Excerpt from your post:
...."While there remain some complicated matters to resolve, I believe many if not most of Zihuatanejo's downtown residents have noticed a sea change with the arrival of the new administration. Not only are things getting done that went mostly unattended in previous administrations, but they are getting done with care."........

I have also perceived that, at the least, your new administration is most definitely "on-the-job" and tackling problems as well as they are able, that "went mostly unattended in previous administrations".
El Lic. Jorge Sánchez appears to be well organized and is ambitious in attending his job.

Though for example:
At el Zócalo (aka La Cancha) there are a few bench seats that are in dilapidated condition (green metallic ones & a few others) that have been like that for several YEARS and should have already been either repaired or replaced by this time, some 3 months now into the new administration.
To have those "furnishings" in a popular centrally located spot in an international 1st (or close to) class tourist destination, I.M.O., leaves a bad image, shows neglect by the local authorities, and is just plain unacceptable.
Paying attention to details, however minor they may be, reflects being attentive & responsible.

I have already suggested to the Gobierno de Zihuatanejo via their FB publications, that they replace those with bench seats similar to the new ones shown in a few of your photos of the newly constructed seaside path en route to la playa de La Madera.

Besides that, there are obvious "pie-in-your-face" situations of IMPUNITY, ILLEGALITY & what appears to be CORRUPTION going on, which as you know, that I am not in favor of and just doesn't sit well with me. I won't go into details here, though.
There are many who are able to tolerate or ignore those issues, but I am not one of them.

When the people feel things are getting done in their community, it really makes a difference in their attitude. So many times it stays the same. When we moved to Mount Sterling in 1999, there was a election for the mayor. Most of the people were happy because the Good Old Network was defeated. The sad thing was another Good Old Boy Network took over and there was no change except the people in charge. Now we have a new younger person elected that was a member of the city council and is a Vet. We have hope that things get better(Mount Sterling is a wonderful little historic town East of Lexington). We all have hope. I can remember when we first started going to "Z" in 1999. There have been so many changes since then. I wish the new mayor is what "Z" needed. I can remember walking from the train to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and seeing how many workers there would be to just change a light bulb and a driver sitting in the truck. It's the same way no matter where we live- it takes the people getting tired of whats going on to make changes at the ballot box hoping they voted for the right person. Jan 12th will start our annual 4 week stay by spending our first week at Villa Mercedes. We love getting up and doing our morning walk and just taking in the ambiance of "Z" and greeting our friends we have made over the years as we walk by their restaurants. Kathie and I are so lucky we found our Utopia we visit every year (hard to believe it will be 20 years in January when we did a Apple Vacation tour staying at The Dorado and falling in love with the area).

What a beautiful and thoughtful comment, Paul. You do indeed go from one paradise to another. I love that region of Kentucky. Still have family and friends in Lawrenceburg, just west of Lexington. They love it there.

Thanks, Paul!

On our walk this morning we were quite pleased to see La Marina had stationed troops in strategic places along the waterfront and elsewhere downtown. Historically the Sector Naval has been the branch of the military we trust and respect the most in Zihuatanejo. Today we were heaping praise upon them for their vigilance, their dedication, their professionalism, and for their presence.

Since yesterday morning there has been pretty much a non-stop stream of people arriving in Zihuatanejo. Not as many people as we used to get around 20 or so years ago, but quite a lot of mostly families, nonetheless. Unfortunately we are still seeing too many tourists who lack the purchasing power of the tourists we used to receive, so even with the increased crowds most of us aren't seeing an increase in sales. But hopefully if the new administration can bring Zihuatanejo back under its control, the word will get out we will an enjoy a corresponding increase in prosperity. ¡Ya nos toca!

Lots of folks were out at dawn taking photos of themselves with the sunrise.

Simply a beautiful morning on the beach. Even our neighbor's kitty was enjoying the view... or hunting birds.

Things were a bit slow in the fishermen's area of the downtown beach since not all the fishermen went out last night, but the seabirds were still attentive anyway.