The presidential candidate of Junts for Barcelona, Jordi Martí, commits to maintaining the number of tourist flat licenses at 10,000 if he reaches the mayoralty. He also promises to lead the Guardia Urbana and restore the neighbourhood officer.
The candidate of Junts for the mayoralty of Barcelona, Jordi Martí, has set one of his first government measures: if he takes office, he will keep the number of tourist flat licenses at the current 10,000. "Not one more," he summarised in an interview.
Martí responds to the Municipal Services Survey from this Wednesday, which again places insecurity as the primary concern of residents and raises anxiety about access to housing to second place.
Regarding security, the Junts candidate argues that the problem has "become chronic" due to the management of the governments of Ada Colau and Jaume Collboni. In his view, although thefts may decrease, more serious crimes are on the rise, and for this reason, he promises to personally assume the political leadership of the Guardia Urbana instead of delegating it to a deputy mayor.
"With 3,500 police officers, it is not delivering all the results it should be."
His second measure would be to restore the figure of the neighbourhood officer, which he considers to have disappeared. In contrast to cars and motorcycles that pass by, he advocates for uniformed officers on foot, close to merchants, residents, and community entities, as a deterrent.
Thirdly, he proposes to apply the ordinances "equally to everyone." He cites the Sant Antoni neighbourhood as an example, where he claims to see drug use in the streets, homeless individuals without support, drug dealing, and people with mental health issues without assistance, in addition to dirt and lack of maintenance.
On housing, Martí argues that the key to unlocking the reform of the reservation of 30% of social housing in new developments lies with the municipal government. He recalls that Junts negotiated that flexibility, which also agreed on the civility ordinance, but that it was not possible to close an agreement on the 30%.
"In 8 years it has only generated 34 homes."
The candidate estimates that 34 homes have been generated by that regulation in eight years and attributes the failure of the negotiation to Collboni not being interested in the pact. When asked if he keeps the door open before the mandate ends in May, he responds that he is indeed interested, but that those in power bear the greatest responsibility and he sees the agreement as difficult.
The electoral date will mark the real margin for applying these proposals: the people of Barcelona will decide at the polls whether Martí occupies the mayoralty and can freeze tourist licenses, strengthen community policing, and resume urban negotiations.
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