La Laguna City Council Honors Maricarmen Abascal and Manuel Pérez Hernández

At the most recent San Cristóbal de La Laguna City Council meeting, officials held a minute of silence to honor two individuals whose deaths have resonated deeply, both locally and across Spain. As reported by Diario de Avisos, the council paid tribute to 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal and local resident Manuel Pérez Hernández.

The death of Maricarmen Abascal has become a national symbol of the ongoing housing crisis. She passed away in Madrid shortly after being evicted from the home she had lived in for 70 years. Her story has sparked widespread debate about the vulnerability of the elderly and the urgent need for better protections against evictions, highlighting the gap between constitutional rights and the reality of judicial proceedings.

The council also honored Manuel Pérez Hernández, a well-known figure in La Laguna’s cultural community. Mayor Luis Yeray Gutiérrez had previously shared his condolences, praising Pérez Hernández for his dedication to local traditions. The mayor specifically highlighted his talent as a craftsman, noting that his signature hat-making was a beloved feature of the town’s festivities.

By honoring both individuals, the city council reflected the dual challenges of modern governance: celebrating the local identity and community spirit that defines a town, while confronting the urgent social crises that demand better protection for the most vulnerable citizens.