There are 15 Utopias -- Units for Transformation and Organization for Inclusion and Social Harmony -- in Mexico City’s most populous borough, offering an impressive array of services and amenities, mostly for free. Clara Brugada, former head of Iztapalapa and now Mexico City’s mayor, plans to create more than 100 Utopias across the city once she takes office in October. She sees the Utopias as addressing the root causes of inequality by creating spaces to meet all residents’ needs, providing free workshops, services and activities. Most offer inexpensive food and laundromats, gym classes and music lessons. Each Utopia requires an initial investment of about 100 million pesos (about $5.3 million) and costs about 8.4 million pesos (about $445,000) per year to maintain. Utopia Meyehualco, one of the largest, records 3,500 to 4,000 visitors on any given summer day.

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