This is from the poorbuthappy in Colombia newsletter originally from the NY Times:
"Bogotá, the exotic, fog-shrouded capital of Colombia, 8,000 feet
atop the Andes, is changing. In this city of seven million, many
Bogotanos agree, things have never been better. A drop in crime has
left the city safer than Caracas and Rio de Janeiro, and more secure
than Washington and Baltimore.
The economy, though sluggish, is considered Colombia's main engine
for creating jobs. The city's credit rating by Duff & Phelps rose
from A in 1994 to AA+ last year. A three-year, multi-billion dollar
capital improvement program has changed the landscape, refurbishing
877 parks, paving 117 miles of roads, bringing sewage treatment to
415 neighborhoods, and building 22 schools and 21 libraries.
The symbol of the city's transformation has been its new Transmilenio
bus system, which uses specially constructed bus lanes and subway-
like platforms. "Now this city has possibilities!", Edgar SaÃenz, 30,
a designer, said, waiting for a bus. "We can walk downtown without
fear, in a pleasant urban landscape. The capital is an example for
the whole country''. ..."
Looks like some things at least are looking up.
