Barcelona, behind

Two years after the municipal elections, halfway through the term, the characteristics of the Barcelona City Council government, with the PSC in the minority, can be established with certainty. The most obvious is the lack of proposals.NOW, December 23, 2024). Regarding projects that cannot be reversed, the momentum continues, inaugurating what was initiated during the Commons' two terms; but what is repeatedly communicated is the break in continuity with a government in which they participated.

The lack of interest in housing was evident when the Department of Housing and Rehabilitation was eliminated and only one commissioner was established. Between 2015 and 2023, there was a qualitative leap in investment and redistribution in the prevention and response to housing emergencies, neighborhood rehabilitation, housing purchases, and the issuing of tenders for new housing. And one of the most widely admired achievements—the housing cooperatives for lease, in the final phase of the ESAL agreement with cooperatives and non-profit social organizations—has ceased to receive support.

The most emblematic aspect is the stubborn attempt to neutralize the 30% affordable housing standard for new construction and comprehensive renovations, a change that has unethical complicity and is a source of polarization. This measure, with variations, has been implemented in Paris, New York, and Vancouver. In reality, 150 homes have been achieved with the standard, although not all have been built, and not the 26 reported. Meanwhile, the difficulty of accessing housing, both guaranteed affordable rentals and purchase, due to rentiers, speculation, gentrification, and seasonal rentals, continues to increase, with the trickle of neighborhood expulsion.

This lack of projects is evident in the Urban Planning and Housing department, where the mantra of the last two years has been: fewer green areas, fewer trees, less participation, sufficiently increased heritage protection, and greater density. In addition to the Endreça Plan, and the icing on the cake, the Passeig de Gràcia Formula 1 track.

Regarding trees in public spaces, the administrative and simplification trend of less greenery and more paving is taking hold; it is less complicated and requires less maintenance. Emphasis is placed on the constraints of complex subsoils, already seen in the green axes of Consell de Cent, Girona, Rocafort, and Comte Borrell; in line with the new version of the superblocks that Mayor Jaume Collboni has halted, claiming that he will create more block interiors, of which no new ones have been seen. And this will soon be evident in the works around Sants station, where the trees that were supposed to form the green ring around the restored Plaça dels Països Catalans have been drastically reduced.

This low-level policy demonstrates arrogance by refusing to share decisions with neighborhood associations, stigmatized as enemies. Citizen participation is disliked, as it can lead to problems and complications. Therefore, the FAVB, neighborhood platforms, and citizen movements are disregarded. This City Council, which considers itself self-sufficient and thoughtful, does not accept any dialogue, suggestions, or demands.

In short, we have returned to the managerial and clientelist City Council of recent PSC governments, lacking the desire to innovate to serve people and promote biodiversity and health. The mercantilist horizon is one of ignoring the interests of investors and the tourism industry, as if there were no new problems such as the housing crisis, climate change, or resource management.

Ada Colau's government has been sued more than twenty times by companies like Agbar, various lobbyists, and other power brokers, all of which have been dismissed. In addition to hundreds of administrative disputes regarding its management, civil society subsidies, participation rules, housing regulations, and innovative projects. In contrast, Jaume Collboni's government has received no criticism, as it hasn't upset any of the stakeholders who have business expectations for the city. And if you don't innovate, you don't risk making mistakes or upsetting any powerful people. A policy that is too discreet, with everything ordered, as it should be, and in its place, will result in many missed opportunities and, instead of moving us forward, is taking us backward.