‘I will stay here’: public space and social inequality during the COVID-19 pandemic

During Mexico City's COVID-19 lockdowns, the closure of Alameda Central, a central public park, exacerbated social inequalities by displacing vulnerable populations—including homeless individuals, street vendors, buskers, and male sex workers—who resisted leaving or found ways to return. The study reveals that pandemic policies overlooked the diverse needs of public space users, highlighting how urban planning can inadvertently deepen exclusion for marginalized groups.

Gutiérrez, F. (2023). ‘I will stay here’: public space and social inequality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Urban Design, 29(3), 263–279. https://doi.org/10.1080/13574809.2023.2245336