Two city models have faced each other again this Wednesday in the Plenary Hall of the Zaragoza City Council. After Natalia Chueca’s speech at the Debate on the state of the City, focused on new projects and investments, the spokesperson for Zaragoza en Común, Elena Tomás, responded to it by accusing the mayor of having chosen «business over neighborhoods» during his term.
Tomás has defended that the City Council has had the largest budget in its history and, however, has missed the opportunity to promote a transformation that, in his opinion, would improve the daily life of the neighbors. In his speech, he maintained that the municipal government has prioritized big announcements while problems such as access to housing, public transport difficulties, lack of investment in neighborhoods or the loss of green areas persist.
«To govern is to choose what is protected and what is abandoned. And you have chosen business over neighbourhoods», said Tomás, who also contrasted the Popular Party’s project with a model focused on public services and equal opportunities.
PUBLIC HOUSING AND NEIGHBOURHOODS
The spokeswoman for Zaragoza en Común has defended that housing should be treated as a right and not as a business. In this sense, he has called for the expansion of the public residential stock and has opted for urban planning that guarantees facilities and services in all neighbourhoods. He has also called for strengthening public transport, protecting local commerce and placing the fight against climate change among the priorities of the City Council.
According to Tomás, public money should be allocated before solving the daily problems of the residents than to actions aimed at the «showcase» of the city. In this line, he has criticized that the municipal government has promoted a model that, in his opinion, benefits private interests more than the whole of the citizenry.
The ZeC spokeswoman concluded her speech by claiming a Zaragoza «to be lived, enjoyed and shared», where no one is left behind and in which public policies are aimed at guaranteeing access to housing, better equipped neighbourhoods and stronger public services.
