I'm not one to write opinion articles, but after reading the latest reflection from the Culture Councilor of the Tías City Council, I think the occasion calls for it, mainly because I believe it's necessary to make a series of clarifications.
The aforementioned councilor didn't much like my public denouncement of the cancellation of the 'Pavonéate' project, something that, according to her, I had planned. False!
This project was born with the idea that it would continue over time or, at least, until the residents decided otherwise. The project was never canceled; what we did was move it from Pavón Square to La Tiñosa due to the high temperatures on Sundays at noon in that square.
Moreover, there were plans to increase the cultural offerings starting in October and to have not one, but two weekly performances: one in Tías, as was initially done, and another in La Tiñosa.
I also reaffirm, although I may be mistaken, that it is a unique project in the Canary Islands. As the councilor very well says, there are many shows of this type, but there isn't one that is held on a specific day of the week, in the same place, and with the same name. Yes, there are, fortunately, many small projects that are held in different towns and cities, although not under the same umbrella.
We continue with the lies, half-truths, or let's call them "x's". The councilor says that she found out about the project's situation almost at the last minute. False! I myself explained to her what it consisted of. Furthermore, I conveyed my desire for her to continue it, given its great acceptance.
Likewise, I told her that I would update her on everything that had been done in recent years; something that I also conveyed to the mayor and his government partners because their success will be mine and that of all our residents. My interest, regardless of who is governing, is to improve the quality of life in Tías and for those who reside in the municipality.
Regarding what she says about the libraries, I won't comment, since if it's as she says and at least one of the two remains open in the afternoon, I'm satisfied. Service is still being provided, and that's what's important.
What's not right, Councilor (or female councilor, whichever you prefer), is to belittle the work of others, and that's what you've done since you arrived; belittling all the work done during the last four years in the area of Culture, implying my limited cultural level and management capacity to lead the Councilorship.
And I'll tell you more. I suppose that all this mess and misinterpretations are due to your inexperience and your recent incorporation into the Public Administration. You don't yet know that, thanks to the state rationalization law, approved by the PP and maintained all this time by the PSOE, it prevents the hiring of personnel who can, for example, attend to the Socio-cultural Centers of the municipality. Even so, work has been done on them.
Regarding the maintenance budgets for the facilities, I recommend that, since you are a lover of reading, you request a complete copy of the municipality's budgets. You will then see that there is a budget item called "Conservation and maintenance of municipal facilities" that depends on the Roads and Works area, which is where the maintenance reports should be forwarded.
You should also know that there are two projects awarded for adapting the Socio-cultural Centers of Masdache and Conil to regulations, which include bathrooms for people with reduced mobility, air conditioning, and all those corrective measures necessary to guarantee safety.
And I don't want to forget, in case you don't already know, that there are currently several projects in the Technical Office, just pending the technical report to proceed with their bidding. I'm talking about the Mácher Socio-cultural Center, the El Fondeadero Civic Center, and the building that houses the Culture Area and the Music School. A building, by the way, from the time of the current mayor's PSOE, in whose construction they forgot all the corrective safety and accessibility measures. But of course, that's something you're not interested in commenting on either.
And there are more projects that were pending the approval of the corresponding expenditure proposal: The La Asomada Socio-cultural Center, the Casa Señó Justo, the theater, and the Pavón Square, which was planned to be converted into an open-air amphitheater.
There are many things in which the councilor has been wrong in her "cultural reflection for the uncultured", but the worst is how she has fallen into insult by suggesting that culture with capital letters 'is not timple, perrero wine, and pejines'.
Sincerely, I don't know if with perrero wine she refers to the artisanal wines made by our grandparents and parents? I don't know, maybe her concept of good wine is a Ribera del Duero or a good Rioja, which are also great, but I prefer a good Malvasia, whether renowned or a good artisanal wine? I must recognize, however, that she has some reason; Canarian culture goes beyond that, and that's why in recent years several festivals that were non-existent in Tías until then have been created and promoted.
I am referring to the Amateur Theater Festival organized by Baltasar de León, which is in its second edition, the Titiritías performing arts Festival, created and directed by the Guayota association (which, by the way, is 90 percent planned and budgeted despite the fact that its third edition will be held in October), or the dynamization activities that are carried out in the socio-cultural centers in the afternoon by the Maramar association, charged to a subsidy, children's dynamization activities such as Active Summer, which is now in its fourth edition and which was also budgeted, as was Active Christmas and Active Holy Week. Programs that help reconcile family and work life during school holidays.
We also recovered the Finaos festival instead of celebrating Halloween, and many other projects in which the Culture Area collaborated, such as the publication of books or the poetry contest, and the activities of all the municipal associations, folklore festivals, Toño rock, collaboration with dance schools, dance, crafts, and a long etc...
And everything has been possible thanks to the work of the Culture staff and the municipal associations, since without their effort and involvement none of this would be a reality.
But in the end, I don't know if I will be able to convince the councilor that we have not harmed culture. Rather, I believe that we have promoted it, within the possibilities and competences that we have had and in the time that 4 years of legislature gives you, which, although they seem many, are short because the projects must be planned in the long term.
Just tell you, Councilor for Culture, that if something they taught me since I was little, it is that respect is very beautiful and that with arrogance and arrogance you do not get very far. I consider you an intelligent and cultured person, but, however, in your literary reflection, you have questioned mine.
Do not forget that this is politics, that beyond all discrepancy, there is friendship and that despite your mistake I will continue to have the same consideration and respect that you deserve.
One more thing that I would like to clarify. When you talk about corrupt and withered parties, perhaps you are unaware of what yours, the PSOE, does. Just remember two recent cases, the EREs of Andalusia, a community in ruins after 30 years of socialist government, or something closer; the ruin of the Tourist Centers of Lanzarote for which the one who was its general secretary on the island is still accused of alleged embezzlement of public funds, recently appointed head of the Presidency Cabinet of the Cabildo of Lanzarote. Or perhaps we could also talk about the ruin of the public company Inalsa? So I imagine that when it comes to talking about corrupt parties, you do it with knowledge of the facts.
Finally, add that I have left my tasks in Culture very calmly seeing that it remains in the hands of a person so prepared for the cultural management of the municipality as you. I would only ask you for one more thing, a detail that may not be important to you: with how rich our vocabulary is, why not leave aside Anglicisms and use that terminology that you master so well?
Ah, and I am not a former councilor or former member of the Council, as you say, but quite the opposite. I am an elected councilor and member of the Council because that is what the residents decided in the last elections. Simply, on this occasion I am not in government work but in the supervision of your work, yours and all the members of your group, and in which I wish you all the luck in the world because, as I said before, your luck will be mine and that of all of us who reside in the municipality of Tías.
Amado Vizcaíno, spokesperson for CC in the Tías City Council
