Mexican masticators decide - spit or swallow?

Apparently Mexico City’s government is giving up on its efforts to curb kidnappers and murderers and is instead targeting the real criminals: gum chewers.

Now Mexico is responding with innovations ranging from expensive sidewalk steam-cleaners to natural chewing gum that breaks down quickly. It's even telling its citizens (gulp!) to swallow their gum.

The general in the war on discarded chewing gum is Ricardo Jaral, Mexico City's director for conservation of public spaces. He bemoans the blackened gobs that mar the newly restored 700-year-old downtown area and litter the lovely but porous hand-chiseled sidewalks along the city's main boulevard.

He has purchased a fleet of German machines that clean sidewalks with steam and chemicals, and is looking at launching a public-awareness campaign.

Methinks señor Jaral is trying a little too hard to emulate Rudy Giuliani’s campaign against “quality-of-life” crimes during his time as New York City mayor. (Is it no coincidence that Giuliani served years ago as a consultant in a mostly failed attempt to lower crime in the Mexican capital?)

Image- Univision
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, MSNBC, CBS News