in local Mexican neighborhoods. I blend in as much as possible and live like a local, being friendly and respectful to them and I get the same in return. I have been in centro GDL now for about 5 months. on a daily basis I may see 2 or 3 "white" people at most and that is the way I like it. I have a dark skinned Mexican girlfriend that I only see on weekends and holidays and I dont keep any friends locally... but I have acquaintances at the 15-20 restaurants I frequent. I only speak Spanish when I am out in public, even though my Spanish is fairly limited. its easy for people to make themselves understood even if there is a language gap and the locals appreciate the effort. I have always been generous with tipping and giving money to street people but it has increased a lot since I came to GDL. the number of "walking dead" and mangled bodies is astounding here. and it existed long before and regardless of the number of gringos. Mexico is a very unequal society and the poor here have literally nothing. (not even tents that are filling the streets in places like LA and SF) in any case on a daily basis I try to give away at least 20% of the money that I spend on myself. I cant save the world myself but I can make a few people's day better. I think the situation in CDMX was greatly exaggerated by one person or a small number of locals writing that angry note... though I dont doubt there are significant numbers of arrogant, rude and entitled gringos taking over the area. this is the world we live in. there will always be change driven by factors out of our control. there will always be winners and losers. I think Mexico will be just fine and is in fact one of the best positioned countries in the world to maintain its traditions while also modernizing and increasing its prosperity. and p.s. - I think the corporations in SF driving up prices as the cause of homelessness is only half of the problem. the other half is the "progressive" state and city governments who are taxing and regulating people out of existence while also going soft on crime and drug use. its not a coincidence that California is forcing more businesses and people to relocate out of their state than any other state in the US. its a shame what is happening to that former paradise. unfortunately I see it as being done purposely and its also happening at the federal level in the US as well as every other white/Christian/advanced western democracy. the elites who rule the world have decided the US and other wealthy western nations have enjoyed too high of a living standard and are a threat to the future sustainability of the planet and so all these nations are being purposely collapsed. and this why I left Canada and came to Mexico. Mexico is not experiencing any of the attacks from its own government that Canada, US, AUS and Europe are. so I am not here just because its more affordable but even more so because it is more free. life here reminds me of what Canada used to be like when I was a child in the 1970's.

[@ClauChasesColors]

Hi friend! Thank you so much for always coming back to check what’s new on the channel; I hope you know how much I appreciate your support 🙏 Honestly, I was very hesitant in posting this video because it’s a topic I knew would trigger a lot of emotional responses and no matter how impartial I tried to be, I too, as anyone else, am biased to a certain extend, and can only approach this subject based on the information I currently have and my own experiences. It does sound though that we agree way more than we disagree on key points. The big message and what I hoped people would leave this video reflecting on is that it’s extremely important on one hand, to be a decent and respectful human being in your host country (regardless of where you come from and what place you choose to live in) and on the other, it’s just as important to keep yourself informed and be mindful of the ripple of your presence and actions while you’re there. As you rightly noted, sometimes change is driven by factors out of our control and those ruling elites you mentioned, unfortunately have too big a say in shaping our realities to our detriment, which is why my main advice is to always focus first on all the things WE ourselves can change and control on a micro level to better our lives, communities and social interactions. The way I see it, the rest is just toxic noise designed to keep us divided and confused. I too found Mexico extremely refreshing, especially the small towns, in 2020-2021. And I know for a fact it’s been a safe haven for many who traveled here to escape the largely spread, media induced psychosis up north. Yet another reason for all of us to reward Mexico and show gratitude towards it (in small or big ways) as much as we possibly can 😊🌺

[@LeisurelyLorrie]

Excellent video. Houston Tx was very affordable until the California residents arrived.

[@ClauChasesColors]

I know… same happened in Vegas. Thanks again so much for watching Lorrie 🙏

[@tomm9540]

Great Video! I love Mexico ,and even more the Mexican People......I speak fluent Spanish without an accent, but I still sometimes get treated like a Gringo

[@ClauChasesColors]

Hi Tom! Thank you so much for watching the video and sharing your point of view 🙏

[@issamMaghrabe]

Your videos are awesome and professional.. what cam are you using?

[@robertzamarripa3885]

You could be a professor 😊

[@ClauChasesColors]

Haha thanks friend ☺️

[@robertzamarripa3885]

I feel your emotions in your video and that’s a good thing

[@ClauChasesColors]

@@robertzamarripa3885 🙏🙏

[@earnthis1]

We must blame the capitalist powers that push the local economics and politics. Blaming ourselves is helpful to a small extent, but also totally ineffective as a way to change anything. It is individualistic and not looking at the bigger forces at play.

[@earnthis1]

Property taxes in Mexico are insanely cheap. That might actually be a problem. Don't you think?

[@brian_be_flyin]

Expat aka immigrant

[@dovygoodguy1296]

Being a decent person has nothing to do with immigration status. A person can be a tourist and obnoxious, or a tourist and respectful. Plus, a legally admitted immigrant to Mexico is no more a "guest" than an immigrant to the USA or Australia. Plus we know from immigration patterns in the US, London or Argentina that an area that once was composed of Italian immigrants now is composed of Chinese immigrants. It's not all predatory economics. And it's not as if most Mexicans in a given neighborhood are in dire poverty. Where else do all the cars come from?! And the US immigrants are not all filthy rich but in terms of US economics are STRUGGLING just as Mexicans struggle in their context, which is why they consider moving to Mexico in the first place. Why do you blame expats for congregating in certain communities?? It's the same situation in Los Angeles and New York! These Americans struggle at their age to learn a foreign language just like older immigrants in the US struggle to learn English. I think you are exaggerating the problem. Please note that in many locations in Central America the people throw garbage out car windows and cities don't clean it up. So everybody has positive and negative qualities. Both local people and immigrants.