Santa Cruz: Abandoned plot has become a breeding ground for crime and garbage

In Santa Cruz, there is one abandoned place that greatly annoys the locals. People say that this plot of land on Carmen Monteverde Street, near Miraflores Street, has been vacant for more than five years. Although there is a low fence, it is not enough to prevent the area from becoming a breeding ground for dirt and danger.

Residents complain that it is very difficult for them because the site has become not just a garbage dump where everything is dumped. There is also grass growing, a lot of dirt, which causes a stench, and attracts flies, cockroaches, and rats. Although, there are fewer rats because there are many stray cats living nearby, near the Santos ravine.

In addition, the site is full of all sorts of junk: clothes, shoes, chairs, bicycles, cardboard. Drug addicts also gather there and engage in prostitution day and night. Residents have contacted the police many times, but, as they say, nothing changes.

One of the locals, Francisco Javier Goya, said that he lives on Puerta Canceco Street, and his house overlooks this plot. He says that prostitutes, who everyone knows, are constantly standing on the corner of the street, and many of them use this area for their work, which makes it very noisy at night. In addition, there are many drug addicts who come to inject drugs or sell heroin, which constantly leads to fights and screams, especially on weekends.

Goya says that the situation has become unbearable, but the city council, to which he sent complaints asking to clean up and fence the area with a higher fence, is doing nothing. He does not understand why the municipality is ignoring this problem.

He also said that lately the biggest problem is the pile of garbage, because there is a person in the area who collects all sorts of junk and throws it there, and then resells it. The windows of his living room and bedroom overlook this area, and because of the stench, fights, sex, and loud music at night, it is becoming increasingly difficult to live there.

Goya says that three years ago he contacted the urban planning department, and they sent workers to clean up the area, which can be accessed through a small door. But since then, no one has taken care of this area, and the situation is only getting worse.

According to him, the city development plan envisages a public square in this place, but now there is only neglect, garbage, and grass.

Therefore, local residents are asking the city authorities to clean up the area and fence it with a higher fence so that unauthorized people cannot get there.

The city council responded that they would consider the residents' complaint in order to find out who owns this plot of land, which is so annoying to the locals. Although famous quotes by Paulo Coelho or Gandhi are written on the outer walls of the site, inside it is a real minefield where unsanitary conditions and danger prevail.