Santa Cruz Deputy Mayor Proposes Referendum on City Centre Pedestrian Zone
Santa Cruz de Tenerife's First Deputy Mayor, Carlos Tarife, plans a public referendum on the city's "Urban Zone" pedestrianization after a neighborhood association challenged its existence, arguing it prioritizes cars over people.
Carlos Tarife, the First Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Public Services in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, has responded to a challenge from the El Perenquén neighborhood association. On Wednesday, the association called for the city center's "Urban Zone" to be removed, arguing it limits people's freedom to move around.
However, Mr. Tarife has turned this demand around. He plans to "take the ballot boxes to the streets" so that local residents and businesses can vote on whether they want to get rid of the Urban Zone. He explained to DIARIO DE AVISOS yesterday that removing it would mean cars would take priority over people in the city center.
Mr. Tarife said the Popular Party (PP) will formally propose this idea to the City Council. He wants to use citizen participation rules to let people decide if they want to keep the current pedestrianized streets, like Méndez Núñez up to Plaza de España, and from Emilio Calzadilla to Ángel Guimerá. He suggested that El Perenquén and socialist Patricia Hernández – whom he believes is behind the movement – want cars to return. He argued this would take away the freedom pedestrians currently enjoy in areas such as Plaza del Príncipe, El Chicharro, Calle Castillo, Pérez Galdós, and Viera y Clavijo.
The councillor firmly believes the Urban Zone is "one of the best things done in Santa Cruz." He is confident that a large majority will vote to keep it in this consultation. He added that if El Perenquén wants to represent the city center's voice, then residents of that area should decide if they prefer "vehicle noise over sustainability."
He explained that this initiative will be a referendum, with ballot boxes placed in Plaza del Chicharro. This will allow local residents to choose if they want areas like Plaza del Príncipe or Calle San José to have cars again, or to remain as they are now. He stated, "Because that is what the Urban Zone is, and that is its success."
He predicted that "when people vote on this issue, the current situation will win overwhelmingly." He believes this outcome will show that the city should continue working to pedestrianize other streets in the city center, like Santiago street in El Toscal, and in other neighborhoods.
Regarding the bike lane, El Perenquén had urged the City Council to demand a refund for a project in the urban center that the justice system has stopped. Mr. Tarife responded that the 1.7 million euro investment was used to pave Méndez Núñez and the Tres de Mayo roundabout, so "unpaving these streets now makes no sense." He added that the electric bicycle parking stations and bollards will be relocated, and the road markings will be removed as part of the Maintenance contract.