The mayoress faces criticism due to the decorations made in Mexico for the Fifa World Cup.

The mayor of Mexico City has faced severe public criticism due to a project to decorate the city for the FIFA World Cup. Clara Brugada, the mayor of Mexico City, is accused of wasting public funds on these decorations carried out throughout the city.

Under this project, walls, trains, street lamp posts, and road barriers throughout Mexico City have been adorned with images of the 'axolotl', a rare salamander species endemic to the ancient waterways of Mexico City and the official mascot of this year's FIFA World Cup. Locals and experts have expressed their dissatisfaction against this 'Axolotlisation' of the city.

The mayor has taken steps to decorate pedestrian crossings, overpasses, building facades, walls, bridges, and sidewalks in colors such as purple, lilac, and lavender. However, locals say that spending money on such things, targeting tourists, without solving the city's real infrastructure problems, is a fruitless endeavor. A local resident named Manuel Martinez commented that these funds could have been used for essential tasks such as fixing potholes, repairing traffic lights, and installing security cameras. Additionally, 63-year-old Sergio Rivera points out that while decorating famous places like 'Zócalo' or 'Azteca' Stadium might be appropriate, wasting money on other locations in this manner is unnecessary. Spending limited public resources on such things when the city's sidewalks are dilapidated and roads are flooded has drawn criticism.

Ernesto Moura, an expert in public policy and sustainable urbanization at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, has also stated that there is some validity to these criticisms. He points out that the city's road safety infrastructure is still incomplete, and investing in external decorations without investing in the safety of streets with dilapidated subways is problematic. Furthermore, he indicates that painting road and pedestrian infrastructure, which should be white and yellow for clear visibility at night, in purple colors could be dangerous. A major criticism against the mayor is that she did not consult public opinion before making such a sudden change to the appearance of a city with a population of 22 million.

Facing the criticisms, Mayor Clara Brugada remains firm, stating that these criticisms are based on preconceptions or classism. At a ceremony to relaunch a light rail service named 'Axolotl', she declared that if 'Axolotlisation' means coloring gray public spaces, providing services to the people, and transforming public areas, then she agrees to change the city in that way. She had previously served as the local chief in the working-class district of 'Iztapalapa', where she gained public approval for decorating its drab surroundings with colorful murals. Mexico's President and a friend of Brugada, Claudia Sheinbaum, has also come forward to support the mayor. The President stated that every government paints pedestrian bridges and sees no reason to criticize the mayor for choosing lilac to beautify the city.

In light of this situation, there has been significant discussion and dissatisfaction on social media networks. Users point out that despite purple 'axolotl' images being created throughout the city, the real axolotl animal faces the threat of extinction due to pollution and habitat loss. One user posted on 'X' social media, stating that if the mayor truly loves these animals, she should invest in genuinely protecting this endangered species.