Santa Cruz Council Faces Criticism Over Administrative Delays at La Abejera Market

The transition to direct management of the La Abejera municipal market in the García Escámez neighborhood has sparked political debate in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Since the City Council took over operations in June, the market has faced administrative delays that have stalled the opening of new commercial spaces—a situation the local Socialist (PSOE) group has criticized as a failure in management.

Councilwoman Mónica Brito has questioned the governing team, arguing that there is a significant gap between the revitalization promises made four months ago and the current reality. The opposition points to a lack of basic maintenance, such as the state of the restrooms, and claims that the council has failed to support new entrepreneurs, despite reports of three companies interested in moving in. The PSOE has raised these concerns at a municipal control commission meeting, demanding answers regarding the facility's condition and security.

In response, Carmen Pérez, the councilwoman for the Society of Development, defended the city’s approach. She explained that the freeze on new licenses is a necessary technical step to ensure the market is properly organized before the management mandate is finalized. According to the City Council, the priority over the last four months has been ensuring regulatory compliance and safety, which included hiring cleaning and security staff, as well as implementing emergency and fire protection plans.

Regarding interest from new businesses, the City Council stated that they have received two applications since the summer. These, like all other requests, are on hold until the administrative transition is complete. The situation highlights the ongoing struggle to balance the immediate needs of local merchants with the complex bureaucracy required to restructure a public service.