Yes, it was a good Town Festival (and that makes us happier)

It was a good Town Festival. This is the feeling hovering over the Commission, Festival Groups and the whole town. From the onset, the economic situation was an obstacle capable of impairing the splendor and brilliance that our largest Festival deserves and merits.But, just as in the case of previous festivals affected by budget cuts (Three Kings's Parade, Carnival, Corpus ...), the Town Festival easely overcame economic constraints, and showed that with less money and more imagination, it is also possible to celebrate top level events.

The efforts made by the Commission of the Town Festival and Santa Tecla, Festival Groups and organizations deserves our outright recognition. The dedication, patience and enthusiasm shown by the people that make the Town Festival, is one of the best elements that helps to understand why our Town Festival is really unique. Some of the formulas conceived by the Commission to obtain alternative income, while created at the same tieme new forms of participation and enjoyment of the Town Festival, had a remarkable acceptance. The group of more than 600 people that participated in the initiative "Fireworks in peace and quiet" are a living proof. The proposal launched by Friends of the Town Festival was also positive, with nearly 1,300 friends. It is a path that has future and that future editions can still elaborate on it.

On the negative balance, I can not avoid to mention incidents that took place the night of the Town Festival on the seafront. They were sad and worrying, not only for the violence that occurred, but for the threat that in represents for any resident of Sitges that wants to experience the festival with the proper civility. Such violent acts are not isolated or unique of Sitges, as many other cities have experienced similar problems this summer, but we must take note and know how to respond with appropriate action. We can not afford that Festivals (in this case, not only the Town Festival, but other local celebrations) ends up threatened by such events.

Once the Town Festival is in the past, we are wating that the calendar of festivities will takes us to the Verema (Wine Harvest), September 11 (which this year takes on a more significant stand due to the situation faced by the country and our collective aspirations) and Santa Tecla. Sitges expects a new cycle whose underlying principle is the same that we have applied to the Town Festival: effort and imagination to overcome adversity.

Photography of Marta Fontanals

Illegal flea markets: buyers will also be fined

Last week, we announced a campaign that will also impose fines on buyers purchasing in illegal flea markets or "Top Mantas" in our town. Just another step forward in the war against illegal flea markets, carried out by the municipal government in recent months. Since March we are engaged in a campaign to exert pressure on illegal flea markets.

The proliferation of illegal street sellers, also known as "Top Manta", is a problem for many tourist towns of our country. From the city of Barcelona to other minor destinations, the constant presence of illegal sellers - perfectly organized to evade police pressure - has increased in recent years. In fact, this is not strictly Catalan or Spanish issue, but common in many other European destinations. 

The current important crisis has favored its spread, so now it is an important problem on the streets of cities and towns, provoked at the same time by the massive influx of immigrants during the first decade of this century. In Sitges, illegal flee market sellers or "Top Manta" are a problem for two reasons: firstly, because they represent an unfair competition for businesses that pay their taxes and keep their businesses open the entire year, and another because their presence hurts the image of quality tourism that distinguish and pursues our town.

The concentration of "Top Manta" in the same area (formed by the lower section of Parellades street, Marques de Mont-Roig and Primer de Maig) provokes the logical anger of shopkeepers in this area. And they are right. I told them so at the meetings that we held to address this situation.

The City Council is aware of this situation and, therefore, from Easter the police are applying pressure that has intensified during the present summer. The officers of the local police, as well as Mossos d'Esquadra or the support of the National Police, have intensified their persecution of illegal sellers. Thanks to such actions, we have reduced their presence.

But we know that this is insufficient and, accordingly, we wanted to make another step forward. For this reason, we will begin to apply penalties to buyers of illegal products. Citizens should be aware that when they buy "Top Manta" products, they are contributing to this problem.

The sum of the persecution of "Top Mantas", the reinforcement of police during the remainder of the summer campaign and new fines to buyers, will contribute to reduce and eventually eliminate this issue. It will not be easy. As I said before, it is not strictly a local problem and we must be aware of the social and economic environment that encourages it, but we work firmly to remove this problem.

Sports Night: Night of sensations

Last Friday 27, we held Sports Night Sitges 2012. Once again, this evening was a stage focused on awards, individual and collective satisfactions and heartfelt sensations, because sports are one of the strongest social fabrics holding together our town.

Sitges has a widely recognized international presence in several areas, including culture, tourism, festivals and entertainment. Sports are not precisely one of the activities capable of providing space in the media, just as the other events mentioned. But sports have a strong and plural social base in continuous projection, thanks especially to the role played by active sport organizations that are a showcase of the best we have to offer as a community.

The City Hall is well aware of this reality and the potential that surrounds it. And in this sense, the work undertaken Councilor Vinyet Lluís, despite the difficult economic situation that surrounds us, is oriented to strengthen the development of sports and the values it generates.

Next, I'll reproduce the speech I made during Sports Night:

"Good afternoon,

It is a pleasure to hold a new edition of Sports Night Sitges. We are also holding it in a day in which the whole world is waiting expectantly for the start of the 2012 London Olympics. 

If you do not mind my comparison, today, for us here, Sports Night Sitges is as or even more important for two reasons: this year will be our 27th edition, a figure that brings us to the celebration of 30 years, and in second place, because we reward work, effort and achievements of those that are closest to us, local athletes. 

But apart from giving awards to the best athletes from Sitges during the 2011-2012 seasons, I want to take advantage of this evening to share with you a figure that will help us grasp the dimension of sports in Sitges. And, as stated by Councilor Vinyet Lluís, all municipal facilities are used 660,000 times annually, and we should also add private facilities that also account for a large number of users. 

The figure is quite considerable and encompasses, beyond those that are more or less professional, many more, among whom I include myself. Many of us are aware of mens sana in corpore sano and share the interest and the need to keep us active and fit.

We have in mind that many of us are into sports, but we also realize that the current economic situation is affecting all industries and sport is not excluded, unfortunately. 

However, if we take into account the aforementioned dimension of sports in our municipality, the City Hall of Sitges has made an effort to maintain the budgetary contribution allocated to municipal sports facilities. We speak of a total of about 500,000 Euros allocated to maintaining facilities operating with the same high standards we have had so far. 

This is the commitment of our Municipal Government, because we believe this is the way in which we can support all the athletes, so that we can celebrate this annual night of awards and achievements, so they can continue obtaining awards that, in addition to your professional reputation, make the name of Sitges famous everywhere thanks to every one of you.  

We can't forget all the organizations, since there are a large number of athletes who shelter under the umbrella of the large number of clubs and associations we have in Sitges. Organizations that promote education about healthy living and promote grassroots sports, often as a starting point for their activities. 

Those organizations move hundreds of people and, despite the Government's commitment to be at your side, you have to ask for help, because without the understanding of all of us it will be difficult to deal with the present situation marked by austerity. We must innovate, optimize the resources we have and be creative and supportive to continue enjoying a permanent improvement of the sports offer in Sitges. 

Finally I congratulate all those who will receive awards today and encourage you to continue on, forever, to celebrate many more successes. 

Thanks and Congratulations! "