Mayor of Santa Cruz: Investments, housing and the fight against unemployment are priorities until 2027

The Mayor of Santa Cruz, José Manuel Bermúdez, is back to work after the summer break. He says he has returned with great enthusiasm and is ready to bring plans to life. The elections are still far away, in 2027, but the mayor assures that he is not working for them, but to make the city better now.

What are the plans for the coming year?

According to the mayor, now is a great time for investment and development of the city. The budget is being used effectively, and they are also looking for additional funding. For the first time in the city's history, there are more projects than money. Therefore, the main task is to get support from other authorities and European funds. Bermúdez is confident that the volume of investment will exceed the previously promised 100 million euros.

What will they manage to do by 2027?

The mayor emphasizes that all the projects currently being implemented began to be planned 5 years ago, and the elections have nothing to do with it. He wants important facilities, such as the new bathing area in Añaza and the Puerto-Ciudad building, to be completed by the next election.

Is the mayor satisfied with his work?

Bermúdez says that he is implementing a city project that he had in mind even before he became mayor. He is proud of the improvement of the Anaga coastline. Although some projects, such as Añaza, the Palmetum ring or Las Teresitas, will have to be postponed, the mayor does not stop there and always strives for more.

Which projects are progressing with the most difficulty?

The mayor is most concerned about the Santa Cruz Verde 2030 project, which involves the dismantling of the oil refinery. He would like this process to happen faster. He is also dissatisfied with the city's road connections. The mayor does not understand why there is not the same support for the construction of a bypass around the capital as there was in the south.

Do the authorities' plans coincide with the opinion of the residents?

The mayor believes that criticism is normal, especially when you do a lot. For example, he is criticized for creating a bicycle path, although such paths exist in many European cities. He explains that this is not just a path to the beach, but part of the urban infrastructure for those who want to travel ecologically. The same goes for restricting traffic in the city center - this is done for the convenience of pedestrians and cyclists.

What will happen to the bicycle path if the court makes a negative decision?

Currently, the construction of the bicycle path has been suspended due to a lawsuit. The mayor hopes to win the case, but if that does not happen, he cannot allow the construction to stand unfinished indefinitely.

The low emission zone (ZBE) is also in question. What will happen?

The mayor explains that the creation of the ZBE is not his personal desire, but a legal requirement for cities with a population of over 50,000. If this is not done, the Spanish government may fine the city. Therefore, the mayor is forced to comply with the law, although he understands that this may cause dissatisfaction among residents.

Does the mayor accuse the central government of putting pressure on local authorities?

Yes, the mayor believes that the central government is putting pressure on municipalities in many matters, such as increasing the fee for waste removal. Previously, the waste fee in the city was reduced, but now, under the new rules, it will have to be increased to comply with the "polluter pays" principle.

What about housing? What are the plans?

The mayor is asking the government of the Canary Islands to provide money for the construction of public housing, as funding from Spain has not yet arrived. There are projects that are ready for implementation, but without money it is impossible to start them. The mayor also plans to reconstruct old districts of the city, such as Juan XXIII, La Salud or Los Gladiolos.

What are the plans to combat unemployment?

The mayor announced the launch of the first strategic plan to combat unemployment. He wants to involve trade unions and representatives of small and medium-sized businesses in the development of the plan. The main goal is to identify which professions are currently most in demand in the labor market, and to adapt training programs to these needs.

Is Santa Cruz being transformed into an attractive place for tourism?

According to the mayor, the city's tourism figures are currently the best in history. He wants the city to be even more attractive to tourists, with a variety of entertainment, cultural events and festivals.

Does this justify the construction of the Las Teresitas hotel?

The mayor says that in 2011 he could have built a hotel on this site, but he did not. Now he plans to expand the use of the site so that more housing or a social-medical center can be built there. The final decision will be made by the next city government.

What are the plans for the last year and a half in office as mayor? Will he run again?

The mayor wants all the projects currently being implemented to be completed by 2027. He strives to make Santa Cruz an even better city. Regarding the elections, he says that he has always been at the disposal of his party.