Just a year ago, I published my first press article, where I expressed my discomfort with the celebration of massive concerts in such a sensitive space as Reducto beach in Arrecife. A year later, the Arrecife City Council continues to violate its own ordinances.
Again, El Reducto is the epicenter of the patron saint festivities of our municipality, despite being one of the most unique and delicate enclaves on the coast of the Canary Islands.
Unfortunately, the capital of Arrecife does not yet have a suitable space for holding events with large crowds. It is paradoxical that the corporation has spent 6.5 million euros on parties in one year and that not a single euro has been used to improve public infrastructures for holding events and cultural events.
I am referring to public places, since we remember that the current government group spent more than 40,000 euros to condition the Agramar site, a private space used for holding the murgas contests and concerts of the last carnivals of Arrecife.
During the last year, the Arrecife city council has become an authentic event company. The mayor "of the third capital of the Canary Islands" is proud that our municipality is simply a "capital of events."
Meanwhile, Arrecife continues to suffer from the same deficiencies as years ago. Beyond some works and reforms without any kind of criteria, the city of Arrecife has not changed. Millionaire traffic light networks that do not work; works inaugurated but deficient and unfinished; unambitious pedestrianizations; an inefficient public transport; overflowing sanitation networks; absence of urban planning; a historical and cultural heritage that is weakening; a local commerce that is increasingly abandoned; and a long etcetera.
No, this is not about whether or not we should allow the celebration of acts and events. In fact, it must be recognized that cultural and leisure events are necessary for the enjoyment and development of a society. But I cannot understand that the city becomes only an open-air disco, using public money for this, whose management is more than doubtful.
Some justify the expense, but no one explains how a city council can triple the spending on celebrations, according to what was approved in the last municipal budgets. The city council defends its management by publicizing the great dynamization and transformation that the capital is experiencing, yes, without any technical report of economic impact that proves it for the moment.
The municipal corporation is a battlefield, where the different councilorships, governed by different political parties, compete to make the most massive party. Up to five councilorships organize acts and events recklessly. This internal struggle is staged publicly more and more every day.
Meanwhile, the residents of the capital are the big losers. The city council, without any kind of consensus, has made the decision to bother the rest of the residents, violating its own ordinances. And in the meantime, the mayor of this city is dedicated to resolving any neighborhood criticism through disqualifications and lack of respect.
I can boast of having the best parties in history, at the height of "the third capital of the island." But unfortunately I cannot say that Arrecife is up to being the capital of Lanzarote. Let everyone draw their own conclusions.
