1. BOGOTÁ & Local Government in Colombia
Does Colombia have a primate city?
Manifestations of unitary state organization

3. BOGOTA

4. National Cathedral & City Hall

5. Boundaries of Cundinamarca-Bogotá: Dissatisfaction
City elites always wanted autonomy
Part of surrounding Department of Cundinamarca
Financial concerns led Department government to resist demands for autonomy

7. Changing Boundaries of Bogotá: Early Twentieth Century
1905 – Bogota made into a “Capital District”
1909 – returned to a Department
1954 Bogotá becomes a special district –following change in constitution
More autonomy
Extended boundaries
All of the population living in a single administrative unit
No longer part of Cundinamarca

8. Constitutional Revisions: 1991
Bogotá organized as a “capital district”
Boundaries remained the same
New rights acquired
Separate electoral arena – sent independent representatives to national congress
Complete administrative autonomy from Cundinamarca
More control over own budget

10. Government of Bogotá: Executive Power
Chief Executive (Mayor)
Appointed until 1988
Alternated between Liberals and Conservatives during National Front
Constitution of 1991
Shift to elected mayor reflected efforts to Mayor elected for 3 years
Not elgible for immediate reelection

11. Government of Bogotá: Legislative Power
City Council (size increased as city population grew
Since 1972 number of councilors increased in line with population increase
1972 – 20 councilors
1997 – 40 councilors
Until 1972 half of all councilors were Liberals and half conservatives
Conservative ranks infiltrated by ANAPO
Liberals factionalized

12. Government of Bogotá: Revising 1991 Constitution
Deadlock between mayor and city council paralyzes government l
1993 statute increased power of Mayor in relation to city council

13. Government of Bogotá: Administration & Responsibilities
City Government gradually absorbed more functions after special administrative district created in 1954
Public agencies established to run
Buses
Maintain streets
Health
Education
Housing – privatized over time

14. Government of Bogotá & Private Sector
Private sector housing
Formal sector construction
Illegal subdivisions
Additional privatization in 1990’s
Rubbish collection
Collection of taxes
Electricity
Struggle over privatizing telephones and telecommunications

15. Mayor: longevity as a measure of political influence
Term
Between 1931 and 1954 average stay in office only nine months
When city became a special district mean tenure increased to twenty-two months
Elected term 3 years

16. Political Recruitment of the Mayor:
Only one female incumbent
Until elections appointees always trusted associate of president
Liberals and independents won most elections for mayor in 1990’s
More recently mayors have been from different political party than the president
Most elected mayors held important political posts before becoming mayor

17. Mayors of Bogata reflect uniqueness of the capital city
Juan Lozano Garzon – mayor of Bogota
First leftist mayor
Favored legalization of drugs
Direct challenge to President Uribe
Conservative mayor uses mimes to discourage jaywalking
Antanas Mockus – Mayor of Bogota

18. Samuel Gustavo Moreno Rojas: Current Mayor of Bogota
During his campaign proposed the construction of an underground rapid transit system
increase the passengers capacity of the city
reduce the commute time
increase the comfort of the trip by reducing the number of people per coach
Proposition very controversial, because the city already has a mass transit system which is not finished yet
son of former congressman Samuel Moreno Díaz and former presidential candidate María Eugenia Rojas, grandson of former Colombian military dictator Gustavo Rojas Pinilla.

19. Elected Mayor of Bogotá generally viewed as second most important politician in the country.

20. Mayor of Bogota in Action: Opportunities and Constraints
Relative to National Administration
When mayor was a presidential appointee he implemented programs desired by the national executive
Opposition mayors complain bitterly about financing
City’s critical needs can’t be ignored
Bogotá Verses Congress (hostility predominates)
Those born outside of capital resent what they view as privileged treatment for the capital
Minimal political advantage from investing in Bogotá
Many families retain loyalty elsewhere

21. Mayoral Opportunities & Constraints II
Relations with Neighboring Areas
Residual bad feelings with Cundinamaarca impedes cooperative problem solving
Public services often disjointed
The City Council
Long used as debating chamber to build recognition for aspiring politicians
Division of responsibilities has not improved relations between Mayor & Council

22. Budget of Bogotá Municipio
Traditional pattern (too little money to perform tasks expected of local government)
Provided low level of services
Ran a budget deficit
City’s chronically poor financial situation principally due to its own reluctance to increase taxes
Strengthens influence of the central government in the capital city

23. Reasons why tax revenues from taxes “on the book” have not increased
Collection of property tax insufficient
Cultural attitude toward law enforcement permeates efforts to collect taxes
Efforts to implement existing legislation by updating records resisted

24. Colombian Local Government: Final Thoughts
Demands on the municipios increasing
Administration remains inefficient
Clientilism predominates over merit criteria