Alahuela

Alahuela, officially the  City of Alahuela, is the federal and seat of government of Cartadania. The city is located at the coastal border of Alexandria and Verona in the country's Luson region. It was founded on 17 April 1710, to serve as the new national capital, returning the former capital city, Meridia, to the state of Alexandria. The city forms the core of the National Metro area, along with four counties from the state of Alexandria and three from Verona. The Constitution of Cartadania authorized the establishment of a capital city under the sole jurisdiction of the federal government. Alahuela is therefore not a part of any state, but an independent city of Cartadania.

As the seat of the Federal government of Cartadania, Alahuela is home to many important institutions of the federal government, national monuments, and museums. This includes the Cartadanian Capitol, the Supreme Court of Cartadania, the Presidential Estate and the headquarters of numerous government agencies. It is the location of many social and cultural institutions of national significance such as the Cartadanian War Memorial, the Erudite University of Alahuela, the Casa da Moeda (Cartadania's Mint), the National Gallery, the National Museum, and the Library of Cartadania. The city is home to many important institutions of the Cartadanian Armed Forces, however most of its operations are centered in Fortaleza, which is across the Mendes River in LaMarque. It hosts many of the foreign embassies in Cartadania, of which Alahuela hosts 26 and numerous consulates, as well as regional headquarters of many international organisations, not-for-profit groups, lobbying groups and professional associations. All three branches of Cartadania's federal government are centered in the city: executive, legislative, and judiciary.

The 2030 population for the city proper was 1,970,183 across a land area of 1010.1 km2. According to the most recent definition agreed upon by the federal and state governments, the population of Greater Alahuela, better known as the National Metro area, is 10,883,207, which makes it the sixteenth-largest metropolitan area in the world, the third-largest urban agglomeration in Sarpedon behind Venceia and the Palm Coast. The National Metro has a GDP of $805 billion in 2028, which makes it one of the most productive urban areas in the world. The city was responsible for generating 0.5% of Cartadania's GDP, and the metropolitan area accounted for about 2.95% of the country's GDP, miniscule in terms of Sarpedon's largest metro areas, but large in terms of city's in general.

After years of demanding greater political autonomy, residents were finally given the right to elect both a head of government and the representatives of the bicameral Legislative Assembly by election in 2007. Ever since, left-wing parties (socialdemocracia and its coalition parties) have controlled both of them. On 30 March 2024, it ceased to be the Federal District ( or D.F.) and is now officially known as Cidade de Alahuela, with a greater degree of autonomy. A clause in the Constitution of Cartadania, however, prevents it from becoming a state within Cartadania, as it is the seat of power in the country, unless the capital of the country were to be relocated elsewhere.

History
Alahuela has served as the de facto capital of Cartadania since April of 1710 and the de jure capital since October 30, 1710. The city was formed from the land of Aralina County ceded by the state of Alexandria in 1709. The federal government initially returned a large portion of the land back to Alexandria, stating that the land area it had been granted was "far too much", but after six months of delegation and planning for the future of the national capital, the Senate and House of Representatives accepted all of 1,010 kilometers of Aralina County. Though not as apparent in the early 18th century when the then-county only registered 200,000 citizens, the now-district has swelled to 2 million residents in 2020, pushing the city's density to 1,950.5 people per square kilometer (5,051.8 people per mi2), well beyond what the 1st National Congress had predicted.

Background
Alahuela, as a city, was originally planned to be constructed further west, between the states of Alexandria and Venice. Prior to the decision to construct a new capital city, Cartadania's capital was the city of Alexandria on the island of Graciosa, which has since been ceded to the state of San Rícardo. The decision to abandon that location came when the importance of maritime travel was truly recognized by the federal government, which would lead to the search for a more opportune location. Before the city was to be planned as an independent city, options came up to make Sierra, which is the most populous city in the country with 8 million residents, the capital of Cartadania, but this idea was ultimately abandoned due to population concerns and the oversight of Verona's government on the city. This latter fear also ended the possibility of making Calaine, the capital of Alexandria, the capital of Cartadania. Consequently, the federal government would unsurprisingly decide to create a special district, equal to the states, where the nation's capital would lie.

Construction
Beginning in August of 1709, the state of Alexandria allocated 1,010km2 from then-Aralina County to be used by the federal government to construct a national capital. The state, along with the Commonwealth of Verona, assisted the federal government in constructing the city. The city was to be divided into six districts that would serve as sub-units of the district. From there, each entity (Alexandria, Verona, and the Federal Government) went about building two districts each, following a general plan drafted by Congress. The decision to do so has even gone so far as to be reflected in the city's architectural layout.

On October 10, 1715, the Cartadanian federal government, under the oversight of the President Iohannes Lucio, officially cut the ribbon to the city. Throughout the six years it took to get the federal city officially laid out and "online", the original Presidential Campus, Congress, and Supreme Court buildings were constructed.

Alahuela's first governor, Calidorus Vespillo, authorized large-scale projects that greatly modernized the City of Alahuela during the 1850s, but ultimately went so far as to bankrupt the district's government. In 1874, Congress replaced the territorial government with an appointed three-member Board of Commissioners.

Alahuela's urban plan of the 1870s was further expanded throughout the district in the following decades. The Riso district's street grid and other administrative details were formally merged to those of the new City of Alahuela in 1895. However, the city had poor housing conditions and strained public works. The district was one of the first cities in the nation to undergo urban renewal projects as part of the "City Beautiful movement" in the early 1900s.

The Second Great War sparked further development in and migration to the city, causing the city's population to explode to nearly 1 million residents. Because of the proximity to Alahuela, Verona's Cara County also exploded in population, far-overtaking the national capital in population and development. On the other side of the district, Rieti County in Alexandria also saw a very large increase in development and population relative to the national capital. These counties serve as the homes for many of the people who work in the national capital and the nearly seamless border between the localities of the National Metro area makes the even more apparent.

Twenty-first century
Today, Alahuela is a very affluent and global city.

Climate
Alahuela has a year-round hot trade-wind tropical rainforest climate (Af). Relative humidity fluctuates throughout the year with the highest occurring in May, June, August and December–January; these months are usually the rainiest part of the year. Between the months of September to November relative humidity is lower ushering in the drier season. Alahuela does not have a true dry season as monthly precipitation in all 12 months is above 72 mm, but the city does experience noticeably wetter and drier periods during the year. The northern hemisphere “autumn” (September through November) is the driest period of the year in Alahuela, and the heaviest rainfall occurs from April to July. Common to many cities with this climate, temperatures are relatively consistent throughout the course of the year, with average high temperatures of 31 C and average low temperatures of 22 C. Because of its location, Alahuela's temperatures are moderated by the North-East trade winds blowing in from the Odoneru, so it rarely sees temperatures outside these limits.

Districts
Alahuela is divided into nine districts, each with its own councilmember and development standards. Each district has an original documented purpose in the city charter (e.g., Giulia as seat of government, Orilencia as a residential district), but due to changes within the management of city services and zoning, each district is more or less general/mixed-use. The districts are as follows:
 * Aceliari (9) is the westernmost district of the city, and with 89,204 residents, it is 94% residential. A bedroom community, the vast majority of its residents commute towards the coast or into neighboring Alexandria and Verona. It is one of only two majority suburban areas within the city.


 * Águasmaresias (1), commonly shortened to just Águas, is one of Alahuela's most notable districts, home to major hotels, high-rises, and the majority of the city's public beaches. With 275,846 residents as of 2030, Águas is often associated with the affluent community within the city, often earning the title "Rich kids playground". Though officially noted as the city's "high-end tourism" district, it is, in fact, 60% residential. It is home to many of the city's high-rise office space outside of Giulia and has large-scale transit integration with a focus around walkability.


 * Giulia (2), with 449,502 residents, is the most populace district and the seat of Cartadania's federal government, as well as the city's government. It is commonly associated with the government and many of its residents are federal employees. It is home to the Cartadanian Capitol as well as many institutions of high prestige, such as the Erudite University of Alahuela. Despite its direct association with- and hosting of the federal government, Giulia is often overshadowed by its coastal neighbor districts, while its importance as the true seat of government is often overshadowed by the city of Alahuela at-large.


 * Lourorica (8) is the city's southern most district and the other district with a primary focus in tourism. Home to a theme park, multiple venues, and a large shopping district, it sits in direct parallel with Águasmaresias, though it isn't usually associated with the upperclass. Its population of 129,215 residents are often commuters, though many of them run local shops or work within the tourism sector.


 * Mira (7) represents the city's true commercial district, home some of its industrial infrastructure, its big box stores, as well as most of the city's utilities. Home to 142,988	residents, it is the seventh-most populous (or third-least populous) district within the city.


 * Orilencia (4) is largest district in the city by area, nearly larger than the next two largest districts, combined. It is home to 161,369 people, many of whom have actual detached single family homes. Its primary purpose is to carry residential demand and is one of the few places in Alahuela where residents commonly have yard space. Orilencia is crossed by Alahuela-Siqueira International Airport, the city's primary airport and the only one located within the city limits.


 * Riso (6), formed from portions of Santa Lucía and Mira, is the youngest district in Alahuela, but also the second-most populous, with 385,136	residents as of the 2030 census. As a result of city reforms to district purposing, Riso has no distinct purpose, and was created purely to relieve strain on the original districts' local leaders. Here, some of the newest homes and apartment buildings can be found, often connected to or very near to amenities like grocery stores.


 * Santa Lucía (5), often called the "Heart of the City", is the most centrally located district in Alahuela, and the only other district in the city (other than Giulia) to not border Alexandria or Verona. While Giulia is widely know as the seat of the city and federal governments, Santa Lucía is home to many of the executive departments, such as the Department of Transportation. With 175,210 residents, the majority of them are employees to the departments and agencies headquartered within the district. Santa Lucía, along with Riso, is a spillover district for Erudite, although the campus is primarily in Giulia.


 * Tarracante (3) is the city's final district and the other district located along the coast. Home to 161,713 residents, it is a full residential district with some grocery stores and fuel stations located within its boundaries. It has the most expensive single-family homes within the city, especially along its coast, where homes on average cost over €2 million.

Outside of its districts, Alahuela is divided into some 200 neighborhoods. The city also has a vast network of parks and green spaces, in spite of having a population nearing 2 million. Strict guidelines mandate the amount of greenspace per square meter of surface-level concrete in the city to combat the urban heat island effect, thus there is a lot of greenery within the city limits as well.

Government and politics
The City of Alahuela officially sits within the district of the same name, which serves as an equivalency to the 31 states. Therefore, Alahuela is considered by many to be a state. It is officially, however, an independent city of Cartadania. Nevertheless, the city possess much the same power as the states that neighbor it and Alahuela has an equal power in Cartadania's legislature. The federal government allocates three senators and three representatives to the city so that it's residents may have the power to affect federal elections. The city's government functions in much the same way a state would, being divided into eight districts with it's seat of government being located in the Colina de Prado barrio of the Giulia district.

Similarly to the city's government, the seat of the federal government is also located in the Colina de Prado barrio of Giulia. City hall is a block away from the Capitol Building where Congress meets. Alahuela being a directly controlled city of Congress via a special council, which in turn acts as a state legislature for Alahuela in place of it's own citywide legislature, this proximity has historically made communication between the two very convenient.

Alahuela has a two-tier city judiciary–the lower-level District Court, and the upper-level Court of Appeals, both housed within the Alahuela Superior Court building. Cases appealed beyond the Alahuela Court of Appeals go to the Cartadanian First Circuit Courthouse, located in LaMarque, Verona. Though Congress does retain control over the city, the city is primarily administered through its local government rather than the Alahuela Capital Authority, which is the arm of Congress that oversees the city. ACA stands primarily to make sure things run smoothly within the city and authorizes interstate legislation within the city, such as the Capital Area Metro Authority, which operates buses in the city, as well as the surrounding metro area counties in both Verona and Alexandria.

Alahuela's government is primarily dominated by the Social Democracy Party, as area much of the more populated and urbanized areas of Cartadania. Nonetheless, once approximately every four to six years, one of its representative seats flips to a United Conservative Party member, and once every twelve to sixteen years, it is UCP dominated.

All civilian police duties and services in the city are handled by Alahuela Metropolitan Police Department, which has authority from federal, state, and local equivalencies. While Cartadania itself has no federal civilian police department, the various agencies (e.g., the Department of Justice) work with AMPD on various tasks, and its not uncommon to see various agencies' officers at crime scenes.

Education
The school district responsible for education in Alahuela, City of Alahuela Public Schools (CAPS), operates the city's 215 public schools and enrolls 233,086 students as of 2022. There are 25 high schools, 26 middle schools, 160 elementary schools, and 4 alternative education campuses. The district has an annual operating budget of €5.3 billion, spending about €22,737 per student.

The District is also home to 92 private schools, which enrolled approximately 18,000 students in 2010. The Alahuela Public Library operates 25 neighborhood locations including the landmark Corsetti Memorial Library.

Private universities include Alahuela University (AU), the Catholic University of Cartadania (UCC), Gordon University, Hartford University (HU), Piguet University. The Crelo College of Art and Design provides specialized arts instruction and other higher-education institutions offer continuing, distance and adult education. The Erudite University of Alahuela (EUA), EUA's School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and the Giulia Capital Institute (GCI) are the public universities providing undergraduate and graduate education to Alahuela residents, all located within District 6 (Giulia). Alahuela residents are eligible for a grant of up to €12,000 per year to offset the cost of tuition at any public university in the country, although with the creation of HREB's SmartOne policy, students in Alahuela can attend any public university in Alexandria, Roma Alta, Roma Sur, Santiago, Trentino, Victoria, Verona, or the city of Alahuela itself tuition-free.

The city is known for its medical research institutions such as Alahuela Hospital Center and the Children's National Medical Center, as well as the National Institutes of Health in LaMarque, Verona. In addition, the city is home to three medical schools and associated teaching hospitals at Erudite, GCI, and Gordon universities.

Utilities
The Alahuela-National metropolitan area was formerly served by multiple utility companies, mostly based in Verona, but in an effort to unify the state's powergrid, the state public utility commission inadvertently created a mononopoly on power for Meridian Energy. Around this time period, the electric utility agreement with Southern Alexandria Power was expiring, thus Alahuela's government established the Mendes Electric Power Company (, or CEEM) to provide power to the city. Water continues to be provided by the Public Utilities Commission, most of which is pumped from and treated in Verona, though a small amount of groundwater is still pumped in the city's Aceliari district. Although Verona has always been the water provider for the city, Alahuela was never subject to Western Verona's Even-Odd rule during the 1980s and early 1990s, that is, the city was never restricted with regards to water distribution and usage.

Natural gas in the region is provided by Marín-Helius and Attalus Natural Gas. While Verona Natural Gas is the provider for the extreme southwestern portions of the city, about 175,000 people, the vast majority of the metro area is served by Marín-Helius. It distributes natural gas via pipeline to nearly 8 million residential, commercial, and industrial natural gas users in the metro area.

cable service was historically provided in region by Amplus and Azura Communications, though has been phased out citywide in favor of   in the FTTP format, primarily provided by Axiom, as well as a few other small providers. All companies provide home-phone service in the region. In addition to Amplus, Axiom, and Azura, there are several other smaller companies that provide local service via satellite and other medium.

The city collects refuse primarily via its Department of Public Works, although National Waste Solutions is the largest private company to do so, also providing services in the areas that have their own trash service outside of Alahuela proper. Due to sanitation guidelines in the region, there are only two landfills in the metro area (southeastern Cara County in Verona and western Rieti County in Alexandria), and most trash is transferred via station to landfills and processing facilities in Glade County.