Merchants of the large Baratillo flea market held each Sunday in the eastern sector of the metropolitan area make fun of Ismael del Toro at a protest outside City Hall this week, as the city mayor took a leave of absence to run for a second term.
The vendors say the mayor never met with them once during the entire pandemic, even when the market was closed and they and their families were unable to earn a living.
The protesters hold mock-ups of “vouchers” for 800 pesos, adorned with sketches of bulls (toros), representing the only meager financial assistance that they were eligible to receive, although some of the merchants said they never got that handout. The protesters claimed Del Toro, was only interested in supporting the “established” business community experiencing hardships.