{"id":33805,"date":"2016-11-02T11:21:27","date_gmt":"2016-11-02T14:21:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rioonwatch.org\/?p=33805"},"modified":"2016-11-06T09:35:44","modified_gmt":"2016-11-06T12:35:44","slug":"favelas-in-the-news-october-2016-digest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=33805","title":{"rendered":"Favelas In the News: October 2016 Digest"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

To help our readers digest the major news\u00a0and themes of the past month, we\u2019ve summarized the stories we published here on RioOnWatch<\/em> along with a few other must-reads in the media on favelas. Access past\u00a0monthly summaries\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0and full digests here<\/a>.<\/h4>\n

October Highlight: Rio’s Municipal Elections<\/h3>\n

October 2016 arrived in Rio flanked by the city\u2019s mayoral elections<\/a>, with the first and second rounds respectively taking place on October 2 and October 30. RioOnWatch<\/em> kicked off the month by examining favela residents\u2019 attitudes<\/a> towards vastly different policies proposed by the 11 candidates competing in the first round. We then published, just before the final round of voting, a similar examination of favela residents’ attitudes towards the two final candidates<\/a> participating in the runoff vote.<\/p>\n

Rio\u2019s final two candidates stood in stark contrast to one another: conservative bishop and PRB candidate Marcelo Crivella<\/a>, with the support of the evangelical church and the militia, avoided public appearances, media attention and debates. Crivella\u2019s policy proposals total at eight pages and his campaign was marred by numerous scandals<\/a> and accusations of corruption. He proposed combating effects of Brazil\u2019s economic crisis in Rio by cutting the number of government departments\u2013which research shows could do greater harm<\/a> to the city\u2019s residents. By contrast, human rights defender\u00a0and PSOL candidate Marcelo Freixo<\/a>, best known for his investigations into links between Rio\u2019s militia and its government, campaigned throughout the city, including in the favelas. Freixo\u2019s past work, such as ensuring human rights for prison inmates, led to discussion of popular misinterpretations of human rights<\/a> definitions in Brazil. Freixo\u2019s campaign platform was a 70-page policy proposal document based on feedback gained in 18 months\u2019 worth of focus groups and research<\/a> with Rio\u2019s diverse demographic and geographic needs.<\/p>\n

\"Crivella<\/a><\/p>\n

Crivella\u2019s 59.4% win<\/a> in the elections at the\u00a0weekend saw Rio de Janeiro participate in a national\u00a0backlash against the country\u2019s two biggest political parties<\/a>, Lula and Dilma\u2019s Workers Party (PT) and outgoing mayor Eduardo Paes\u2019 Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB). Despite Crivella\u2019s win, the 2016 mayoral election presents a questionable victory<\/a>: half of the 2016 mayoral election\u00a0arrests for electoral crime took place in Rio de Janeiro, and 45% of the city chose to spoil their ballots<\/a> or declined to show up at voting stations. Progress may not be as rapid as the city\u2019s inhabitants hope, with post-election analyses saying that results are indicative of ever-growing inequalities<\/a> in the city.<\/p>\n

Rio\u2019s new city councillors were also elected<\/a> on October 2, with the appointments of two favela-born candidates, Marielle Franco<\/a> and David Miranda renowned for advocating black, women\u2019s, LGBT and peripheral rights. Indiana Siquiera<\/a> also became the first trans woman close to achieving public office in Rio, winning enough votes to become a substitute city councillor.<\/p>\n

Olympic Legacy and Human Rights Violations<\/h3>\n

The municipal elections also served as a first taster of how residents feel about Rio\u2019s Olympic legacy<\/a>, with voters not even selecting\u00a0the candidate from the political party responsible for preparing the city for the Games to the\u00a0second round of voting. Prostitution Policy Watch also provided another perspective on the Olympic legacy through its analysis of Games\u2019 impact on the sex industry<\/a> in Rio.<\/p>\n

\"Horto<\/a><\/p>\n

In between election fanfare, October saw further housing violations take place: one family in Horto became the first to receive an eviction notice<\/a>\u00a0in the lush and peaceful, bicentennial community. In Complexo do Alem\u00e3o, two community journalists were arrested while documenting<\/a> the forced eviction and demolition of approximately 200 homes<\/a> in Favela da Skol. Long-time residents in Tijuca Forest National Park, already without electricity in their homes, have received written notices demanding<\/a> their departure, but have yet to receive\u00a0offers of alternative housing or compensation. For The New York Times<\/em>, photographer Peter Bauza shared images on\u00a0A\u00a0Vibrant Life Amid The Ruins of Rio<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Public security in Rio continued to prove a concern<\/a>, as State Security Chief Jos\u00e9 Mariano Beltrame, responsible for the introduction and implementation of the Pacifying Police Unit (UPP) program in the city\u2019s favelas, announced his resignation<\/a>. The UPP program’s reputation began declining in 2013 when pacification police in Rocinha tortured bricklayer Amarildo, the subject of new film\u00a0In the Shadow of the Hill<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, reports said crime continued to grow in Rio<\/a> but that police operations continued to cause unacceptable levels of collateral damage, as well as serious psychological damage<\/a> for residents living in war-like conditions. Attempts to tackle police violence and corruption continue in Rio state, with two officers charged<\/a> with the murder of a youth in Paraty.<\/p>\n

In this moment of post-Olympic reflection, Juliana Barbassa contributed an excellent multimedia report\u00a0with Americas Quarterly<\/em>\u00a0What Went Wrong in Rio’s Favelas?<\/a>:<\/p>\n