Illegal flea markets and assorted illegal peddlers: problems and measures

Illegal flea markets are one of the biggest problems we have in Sitges.The wild proliferation of this practice creates a bad image for our city and is a grievance for legal traders. It is not a problem exclusive to Sitges. All towns and cities with economic activity and large affluence of visitors suffer from similar problems in proportional terms. And no definitive solution has been found capable of eradicating such activity from our streets.

But there can be no excuse. At the City Hall, we are fully aware that this issue requires a specific action. Illegal flea markets are a very a complex phenomenon that cannot be untangled with a single-sided approach, but requires the confluence of several elements: prevention, prosecution, and also, needless to say, the awareness of all potential buyers. And to solve it, it is also essential a full collaboration of everyone involved directly or indirectly: traders, different police forces, the City Hall...

Last week, I met with the new Director General of Police of Catalonia. I exposed the extent of the problem and the complex reality, and at the same time, I asked additional resources to address this situation. Due to our effort against crime prevention, we cannot devote all local police officers on patrol to fight illegal flea markets and illegal peddlers. We need the complementary collaboration of Mossos d'Esquadra.

Recently, we expanded police reinforcements to fight illegal flea markets, and such action will allow a stricter control and impose the necessary fines, not only to sellers, but also to buyers. 

But make no mistake. The solution to Illegal Flea Market will not come by the hand of police action. Or, at least, not exclusively police action. We must make a real picture of the situation: sellers are people who have nothing to lose, they fled poverty, crossed deserts and narrows leaving many behind, and a police patrol will not curb their yearning for an amount of money that allows them to live (or just survive). In other towns that opted for police action, the problem has not been solved and indirectly generated parallel conflicts.

However, I repeat that we should not shy away from our responsibilities and we must keep on trying to solve the problem from every standpoint. We will strengthen patrols, we will enhance collaboration between different police forces, we will act at street level to block and encumber their activities, and we will use all the resources at our avail to reduce the negative impact of such issue.

In parallel, we will continue working on measures to boost trade and the local economy, such as the Shopping Night that we held ten days ago, or the socio-economic revitalization measures that stimulate local entrepreneurs and small businesses.

About the past and our vision of future

Last week, we had the opportunity to examine the results of works in buildings making up Cau Ferrat and Maricel Museums once refurbishment was over. We were aware that we would find cozy spaces that preserved legacy elements, but adapted to the needs of the twenty-first century. But even so, the surprise was overwhelming and gratifying. All the work done in museums was magnificent, and they have insured facilities geared up for the future while preserving the past.

The reform and refurbishment of museums was quite a challenging project. Works proved to be difficult right from the onset. The uniqueness and location of buildings and the need to adapt to the current regulations (safety, removal of architectural barriers, installation of services ...) transformed the project in an intervention that required special care to preserve heritage.

For this reason, as soon as we won elections, the current government of the City of Sitges and Barcelona Provincial Council did not hesitate for a second to change the initial project. The initial project involved a blatant and outright aesthetic aggression against the buildings, both in the grotesque catwalk on the seafront as in the installation of interior platforms that disrupted the layout of buildings. The results of works show that it was technically feasible to remove such elements and achieve environmentally friendly buildings that were not an aggression to our legacy.

The restoration of stained glass and ceramics, the recovery of the original paintings at the Cau, the refurbishment of Saló Gran, or Great Hall, the improvement of services and facilities, the establishment of a historical route or the creation of new spaces (like the exhibition hall, the training classroom or the museum shop), among many other elements, highlight the extraordinary work carried out in this project.

Once works were over, the three buildings known as Cau Ferrat, Can Rocamora and Museu de Maricel will have to install air conditioning before the reincorporation of works and collections. We must be very strict in such interventions and abide conservation policies applied by the Museums of Sitges.

Museums are one of the most important legacies of Sitges. Collections exhibited and stored are remarkable important, and the buildings are privileged store windows for our city. The refurbishment will allow and encourage the preservation of buildings and works and at the same time, create a new magnet for visitors. The museum discourse and the intensive program performed by the Consortium team, under the drive of Vinyet Panyella, will be a significant support for this purpose. The first step was achieved, fully equipped buildings that respect our heritage, and to achieve the latter we will keep on working vigorously.

Social policies are a top priority for this City Council

One of the core ideas of our Governance Plan and one of the top priorities of this government team is what we dubbed "Sitges for the people," a broad line of policies revolving around social policies. Last week, we launched new initiatives at the Municipal Plenary related with such policies, such as a change in credit to make an extra contribution to Caritas and Red Cross for their projects to supply food to the needy.

This action is part of the package "Sitges for the people" promoted by the local government team and allowed the implementation of several initiatives aimed at supporting people and groups most in need: the "Carnet Blau" or Blue Card ( which provides discounts to the needy on certain services, both public and private), the Soup Kitchen (included in the Blue Card and that everyday provides food to people who do not have sufficient resources), or agreements and bill payment arrears with Third Sector organizations (the improvement and change in the system of our Treasury Department allowed payment of invoices of social organizations that had not been scheduled or budgeted by the previous government).

These are some of the activities in social policies aimed at the most vulnerable. But the core of "Sitges for the people" is designed to reach a broad segment of the population that suffered the most for the crisis, provoked mainly by revenue reductions, budget cuts and limitation of opportunities. This policy is aimed at people that are directly affected by poverty and also people affected negatively by the current crisis.

For this reason, we have driven a socioeconomic revitalization plan for entrepreneurs through the services of Nivell 10; measures to promote employment; aids to nursery users; a contract to ensure the activities of the "Casal de la Gent Gran" or Senior Home, which, with the demise of the bank charged with patronage was in serious risk of disappearance...among other actions.

The crisis has taken its toll on many people. A lot. Also in Sitges. For this reason, social policies are a top priority for this City Government. In some cases, such as those just mentioned, we are dealing with specific policies and initiatives, in other cases are actions that require utmost discretion and respect for those affected, but this is also the reason for our involvement. And will continue to be a priority.

Entrepreneurs, small businesses, cooperatives: we have a tool that will be useful to you

On Monday, the Plenary Session approved a Plan for Municipal Aids, with the intention of reviving local economy, promote employment and help entrepreneurs. The Plan is endowed with 195,000 Euros, which will be devoted entirely to the three goals mentioned above.

The plan is divided into four areas: 

- Bonuses for freelancers.

- Entrepreneurship.

- Improving the competitiveness of businesses already in operation.

- Boosting trade in Sitges.

Based on these four areas and departing from the limited economic capacity and competence of our City Council, the Plan is a concrete and active statement in favor of economic revitalization. The aim of the measures is to be alongside entrepreneurs, small and medium enterprises and workers and provide them with tools that facilitate the work and open new roads.

The plan includes a subsidy covering the total cost of the Social Security for freelances during the first year, for all inhabitants of Sitges registered in the General Social Security Scheme and that have developed their business plan through municipal services of entrepreneurship. This measure allows covering gaps in funding due to the restriction of bank loans imposed by the financial institutions, and help young entrepreneurs to open their small business in Sitges.

Meanwhile, the plan also provides measures to support new cooperatives, with a refund of 80% of costs, whenever chartered in Sitges and by their residents. There is also support in the provision of services that contribute to their ideas, such as the creation of a corporate image or communication plans.

Companies can also benefit from the plan measures in areas such as a 50% discount in the costs of study for internationalization of its products, or the application of communication technologies.

These and other measures are part of the plan, which aims to be a useful tool for entrepreneurs. Often, small but big ideas or initiatives have failed to see the light due to lack of resources or funding to back them in their beginnings, which are always the most difficult part for any new business project.

The economy recorded signs of improvement. Also in Sitges, a City that maintains employment levels significantly higher than in surrounding areas or the whole country. But the situation, we are well aware, it is still very difficult and will remain so. For this reason, support for economic activity, along with social services, remains a very important priority for our City Council. And this plan can be a useful and valid tool in this line.

Saint George's Day at the Pont d'en Domènech

Having just heard the latest "Caramelles" songs, we bump against one of the most famous festivals of our calendar. Saint George's Day. The festivity is one of the most beautiful days of the year, thanks to which Catalans have helped to universalize the Day book. This year, Saint George's Day brings a very significative premiere in Sitges: the restoration of Domenech's Bridge, these days of Easter we have already seen its new (in fact, historical) aspect. The restoration of the bridge, located in the Promenade at the height of Bassa Rodona street, have been carried out by the Municipal Council's Public Works Brigade in recent months, with the dual aim of improving appearance and restoring its modernist image.

This intervention is part of the improvement plan that the City Council is carrying out on roads, just as the space for getting off taxies at the Plaça de l'Estació, the permanent surveillance service at the underpass, the two-way traffic on the initial stretch of Avinguda de les Flors or the works to fix the asphalt driveway. We are dealing here with specific interventions aimed at improving services and their use by residents and visitors, a demonstration that the responsible use of investments we can improve streets, squares and areas of the municipality.

The restoration and recovery of Pont d'en Domenech also agrees with the policy of defense of our architectural legacy, one of the fiercest battlegrounds of our present municipal government. Accordingly, these days will begin the refurbishment and protection works at Santiago Rusiñol Public Library to be followed soon by the reform of Prado, a heritage building, thanks to the double investment of the Catalan Government and the Council of Sitges.

Sant George's Day, then, will have its focal point on the Promenade. This year, the festivity is loaded with a full program of events promoted by the Department of Culture and with the full logistic involvement of the Department of Commerce .To the traditional stalls selling books and roses, with local authors offering their signed books, this year we have added several activities such as reading recitals for children and adults and a concert with the group Arena y Agua..The cultural agenda reinforces its leadership in Sitges, thanks to the joint efforts of the City Hall and grassroots organizations. We have just celebrated the Cultural Week Catalonia - America and the day next to Saint George's Day we will inaugurate the second edition of the jazz festival, while our theater programming enlarges its range of shows. In Sitges, culture is a differentiating trait that we must care, pamper and share.

Sitges is Cardio Protected: a project to save lives

Last week we presented the project Sitges is Cardio Protected and Healthy , a pioneering initiative launched by the City Council with the collaboration of the Spanish Association Against Sudden Death Jose Duran.The project includes the coming installation of several defibrillators in public facilities, hotels, restaurants, institutions and other public spaces.These devices are an addition to those that went into operation last summer at the beaches of our municipality..

A few months ago, we witnessed one of those shocking news that arouse interest and make us think. At the Sants station, a defibrillator device installed in the pharmacy of the site saved the life of a man who had suffered a stroke. When news came we were about to finish the project Sitges is Cardio Protected and Healthy and in one of the follow-up meetings of the initiative we adressed the case of Sants. At the time, the project that was to be applied in Sitges was in the final stages and it was the right moment to envisage this case moved to Sitges. It was a good way to illustrate a real life episode.

And in Catalonia, 3,000 people die each year from sudden death. That is, 10 per day. There are many. Many. When a heart attack occurs, the first 10 minutes are essential. For this reason, the possibility of having defibrillators scattered around town can be a crucial support in many cases.

The development of this project was planned in the Governance Plan and is an example of shared work and full complicity of the government and social and economic agents. The implantation of defibrillators will allow us to respond to specific cases. But the plan also requires preventive measures that promote and disseminate a culture of healthy lifestyle and eating habits. In this regard, we are working closely with restaurants to offer healthy menus that favor a public health model quality. Another line will be integrated into the plan to create walking routes that encourage healthy living and doing exercise.

Sitges is Cardio Protected and Healthy was born as a service that provides solutions, but also that wants to work on prevention to create a quality of life available to the whole population.

Let's recap about our Carnival

It's been a few days, the adrenaline ebbed away we already dwelled upon the appropiate reflections. Carnival, for its characteristics and dimensions, requires to be approched with some perspective of time and space, and the detachment recommended in all discussions and reflections about a festivity that awakens passions and feelings.

We are dealing here with a passionate and well rooted celebration with a high popular involvement, three features that distinguish our Carnival - any change or new development provokes byzantine discussions in which people take parties in favour and against. If not, at least at the beginning, after a while, time puts things in place, and some positionings and points of view are relativized, especially when you are able to analyze them with the necessary perspective and vision.

The above happened this year in our Carnival. Probably there was too much previous tension, and surely there was a certain badly driven adrenaline during the festivity and during the next day, but once a few days have passed, tempers returned to calmed waters. All apocalyptic visions with the only purpose of opposing any regulation, because of the simple fact that the City Council adopted them, adopt a more tempered perspective and admit the good results of certain measures.If we talk softly with a mutual will of cooperation, we can reach a common ground and advance in good direction.

The case of children's parade on Sunday is one of the best examples that illustrates how there are changes that can be very positive. With the new schedule, the kids had their deserved prominence without having to stick to a rigurous time planning, floats showed more personality and, indirectly, restaurants and trade took advantage. A very wise decision.

Is that anybody questions now that the Debauchery and Extermination parades should not leave at 19.30, as we implemented three years ago? At first, few gave their support. The following year, practically nobody had any doubts and now it's considered as an age-old tradition.

Good decisions take root easily and permeate into the dimension of the festivity in an spontaneous manner.Those decisions that generate questioning, for example, moving cameras from Cap de la Vila to the Promenade this year, require an in-depth analysis and redirect them in one direction or another. Also, one day no one will dare consider that security is an important aspect when making important decisions on parades. Security and the Carnival must know how to coexist together without trampling each other.

Carnival 2014 brings me many good experiences that were transferred to the gallery of good memories. The list is long, but I would like to mention a few. The bed race, which knew how to exploit the "fardo" or people that act in paralel; the activities organized by the group “A Tope” with elements also in parallel to the Carnival, the extraordinary impact that it had in the media and social networks (a very important promotion for Sitges), the frantic and never well recognized work of the Cleaning Brigade and Security, the drive and good work of our Department of Traditions and Celebrations and our Carnival Committee, and the joy, colour and magic that distinguished our parades and all those residents that carry our Carnival in their DNA.To all of you, many thanks.