In September 2017, Mexico City was rocked by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in which over 200 people died in building collapses.
The high death toll was blamed on lax building codes, and a lack of effective regulation and government oversight of the construction industry.
[RELATED: “Corruption blamed for hundreds of deaths in Mexico City earthquake”]
Since then the toll of corruption has only increased, with 95 percent of an $800 million emergency-aid fund subsequently disappearing into what one advocacy-group leader has called a “black hole.”
The money disappeared over the course of two mayoral administrations, but Mexicans say they’re hopeful.
Transparency in the construction industry has increased. And activists have offered mixed praise for the year-old presidency of Andrés Manuel Lopez.
While the administration has stated it will give aid to all 16,907 households affected by the quake, only about one-third are actually in the process of receiving help.
And just one out of more than 100 lawsuits against construction firms and others seen as responsible for hundreds of collapsed buildings has made it to the courtroom.