No dumping in the sea, bike path to court: Tarife's plans for Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The new political season always means a pile of work for Carlos Tarife of the People's Party, the first deputy mayor and councilor for public services, environment, and strategic planning in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. He needs to finish the zero discharge works, improve cleaning, and there are also lawsuits over the bike path.

Tarife keeps his finger on the pulse, although his decisions are often criticized. For example, regarding trees. But he says clearly: "If some people lie about cutting down trees, we may sue them."

– What are your plans for this term?

"This is an interesting time, because next year, in May 2027, there will be elections. I have several important tasks. The first is to complete all the work so that there are no discharges into the sea. Together with Enmasa, we are working on projects in San Andrés and María Jiménez. We plan to finish them in February, along with projects in Añaza and Acorán. Then the city council will be able to apply for the Blue Flag for our beaches. But this is impossible until the Spanish government completes the treatment plant in Buenos Aires. I ask them again to speed up. We were promised that the plant would be ready in November 2026, but it needs to be sooner. Otherwise, the projects in Añaza and Acorán will stop, because there need to be two pumping stations to divert wastewater to the treatment plant. The second goal is to make the city cleaner. I have always criticized the cleaning contract that was signed back in 2018. We need more cleaners, and we will work on that. But for now, we need to get the most out of what we have. Therefore, we are meeting with the company to have more street sweepers on the streets, as well as to strengthen control and fines. There is a free number for waste removal (922224849). We cannot allow people to do whatever they want. Therefore, we are negotiating with the police to fine them more."

– You invited the Minister of Ecology, Sara Aagesen, to see how the treatment plant is being built. What did she say?

"Neither the previous minister nor the current one has responded. The same goes for the deputy government delegate, Javier Plata. Santa Cruz is the capital of the province, and I would like him to speak out on this issue as well. We still don't know if we will be able to make an exit to the sea in Añaza at the end of this year or at the beginning of 2026 so that people can swim there without discharges. The city council is doing its job. But if the state once financed the construction of a beach in Santa Cruz de la Palma, then I ask the Socialist Party of Tenerife: are they ready to finance the construction in Añaza? I know for sure that if Alberto Núñez Feijóo becomes President of Spain after the elections, I will go to Madrid with the treatment plant project, the project in Añaza, and many other things, and I will get answers. We need money for a special plan for Las Teresitas or for roads in Santa Cruz. I see how other islands and even Tenerife are developing, but Santa Cruz gets very little."

– Do you think the state is not fulfilling its obligations?

"I am very concerned about the issue of housing and work. I believe that building new housing should be much easier. And I miss the state plan, because the old one has already expired. In Santa Cruz, according to some data, there are about 20,000 empty houses. Because owners need up to seven years to evict a squatter from there. We, the state authorities, must guarantee that the owner receives a normal rent under the contract. And that the judicial system and the police have a law that allows them to evict a brazen person who has illegally occupied housing within 24 hours. We have areas where this is a problem. But instead of giving us a solution, they set almost unrealistic conditions for those who want to rent out their property. The problem is that the government of Pedro Sánchez is not dealing with these things, because he depends on his partners."

– What are you planning to do about the housing crisis in the city?

"Building state housing in Santa Cruz is very important. But we need a new state plan that will allow us not only to reconstruct old houses, but also to build new ones. We need money from the state, because there are 3,000 people in the city who are looking for housing. We must take the existing plots of land and develop them, but we need money. Although this is the competence of the autonomous community, funding comes from the central government. The city council is constantly applying for all state competitions to receive funds. In October, we will receive a response from EDIL, where we asked for four million euros for the construction of another 60 social houses in Ofra. We are one of the few city councils in the Canary Islands that, given that the government is doing nothing, has used European funds for construction. So let no one say that we are not concerned about this."

– The state also wants to remove the Franco monument. What will happen to it?

"We are waiting for the Cabildo's opinion on its architectural value. We need to see whether it needs to be reworked or removed. But Minister Ángel Víctor Torres is most to blame for this. Because when he was the president of the government, he approved the regional catalog of traces of Francoism, which was challenged. And then he did it in the BIC case, which is being considered by the island corporation. Torres spoils everything good that can happen in Santa Cruz. In addition, during his recent visit, I did not hear him explain what will happen to the approximately 900 underage immigrants who are in the city. They are being cared for with solidarity by the Canary institutions, but the state has abandoned them."

– Another question is about access to the sea. Will there be more beaches?

"We could have a city closer to the sea, but it's not all about construction. I am in favor of a tram line from Plaza de España to San Andrés, which will improve this road. We now have a competition of ideas for creating a new beach in the Acapulco area, from Cidemat to El Bloque, in Valleseco. The rest of the coast is a port area. In addition, in the Los Llanos docks, we are negotiating with the port authority to conclude an agreement, first on the Port-City building, and also on the southern pier, where Fred Olsen will dock. There I would like to have a large area for events and concerts, which can be used for summer terraces and a large parking lot. But when the treatment plant is completed, we will have another beach in the Maritime Park. Then we will need to continue studying, together with the Government of the Canary Islands, the urban planning operation at the oil refinery. Because the Honduras pier will become another point of access to the sea in the future. In addition, on the coast of San Andrés, where the breakwater is located, we are studying a project to make this area available for swimming. If we do all this, the city will change a lot, and many people will want to stay here on Sundays."

– You are talking about Sundays. How is the discussion about opening stores progressing?

"The Trade Council will take place in October. The reality is that the capital is changing over the years. From Monday to Saturday, everything is open and the city is working. But on Sundays, most stores are closed, and the city does not have what it should have. I believe that the central area deserves an investment plan that can be implemented with the Framework Agreement. Therefore, we have started the procedure for a complete reconstruction of Prince's Square, and we are also looking for European funding to renovate Castillo Street. We are also working on increasing the number of parking spaces on La Noria and Almeida streets. We should not be afraid of change, but we must seek compromise. And if opening the city on Sundays doesn't work, we will back down."

– Will the bike path, the construction of which was stopped by the court, be canceled?

"We have an approved mobility plan, a general plan for the development of cycling, and sufficient state regulations. But we are waiting for the court to make a decision as soon as possible. Because this leaves us in a state of complete helplessness with a conclusion that has been approved by legal reports. I continue to believe in the bicycle network, and my plan is to continue implementing it in the city. For example, on the Rambla or on the avenues of Belgium and San Sebastián. But if we are forced to remove the bike path from the center, we will comply with the court's decision, although it seems to me to be legal nonsense. But until there is a decision of the High Court, it would be possible to study alternative options for a possible opening, as was done with Orce Square. Because we cannot have a paralyzed construction that is 99% complete. If it is decided that there will be no bike path, it will be removed and El Pilar Street will be reopened as before. Although I am in favor of making this street pedestrian. The goal of this government group is not to patch up what was planned. And the bike path is city planning."

– Are people reluctant to change in mobility?

"I am convinced that pedestrian zones and reducing the number of cars in some areas will benefit people. Although the truth is that the planned changes are happening all at once. Reducing the number of parking spaces in the city is necessary. Because we have 65,000 ground parking spaces, and 140,000 cars are registered in the capital. To these are added 80,000 who come from outside every day. Therefore, we need to change the ways of moving, create more parking lots, paid green and blue zones, and bicycle lanes. In addition, we need to talk about more underground routes in the city with the Government of the Canary Islands. Because the projects in Las Palmas are developing very well, and in Santa Cruz, due to lack of funding, very badly."

– Another criticism concerns the felling of trees. What do you think?

"It's good that there are people who care about Santa Cruz. But what's interesting is that some of them, when the PSOE was in charge in Santa Cruz, pretend they don't exist. And when we are in charge, they come to light, and they also lie. This is a line that I will not allow to be crossed. Until now, we have pretended that nothing is happening. But the freedom of expression of some has already reached limits that we will not allow to be crossed. You cannot question technical experts and claim without basis, for example, that we are turning the city into a desert or that we have cut down 1,000 trees in two years. This is not true, and I will prove it with a report. Neither the mayor nor I call each other at 6 a.m. to go with an electric saw to cut down trees. Because pruning is the last option for a tree. I guarantee that we preserve trees as much as possible. For example, on Puerto Escondido Street, we are going to present a reconstruction project during this month. There are trees there that have created many problems because they are sick. They are being treated, and at least two are already responding, and we will be able to save them. Felling is not a political decision, I insist. And if some people continue to talk nonsense, we may sue them for lying. Freedom of expression is one thing, and we all have it. And spreading false news about the city council, which has the opportunity to defend itself and has the best parks and gardens department in the Canary Islands, is another."