Live from New York, it’s Friday again!

That’s right, I’m still here.

Which is not the same I can say about you, since Argentina (and Buenos Aires in particular) is up in flames. Or at least that’s what it looks like according to the media, which in an ironic twist of fate, I’m apparently part of.

But I think I finally get you. It’s hard to follow what happens in the country when you’re abroad. Because:

• If you read the anti-Government media, the country looks like this.
• If you read the pro-Government media, the country looks like this.
• If you read the objective media, you’re lying because it doesn’t exist.

City judge Patricia López Vergara has ordered to suspend the construction of the capital’s new civic centre in Barracas. Her grounds were threefold: the land’s status as a historical monument, the possible presence of unexplored urban archaeology sites, and a lack of any environmental impact studies.

The projects, slated to eventually house the many of city’s executive offices, border the grounds of the J.T. Borda Mental Hospital, a neuropsychiatry facility. Unionists originally made claims via the public defender to stop construction. “[Mayor Mauricio Macri and his officials] lacked the competence to deliver the acts they issued, published, and executed, without the previous intervention of different organisations and areas that are in charge of applying protection norms.”

In response, Macri claimed, “The terrain that we are going to use is the city’s terrain, not Borda’s. It adjoins Borda, but it is not Borda’s.”

The area was declared a historical monument in 1999 by a national decree, which stated that any alteration would require the National Museum Commission’s approval.

Suspected archaeological ruins include tunnels, basements, and passageways that connect Borda Hospital to the Braulio Moyano Hospital. The tender agreement obligates construction contractors to protect and turn in all objects of scientific or historic value. “This clause constitutes recognition of the area’s historic value,” says general defence lawyer Andrés Gallardo

The government’s decision to compile their environmental impact study simultaneously with the tender process “allows them to cloak serious doubts about the eventual true effectiveness of environmental protection,” stated the public defender’s office.

Borda Hospital workers have protested the planned Civic Centre since its proposal and at times have succeeded in impeding progress.

The plan, introduced in September of 2011, proposes to move the Mayor’s offices, the City Secretary General, and the Housing, Public Space, Education, and Social Development Ministries (4,500 employees in total) out of the city centre. The move would bring economic development to the south of the city, according to government officials. Projects were contracted at a tender of almost $370m to a temporary corporate partnership between Teximco SA, EMA SA, and DAL Constructions SA. The 50,000 square meter campus was scheduled for completion in 2015.

On Tuesday, Buenos Aires mayor Mauricio Macri gave Javier Ibáñez direction of Teatro Colón’s human and financial resources. Ibáñez is currently the Executive Director of the Government Control Agency (AGC); under his direction, the agency has seen ten fatalities, 99 injuries, and $100m in damages over the course of 24 demolition projects. Ibáñez, an executive for the B-league football team Atlanta, was also involved in a scandal last March in which he was recorded attacking a fan of a rival team by whipping him with his belt.

The fatal incidents mostly include construction workplace accidents. Also among them are the cases of a pedestrian hit with a falling flagstone and two women killed when the mezzanine floor in a nightclub caved.

Among the AGC’s various responsibilities is the inspection of “the functioning and security of public and private construction projects, whether they be new or refurbishment, installation, or maintenance-related in the city.”

The Teatro Colón, located in the centre of Buenos Aires, has been a landmark of Argentine culture since 1908. The theatre currently hosts ballet, opera, and classical music stars from around the world, and it is run by the city government. Artistic direction will remain in the hands of Pedro García Caffi.

Former military officer and Malvinas war veteran Juan José Gómez Centurión, introduced yesterday to the AGC, will replace Ibáñez as executive director.

Treasury Minister for the Buenos Aires Néstor Grindetti announced this morning that the city’s 2013 budget will not include subsidies for the capital’s subway system (“the Subte”).

The news comes just ten days after a similar announcement from the national government stating that it will not dedicate funds to Subte subsidies in its 2013 budget either.

Grindetti explained that the city is not bound by any formal obligation to provide funding for the system. Furthermore, “we don’t have any motivation for incorporating that budget item,” he continued.

To questions regarding the possibility of an increase in fare, Grindetti responded, “the federal government will have to decide that.” Authority over the Subte has been in question—and controversy—since January when the state and city began planning a transfer of control. Conflict over each party’s ability to fund the system has significantly hindered management ever since.

During the initial transfer process in January, the federal government decided to retract funding that had been supporting 50% of the Subte’s operating costs, a move that saved the government $60m monthly. Upon assuming management of the system, Buenos Aires chose to raise the $1.10 fare by 127% to its current price, $2.50.

Without Buenos Aires’ supplementary $30m per month, the transportation company Metrovías will have to find another way to finance the subterranean system. Speculations on price increases suggest a $3.90 fare, though those calculations do not take into account inflation nor wage hikes. Mayor Mauricio Macri has been quoted last month as claiming that a trip on the Subte should cost $5.50.

Any changes in fare are likely to occur at the beginning of the year, when the new budget takes affect.

Today at 8:30am, six teachers were received for their return to school after being suspended and charged by the city government.

The educational professionals from Monte Castro school were suspended from work in response to a parody of the education system using Mayor Mauricio Macri and education minister, Esteban Bullrich, as characters in a video that they released last May. The parody was released as a response to the government’s decision to close schools and cut 221 degrees from the curriculum.

The video sparked controversy from the city and national government officials as they called it “demoralising”.

Government officials expressed the desire to press charges as the teachers had violated a code of conduct. After this decision was made, teachers city-wide went on a 24-hour strike.

The head of the UTE-Ctera teacher’s union, Eduardo López, said that the suspensions that were called on by the mayor were a form of persecution and punishment for “thinking differently”.

During today’s press conference that included the education professionals, the people were assured that the teachers will continue to teach with “plurality and diversity”.

“We teach to think and not to obey,” said López.

López also added that they will not let the city mayor use this form of stigmitisation and persecution, saying that public schools are to teach freedom, peace and democracy.

The principal of the Monte Castro school was grateful, saying that the decision to let the teachers return meant that justice was done.

The head of the government of the city of Buenos Aires, Mauricio Macri, announced today that some public libraries will now have access to free Wi-Fi.

The plan, which was developed jointly by the Ministry of Modernization and the Ministry of Culture, will include 16 new libraries where people can go to surf the web for free.

“Today we are taking another step forward in our plan for free Wi-Fi connectivity in public spaces. This is a step towards an intelligent city that not only provides solutions that are open, but also helps to reduce the digital divide because of what will be free internet connection access points in all districts of the city,” said head of the Ministry of Modernization, Andrés Ibarra.

The initiative is part of the government’s plan to promote reading by being able to download books online and in general perform research. Their goal is also to provide open spaces where culture and complementary technology can come together.

It also offers a cheaper option then having to pay for food at a café or restaurant in order to use their Wi-Fi.

The connection system was developed by the Agency of Systems Information (ASI) and the Ministry of Modernization and offers free Wi-Fi 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The system has grown to include more than 90 access points across 15 neighbourhoods in the city of Buenos Aires. The government hopes to connect 200 more public spaces in 2013.

The head of the union for subte workers, Roberto Pianelli, expressed his frustration towards the city mayor, Mauricio Macri, as the transit strike continues into its eighth day with no sign of returning to work.

Today, Pianelli accused Macri of being “completely crazy” as the city mayor said that he wished to increase the subte transit fare to $5.50 and allegedly had a secret meeting in the Casa Rosada about putting an end to the strike.

Pianelli responded by saying that he believed they would consider re-opening the lines tonight, but after finding out about Macri’s actions, the leader of the subte union finds it difficult to see it happening.

Yesterday, Macri said that the strike was purely political and that the workers were siding with the current national government, calling the prolonged halt a “creation of kirchnerism”.

Thursday, Pianelli met with various government officials including cabinet chief, Juan Manuel Abal Medina, the minister of Labour, Carlos Tomada, the secretary general of the president, Oscar Parrilli, and deputy of the Frente para la Victoria, Andres Larroque in an attempt to reach an agreement. Pianelli has denied meeting with the minister of the Interior and Transportation, Florencio Randazzo.

Despite increasing tensions between the all sides, the subte remains out of order.

Metrovías today announced a 20 train reduction to the subte network, prompting new calls from the national government for an agreement on the long term contract. Interior and transport minister Florencio Randazzo delivered a press conference today at midday to call for Buenos Aires city mayor Mauricio Macri to take responsibility for the subte. The national and city government signed an agreement on the 3^rd January which Marci continues to dispute.

Metrovías have announced the decision to withdraw 20 train coaches from the six line subte network as well as other reductions to the Premetro lines. The company has announced cuts to the service claiming they do not have enough money to cover maintenance on all lines.

“In light of the irresponsibility of Metrovías in failing to deliver an effective and adequate service appropriate to the thousands of people that use it, we feel obligated to speak out because this is something that affects us directly,” confirmed a spokesperson from the union of subte and premetro workers (AGTSyP).

The union has called a state of emergency and declared its readiness to strike.

The national and city governments have failed to reach an agreement on who will manage the service. On the 3^rd January a contract was signed to hand over power to the city government. With this, Macri accepted a reduction in national subsidies for an increase in economic control. However he now denies the validity of this contract and is refusing to acknowledge an agreement.

Randazzo said this morning that the national government has already handed money over to the city government accounts and upheld their side of the deal Macri continues to dispute.

“$210 million have already been transferred [to the city]” said Randazzo, on the transfer of the contract from the national to the city government. “$102 million are for operational expenses, and $108 million for maintenance and investment”.

Issues with the subte have been a source of constant tension between the national and city government since privatisation in 1994. In January of this year, Buenos Aires city mayor, Mauricio Macri signed an agreement to return the contract to city control. The handover meant a drastic reduction in subsidy levels given by the national government, for which Macri was compensated with the final say in all economic issues.

Problems came to a head on with the tragic February Once train crash. Macri immediately denied his desire to take over the network and problems with consistent lack of investment and long term management continue.

“The subte is the responsibility of the city government” said Randazzo earlier today.

This morning, Mayor of the City of Buenos Aires, Mauricio Macri welcomed the arrival of the Greenpeace ship “Rainbow Warrior” to Argentina, which came to Buenos Aires to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Greenpeace in the country.

The environmental group warmly received the leader, but also implored him to enforce the Zero Waste Act, which was a 2005 law introduced by city council that aimed to reduce the volume of solid waste in landfills.

According to an article posted on the website of Greenpeace, activists of the organisation showed Macri waste separation bins and reminded him of the city’s obligation to recycle and reduce the waste that fills the CEAMSE landfill in Buenos Aires. The article also statedthat the group expressed alarm about the environmental debt of the Government of the City and noted that garbage is one of the most important structural problems in the city as 60,000 tonnes of waste are sent to landfills everyday.

In celebration of the Silver Jubilee, the organisation has increased its lobbying efforts in an attempt to improve the country’s environmental situation.

Judge Norberto Oyarbide closed the investigation stage of the case, which implicates Buenos Aires Mayor, Mauricio Macri in an illegal wiretapping ring.

The wiretapping scandal first came to light in December 2009 when Judge Oyarbide began investigating the alleged spy network, which had been tapping the phones of various social leaders, politicians, and trade unions.

Macri was prosecuted in connection with the wiretapping scandal on May 14, 2010; until then the case has been under investigation.

This morning’s decision by Judge Oyarbide closes the first stage of investigation and advances the trial to the next stage.

Counsel Luis Conde announced the current defendants in this case as “Ciro Gerard James, Diego Gaston Save, Raul Alberto Rojas, Ruben Alberto Quintana, David Santiago Amaral, Antonio Cesar Fernandez, Monica Elizabeth Gonzalez, Jose Luis Rey, Jorge Alberto Palacios, Mauritius Macri and Mariano Narodowsky.” This list includes the former Metropolitan Police Chief and a former Education Minister.

This announcement comes only a day after Judge Oyarbide ordered the arrest of Madres de Plaza de Mayo manager Sergio Schoklender as well as Schoklender’s brother, Pablo, and Alejandro Gotkin, the former accountant of the organization.

Macri continues to maintain his innocence in the case and has been outspoken in his insistence of it being a direct attack against him from the national government.