The spokesperson of the Socialist Municipal Group in the City Council of Albacete, José González, has lamented that the mayor, Manuel Serrano, launched 60 proposals and initiatives between the pre-campaign and the electoral campaign in meetings with neighbors, collectives, associations, and other entities, «of which only six percent have been fulfilled.»
«Moreover, in 74% of cases, nothing has been done, and in 20% of cases, some procedures have been carried out, but the initiative in question is still pending execution.» According to the Socialist spokesperson, this balance «evidences» a «concerning disconnect between electoral discourse and real management,» adding that trust is built «with actions and not with announcements, with work and not with photographs, nor with social networks in which 350% more is now invested than in the previous administration; management is not measured by the number of likes.»
In a press conference, José González has given some examples of Manuel Serrano’s «non-compliance,» such as the sports palace and Olympic pool, the duplication of the Campollano bridge, the final phase of the transformation of the Center affecting Martinez Villena street, the alternative fuel supply network, the public use of the Bank of Spain, more industrial land, a velodrome, the dry port and intermodal logistics platform, «or promoting the Office for Attracting Investments and European Funds, which in this case, has done the opposite, as that office no longer exists.»
The PSOE spokesperson has questioned whether Serrano’s announcements were «deception to the citizens or if he really intended to carry them out,» pointing out the respect for participation, both internal and external, «and the PP has accustomed us to deal with matters without listening to the municipal groups, taking matters directly to the Local Government Board without going through the information commissions in which all municipal groups are represented, and when necessary, relying on his crutch, the two non-attached councillors expelled from Vox and subordinates of the mayor.»
Another example of «lack of political participation» is that, he said, in two years as mayor, Manuel Serrano has not convened the State of the Municipality Debate to analyze the management of the City Council and propose, from the opposition, initiatives, «or the motions approved in full council, which usually end up in the drawer of forgotten matters.»
In this regard, González Martínez has recalled that the PSOE has presented or participated in more than 30 motions in this Corporation, with 70% of them being approved, «but, however, practically nothing has been done,» listing some of the agreements adopted «of which nothing more was heard,» such as the Municipal Center for Plastic Arts, the network of public toilets in different areas of the city, the animal protection center, the modification of the General Urban Development Plan (PGOU) to declare several areas of the city saturated with betting houses, discounts on cultural activities for youth, the creation of inclusive parks, and officially nominating Albacete to be the Spanish Capital of Gastronomy.
The Socialist spokesperson has pointed out that Manuel Serrano’s management of municipal finances has led the City Council to be immersed in an Economic-Financial Plan (PEF), «which will bring back the cuts of the PP to this city,» and meanwhile, «this mayor continues to live off past achievements, boasting of initiatives that he criticized so much when in opposition,» such as the pedestrianization of Ancha street, culture in the streets, or the Torch Festival.
NEITHER IN THE BIG, NOR IN THE SMALL
«But Manuel Serrano not only fails to think big, but also small, and to verify this, just take a walk around the city and see, despite the efforts of workers who give their all, the state of urban furniture, green areas, access, lighting, or sports facilities,» José González pointed out, adding that «we also don’t forget about another specialty of Manuel Serrano: blaming other administrations when he personally doesn’t solve a problem or doesn’t dare to manage it.»
The spokesperson of the Socialist Municipal Group, in conclusion, has indicated that «as we care about Albacete, we will continue to scrutinize, attentive to the management of the Government Team, being the voice of the citizens, rejoicing in the great city projects -such as the extension of Avenida de España and the expansion of La Pulgosa, which we find out about through the media-, inspiring and raising our voice so that Albacete does not stagnate or fall into a state of apathy and immobilism.»