I subscribe to Tom Brymer's Real Estate salesman e-newsletter, based on his "Panama Perspective" (LINK)" website and blog. (Tom and I don't know each other - I just read his newsletter and website.) Although Tom's newsletter and website are obviously promotional, they are very well done, and give me an idea of what promoters and developers are up to in this country and region.
This week, Tom's e-newsletter this contained a headline that caught my attention: "Nothing stops a bullet like a job." That "teaser" links to a blog post at Matt Landau's "Vacation Rental Marketing Blog."
Here is a LINK to the subject blog post which inspired the title of this discussion. It is about transforming a dangerous gang-dominated district of the Casco Viejo into a crime free residential neighborhood and tourist haven. A quote from the blog:
"...the former Ciudad de Dios area had NOT ONE robbery, assault, nor domestic violence dispute since we began our intervention in January 2014. In the words of Father Greg Boyle of Homeboys Inc in Los Angeles, “Nothing stops a bullet like a job.”
This is the way I like to see small businesses operate - don't hide your identity, and promote your business and not your ego. (Although some self promotion is o.k. in my opinion, because many people like to know the person behind the business. )
Unlike the lame self-promotional marketing schemes that have been discussed - and ridiculed - here at Boquete.ning recently, I view this as grass-roots capitalism at its finest. Build a business, and give back to the community in a sincere and effective way.
There is often much debate about the value and effectiveness of government vs private/business efforts to reduce crime and deal with social problems. Governments and their self-perpetuating bureaucracies can do good at times, but often devolve into making their priority sustaining and growing their internal employment and revenue machine rather than the purpose for which they were created - to help others.
Businesses, and particularly corporations, exist to make money, and that often trumps the "doing of good for society," and often their "social" efforts are often simply token public relations efforts.
When I moved to here three years ago, I became aware of the problem of gangs and crime in one of our most important cultural sites with the finest collection of historic architecture in Panama - Casco Viejo, the old city district in our capitol.
Now that I have settled in, and am back on my feet financially with no debt, it will soon be time to begin my long-anticipated "budget" exploration of Panama - and perhaps Costa Rica.
And I won't hesitate to give some of my limited retirement income to one of Matt Landau's owner-rental clients in Casco Viejo for a couple of nights. I really want to experience the architectural heritage and pulse of life in that historic district. I've read that district was recently not only unsafe for tourists, but pretty run-down and in a state of decay. However, it is now apparently undergoing a renaissance - and I want to see and experience it for myself.
Have any of you visited Casco Viejo recently and stayed at least overnight?
Replies
When there is a topic that has nothing to do with propaganda I too can be quite civil.
Thank you for thanking me.
Casco Viejo has been safe to walk around for years. The area around it is very bad.
As for decay well, it’s old but lots of money has poured into it and it thing are changing.
There are many excellent restaurants. I don’t remember the name but it is near the French Embassy in an old prison. Really cool atmosphere. Manolo’s Casco Viejo has a 5 course chef’s choice menu that has never let me down.
I am sure there are many spots opened and closed since I was last there two years ago.
If you want to see some of the real Panama City there are bars at the bottom of the ramp past the fish market where El Presidente suggested people wait for the Diputados and protest. They fit the budget of the retired traveler.
Thanks, El Gato.
I appreciate your civil and informed response.
We may argue and fight over AGW/CC, but I judge posts onthei merit,and this one by you is definitely first-rate.