In recent months, the residents of the center of Arrecife have witnessed a transformation of our city. Every weekend, Reducto beach becomes the stage for some new event: from the April Fair to the eighties party, San Juan or the Summer Fest, each with a cost exceeding 250,000 euros. We are not against celebration or cultural life, but when these activities become constant, the impact on the daily lives of those of us who reside in the center is considerable.
We have been in the center of Arrecife for years and we have no problem with the traditional festivals that are part of our history: San Ginés, Carnival or Christmas are celebrations that we assume with pride and respect, knowing that they are part of our identity. However, what we cannot understand is that every weekend the city center, a residential space, is transformed into an open-air disco, interrupting the rest of its residents.
Interestingly, when we have conveyed these concerns to our mayor, Yonathan de León or his close people, their responses have been somewhat surprising: “Join the party”, "live in a neighborhood". That is, instead of seeking a balanced solution between leisure and rest, they seem determined to move forward without contemplation. Their attitude could be interpreted as a disconnection with the reality we live in the center, and it is easy to understand why. After all, he does not live in Arrecife; YonatHan de León, our mayor, resides in Costa Teguise, a quiet residential area in the neighboring municipality of Teguise and away from the Arrecife of which he so proclaims to feel proud neighbor.
And of course, it is normal for the mayor to remain oblivious to our situation. The deafening noises of the festivals or the vibration in the crystals caused by the bass of the performances that he himself promotes do not reach his house in Costa Teguise. From the distance and tranquility of his residence, he does not perceive how the center of our city has become a constant celebration of activities and events with no greater purpose than the self-promotion and political promotion of those who organize them.
To facilitate this avalanche of events, the city council has even created or changed the destination of new councilorships: one for Events and another for Commerce. However, instead of boosting commerce during opening hours, as would be logical, these councilorships have chosen to organize festivals and concerts when the shops and restaurants in our city are already closed. Far from strengthening the local economy or revitalizing the city, they limit themselves to filling public spaces with ideas copied from other places in and at times that do not provide tangible benefits to businesses operating in the center and if dirt or problems to them.
The residents of the center of Arrecife ask for balance. We do not want a city that renounces culture and public life, but we also do not want to live in a scenario of festivals, concerts and constant occurrences that affect our quality of life. We need a leadership that listens, that understands our realities and that commits to an Arrecife where leisure and rest can coexist.
Do we want a mayor who sees Arrecife as his home or one who looks from afar and turns his back? The answer, for many of us, is clear: Arrecife deserves a mayor who cares about those of us who live here, who listens to our voices and who values our right to enjoy both the dynamism of the city and the tranquility of our home. A Mayor who governs the municipality in which he sleeps at night.
