Yes, I noticed. When you run an intimacy campaign like ours, contact with people allows you to capture those feelings. People are excited, eager, want change.
It was not known how he would determine the route he needed. It’s been four years where opportunities have not been exploited. A government and a mayor with no ambition to put Alicante in a strategic position.
The people want to get out of the paralysis, the citizens have many ideas, they want to change something. People who couldn’t answer from a town hall and a mayor ran out. People want to solve their daily problems such as housing, work, cleaning, which is indispensable for people. If we had a clean city, it would be good for Alicante people and tourism. Because if this government has done anything, it is to equalize all neighborhoods in cleanliness and neglect.
Have people turned the page after the left’s lost opportunity with the trio?
I think so too. We have taken an inventory of the mistakes that can be made, but we cannot forget that some projects that are currently underway also started from the trio. I think the citizens want to give a new opportunity to the left.
Why would it be different? What has changed on the left?
The people who were part of that government were able to communicate to their parties what issues could be improved. Also because we all come from experience: we have a tripartite government in the Community of Valencia and this helped us to understand that nuances cannot be above the interests of a city.
He reviewed the bipartisan administration… But what did the left do in the last five years to deserve a return to government?
We are purposeful. Throughout these years we have been in contact with the public and raised their concerns and brought them to the plenary to be discussed, given a voice and heard the issues directly. I think this was important. And another issue is that I think we are responsible in the difficult moments of covid. Could anything more be done? Definitely.
At the rallies of this campaign, Barcala asked Socialists who had lost faith in the party to vote, also looking at the national debate. What are you thinking?
Stifling. Mr. Barcala does not finish positioning himself and does not have a project for the city of Alicante. And when you don’t have a project, you throw the balls out and try to distract the citizens from talking about the important Alicante. As if I was addressing the PP voter for other matters of the past. Barcala is completely out of place.
Barcala, in addition to asking for votes for the disillusioned socialist, assures that to vote for Ciudadanos is to trash him. Do you agree with this position?
I have always had a lot of respect for the political forces that emerge in an election. He will have to say why he started all these tirades against his preferred government partner. Barcala Bey has no friends.
He also said that no nominations are made every five months. Do you think your lack of ties to Alicante could hurt you in the elections?
Definitely. In one of the worst crises ever, I was approved by the management of a ministry. I also represent all citizens who have decided to live in Alicante, who make up 46% of the citizens.
Speaking of health management, he blames the opposite sentences…
TSJ has already overturned all sentences of Alicante Social Courts for lack of supplies for toilets. We have always been the defenders of life, health and our professionals who should take care of us. we are leaving our skin What did he do during the covid process? We know how you leave the most vulnerable unprotected.
Looking to the future, what are the challenges the city will face in the coming years?
Alicante is full of wounds that need to be closed. The great wounds are those that separate and tear apart neighborhoods like Parque Central, Vía Parque… Also the Sangueta or the Cementerio neighborhood of abandonment next to the Northern District or our castles or our lungs.
In the campaign, they said industrial land, they said sports area in the north… But why will this authorization be a revision of the General Plan?
The General Plan should respond to the city model we want and we are very clear about our social and economic model and so we now need a plan that supports it. We need to create new areas for industrial lands, housing estates, official protections, and we also need to save our coastline. So the General Plan has to answer. Please give answers.
And why will Central Park be real in the future?
Because it’s been sitting in the drawer for a long time. It is a city paralyzed because no one who governs has ambition. Now they are publishing the structural plan during the discount period, but the detailed plan is missing. Since Alicante has no time to lose, we will commission all machines from day one. Of course, we will ensure the participation of citizens because there are many people who want to express their opinions here.
What you don’t have time for arriving late is for the low emission zone. The PSOE has finalized its proposal, and restrictions limit them to the inner ring.
It’s not a lack of ambition, it’s a lack of knowledge. We haven’t had air quality measurements for two years. But to be specific now, we’re going to take the Traditional Center and the Old Town and set up that first ring, which is pretty wide. We want to sit at the table with citizens, businesses, including the city’s Social Council.
We spent eight years pedestrianizing a street like the Constitución, between the idea of the trio and the implementation of the duo… Any ambition to keep pedestrianising?
Yes, but all pedestrianization should include more green to be friendlier. Streets cannot be built without shadows. Not just pedestrianization, but having a plan. How will we ensure the flow of trade? For example, shops on La Rambla are almost sold out…
And what do you suggest to improve cleanliness in the city?
A contract must pass a quality audit. We need to know if the people of Alicante are truly investing in the service, meeting expectations.
What about inspectors?
That’s what inspectors are for, and the workforce needs to be increased. No matter where we live, we all like to have clean streets and containers that don’t overflow with garbage.
And with care?
We want to implement the rapid communication mobile application, but we must also have a rapid response service because you cannot spend a year with a broken railing that is also a danger to children.
And with the noise? What do you suggest?
Neighborhood associations tell us that they are not against the hotel business, that they want to negotiate. And that’s what we’re going to do. But there is another noise from controlled leisure, and that is drunkenness, disrespect for people, street furniture…
Are you worried about the proliferation of tourist rental apartments, especially in the center?
What worries us the most is that facilities are illegal, so we want to encourage a real audit of accommodations that are illegal.
And for social space, what do you recommend from PSOE?
There are three main issues that need to be addressed for this social divide: housing, employment and education. As for housing, we cannot have substandard housing. This should be resolved. And then there has to be affordable housing to meet the needs out there. On the other hand, rents should be raised and the vacant housing market should be moved to mediate potential tenants and tenants seeking to occupy these houses. We also worry when vulture funds are left with large real estate blocks that end up firing people with a social rent.
Neither new schools nor health centers… What is happening to Alicante between the City Council and the Generalitat Valenciana?
I can understand the public discontent because it takes a lot of time from the announcement of these projects to their implementation. But here the City Council has used a front-line policy, there must be corporate loyalty as well.
With the sight at 28M. What result does the PSOE point to?
We want to have enough majority to rule and stop Alicante from being paralyzed.
Seeing a triple reprint with EU-Unidas Podemos and Compromís?
Don’t you dare, I’m too real. On May 28, citizens will give us the still photo.
And with Citizens?
I am a person of dialogue, and in the end it is the citizen who puts the parties where they want.
But what will Ana Barceló do without the majority you speak of?
Staying in Alicante to work in Alicante.
So do you disregard an “honorable” exit from the City Council before 2027?
The most honorable thing is to work for Alicante.
Do you see yourself working for the Alicante County Council?
The most honorable thing is to work for Alicante. I presented myself for Alicante and Alicante.