Security/Locks

In Buenos Aires, we need a key to open every door from the inside. There are very few homes with a buzzer to let someone in. So when you exit the building, we bring our keys. Any time we have a visitor or delivery man, we use our keys. And many places are gated.

There is a problem here with poverty, a major one. Families live on the streets, fully equipped with mattresses and kitchens. With drugs so prevalent in the street community. There are disturbing crimes.

Over the last 10 years the AR peso went from being equal to the dollar to being 1/3 of what the dollar is worth. From what I have come to understand is that people my age and even younger remember a time when life was much safer. Children used to play on the streets and walk to school less than 20 years ago. It was a grand place to live.

Such a drastic change has brought a lot of confusion. Such poverty has brought desperation and such desperation has brought violence.

When I ask people,“ how do you think this problem could be solved?” They haven’t got a clue. There are some churches that help with food and volunteer organizations that help with education or shelter. But the government is practically ignoring the problem.

Now, the outcome is that the lock and security business is one of the largest industries in Buenos Aires.