First year in office: an assessment

Last week I presented, alongside with colleagues from the Governing Body, the results and the assessment of the first year in office. After the first twelve months, it is time to transmit to citizens the first assessments and reflections on the management of the municipal government, and make the appropriate assessments and reflections.

When, on 11 June 2011, the thirteen councilors of CiU, PP, SGI and NH formed the new government, as a result of the clear desire of the residents of Sitges, most of which requested a change in the erratic policy of previous years, we were aware that we had inherited a complex situation, a very difficult situation. As I stated at the press conference last week, the first year of government was often marked by sacrifices, abandoned projects and difficult decisions provoked by the dire financial situation inherited by the City Council.

However, it was also a very busy year. The thirteen councilors who form the Government carried out intense work based on three pillars: drawing the lines of governmental action (within the framework of the Governance Plan), redress and internally manage their respective responsibilities and strengthening dialogue and support with civil society. Such a support is not always possible to perform financially, but also it has been shown that it can be channeled through different formats, sometimes more effective and viable than purely economic channels.

The first year of government was a year of intense work, imaginative solutions, intact illusions and trust in the future, notwithstanding the somber economic situation. The inherited situation and the difficult economic environment has been, in this sense, an obstacle that limited our scope of action, but also proved a stimulus to seek new ways and strive even more to find alternatives.

Probably, it is still too early to assess important results, but have already displayed some significant outcomes: it was possible to halve the debt to suppliers, save on personnel costs, redirect the reform of museums to protect and safeguard our historical legacy, implement a plan to reform sidewalks, implement measures to promote tourism that are beginning show positive results, prepare a stable program for libraries, implement measures to support the needy and social organizations and ensure the construction of the school Agnes de Sitges, among many other tasks. In addition, we just began to work to announce major projects for the future of Sitges. Projects that involve public and private partnership and that unlike the past, will not be announced until their full confirmation. We will not fall into the trap of selling projects that are all smoke and mirrors or false expectations. Sitges still is a place of opportunity and I can guarantee that we are working to strengthen them.

In a general manner, I would like to dwell specially in the implementation of a new culture that values small actions that help us make Sitges more human. A culture that places the City Hall in the same side that residents, and that is pursue of new opportunities for all residents of Sitges. The path is long and uphill, but the backpack is full of ideas, enthusiasm and spirit of service.

Balance of the first year in office (see documentation)

Corpus Christi is always there

Corpus Christi left us with a good taste in our mouths. During a period of economic turmoil and in a weekend bearing somber economic news, Corpus Christi has again extended its unlimited charm and its ability to seduce us all. The flower carpets displayed their usual splendor, the balconies displayed their merriest face, the exhibition of carnations was a color explosion, the procession moved us, the Giants captivated our hearts again, and the festivity received a first level recognition thanks to its inauguration by Joana Ortega, Vice President of the Catalan Autonomous Government.

Corpus Christi is an equalitarian symbiosis of creativity, participation and friendship. The flower carpets are the result of a careful work, which required previous dedication and hands willing to draw spring inspired images, capable of drawing glances of complicity among people living in Sitges and visitors. The groups of neighbors, friends or members of organizations that come together to make flower carpets, is one of the signs that show us that Sitges still is and must remain being a village, with all the positive components that identify the word.

This year, Corpus Christi has shown that the capacity of the festival is quite solid. The financial constraints curtailed the budget, but the result, in the eyes of visitors and people from Sitges, was relative. As was the case with the Three Kings Parade and Carnival, the efforts of organizations and the dedication of the people who worked on the festivity, contributed to minimize budget cuts and, at the same time, demonstrated their ability to charm us entirely.

And we must not forget that for Sitges, Corpus Christi is a big attraction that will help our economic recovery. Sunday, several buses and a long line of vehicles came to Sitges to watch our flower carpets and spend the day in the town, good news that should be welcomed.

Once Corpus Christi is over, there are new activities coming up such as the Festival of Poetry and Sitges Fashion Weekend. Such events will highlight the name of Sitges again in the cultural, socioeconomic and entertainment media, stressing that the dynamism that sets Sitges apart from competitors remains firm and intact.

Leverage all major events

Last week, Sitges became the meeting venue of Cercle d'Economia (Economic Circle). Once again, our town hosted an all important event that occupied the forefront of all the economic media. The event allowed us to place the name of our town in a preferential and privileged position.
The meeting of Cercle d'Economia, and also other important events such as the Film Festival, Carnival, Vintage Car Rally and the array of social, cultural and economic activities held in Sitges, constitute an excellent cover letter for our town. In some cases, our town is the venue, in others, the driving engine, and in others, the genesis of the initiative, but in all cases, the event is an opportunity thanks to the media coverage it provides, which places the name of Sitges at the front-page of all the media.

The meeting of Cercle d'Economia can be sorted as an event in which Sitges is the scenario of the venue, and thanks to its characteristics, location and facilities, the town hosts an external initiative with an extraordinary impact and influence. Just the fact that it happens here is positive due to the direct and indirect effects generated. But if we also achieve that participants take with them the image that Sitges is a town opportunities, with a strong financial capacity and a very active cultural life, the investment will be even more effective.

This is precisely what we did in this year's meeting of Cercle d'Economia. This year, participants had the opportunity to get a closer and more effective look at our reality. The dinner offered by the organization (at their own expense) at the Miramar building - where some participants wanted to visit the exhibition about the works on Cau Ferrat, is a clear indicator. But especially, I want to stress that the City Council has promoted the program Sitges Investor, which aims to create agreements between public and private sectors for economic growth. Taking advantage of the meeting of the Cercle, we presented this program to many participating entrepreneurs and corporation managers, who have met the program positively and have shown interest in the possibilities and opportunities offered by Sitges.

Sitges Investor is a long distance program, designed to capitalize on the events taking place in the town and look for new initiatives. The program will get results if we take advantage of the opportunities offered by initiatives such as the meeting of Cercle d'Economia and many other congressional, social or cultural events held in Sitges.