The artistic community denounces the critical situation facing the Casa del Actor Mario Moreno; cry out for help so that it does not close its doors
TEXT: CRISTÓBAL SANDOVAL / PHOTOGRAPHS: JOSÉ LUIS RAMOS
About to complete 77 years of service, the House of Actor Mario Moreno “Cantinflas” It is in danger of closing its doors permanently because for more than two years it has not received support from the National Association of Actors (ANDA), apart from maintaining a legal fight against its leader, the actor Jesús Ochoa.
Founded by the legendary comedian, the residence for the elderly has provided shelter for countless celebrities since February 20, 1944, and has been sustained all this time thanks to the contributions of the union that, through their union contributions, provides the funds necessary for its operation.
NeverthelessSince the appointment of Ochoa as leader of the actors, which occurred in 2018, the asylum has not received the agreed amounts, and currently faces a desperate situation that puts at risk not only its permanence, but the physical and emotional well-being of the 38 guests that inhabit it.
Colleagues from the artistic milieu, political parties and even residents of the Mixcoac neighborhood, where the property is located, have come to offer support in kind; However, what they now need is cash to cover the recurring expenses of the property, as well as the salary of the 39 employees who work there.
“IT IS A CRITICAL SITUATION”: JORGE ORTÍZ DE PINEDO
Head of the board of trustees that runs the asylum, Jorge Ortíz de Pinedo explained the current state of finances: “If it weren’t for the fact that we are in a truly critical situation, we would not dare to ask for it, but we need money to be able to pay salaries, employees’ social security, electricity, gas, telephone and all the expenses that the same house requires
“(…) It is important to remind the other actors that their companions are in this place, and ask them not to forget them, because we may all need a refuge in old age; here are elderly artists who worked their whole lives trusting that ANDA would take care of them, something that unfortunately has not happened ”.
Let’s act for those who acted | Save the Actor’s House
For two years, the Executive Committee of ANDA has refused to partially or fully cover its obligation to its retired elderly people who live in LA CASA DEL ACTORhttps://t.co/Yib57bu9js
– JORGE ORTIZDEPINEDO (@JORGEODEPINEDO) January 29, 2021
The residence was able to stay afloat during the pandemic thanks to an emergency fund that they had managed to gather over the years, and what was left of the inheritance that the writer Caridad Bravo Adams bequeathed to it, the house where she spent her last days until his death in 1990.
Unfortunately, it was all over. “The sad thing is that we are going through this situation when the means exist to solve it. The money has always been there, destined for pensions and the house, it is not money from ANDA or Ochoa or mine. These are the funds reserved for the retirement of these actors who have already paid for this right and who are being denied their rights, without thinking about the serious repercussions that this can have (…)
“We do not have a peso in the box and we are very concerned because, if ANDA does not react quickly, we will have to close the house, something that would be terrible for everyone,” said comedian Jorge Ortiz de Pinedo.
“AVERAGE 750 THOUSAND PESOS ARE NEEDED A MONTH”: CARLOS IGNACIO
As Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of the Casa del Actor, the comedian clarified that there have been no financial mismanagements, and assures that Jesús Ochoa has been poorly advised by his group of advisers:
“Unfortunately this problem has been taken personally and there has been no interest in solving it; I do not understand how, by simple humanity, they do not tempt their hearts and start to think that they are playing with the lives of their companions (…) There was a donation recently that allowed us to endure a few more days, but we no longer have wages for February, you can say that we are on the line ”.
How much are the monthly expenses of the house?
It varies a lot, depending on the needs that are had each month with some of the guests, but on average we speak of about 750 thousand pesos per month. Sometimes it can be less and sometimes it can rise up to 900 thousand (…) That is why our call for you to join this initiative called “Let’s act for those who have already acted”, all they can deposit is good, five or 10 pesos are well received and we really need them.
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