The state of the city’s trees took centre stage during the recent session of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council. A motion put forward by the socialist group prompted questions to the Public Services councillor, Carlos Tarife, regarding the 137 trees that were cut down in the first months of the year. The council defended the tree removals citing the risk of collapse, as the removed trees were affected by fungi, dead, or dried out.
PSOE spokesperson, Antonio Rodríguez, advocated for a proposal aimed at establishing an ordinance for the protection of urban trees and developing a plan for planting different tree species in public and private areas through a Green Infrastructure programme, arguing that “actions without a thorough study of the new trees being planted and those being cut down, along with georeferencing, do not allow us to understand the new role of the trees.”
However, the proposal did not gain approval as Tarife mentioned that “the ordinance is in progress and, in terms of planning, the master plan for urban trees is also being formulated.” Nevertheless, the councillor extended an olive branch to the opposition to seek consensus, suggesting an amendment that focused on all political parties committing to respecting the recommendations of the technical reports.
This discussion arose following a recent visit by the socialist leader, Patricia Hernández, to a community garden on Arona Street in La Salud Alto, where a 60-year-old flamboyant tree is at risk of being removed.
Tarife criticised a picture of the PSOE councillor next to the mentioned tree, calling it “irresponsible,” stating that “the tree is in a serious condition, at risk of falling, and the councillor’s actions raise doubts about the technical reports.”
Hernández responded by accusing the councillor of “not providing the reports on the tree as requested by the socialist group and the residents. Yet, you seem bothered when I visit the same location as you the day before.” She highlighted, “We have always respected the reports, but the reality is that 137 trees have been felled this year, with new specimens being planted but eventually left unattended, similar to what happened when the mayor planted trees in La Gallega, where none of them survives today.”
Inserting a botanical perspective into the debate, José Manuel Bermúdez clarified that “neither the mayor nor any councillor plants or cuts down trees,” emphasising the importance of avoiding personalising such matters and promoting mutual respect.
Carers
The council also addressed various social issues during the session. One of the topics discussed was about the carers of dependent family members following a motion put forth by the Vox group that sought recognition for their efforts, as well as easier access to specialised training and guidance. The proposal, which aimed to organise training sessions and establish a Caregiver Day on November 5, received unanimous approval.
Conversely, the PSOE motion calling for the preservation of the municipal home assistance service and improvements in the workers’ conditions did not garner the same support. The motion was rejected and included an intervention by a worker who highlighted how their wages had reduced after the service was outsourced to multinational companies, forcing them to carry out additional tasks such as cleaning.
Socialist Alana Chinea expressed concern over “the inadequate municipal management of this service, where the council is considering providing subsidies to certain companies instead of awarding contracts.” The Councilor for Social Care, Charín González, refuted these claims by assuring that “the new model will address the workers’ demands, guarantee their job security, improve service quality for users, and involve their families more.”
Alejandro Building
Another significant issue addressed in the session involved vulnerable families residing in the Alejandro building in the Nuevo Obrero neighbourhood. These families shared their stories to support a motion presented by socialists Alana Chinea and Patricia Hernández, urging the city council to purchase the building to provide housing for long-term residents, many of whom have faced eviction.
The testimonies began with Beatriz Gutiérrez, who expressed her fear of eviction and the hardships faced due to power and water cuts, pleading for affordable housing assistance that she has been waiting for for three years.
María Concepción Rodríguez, who had already been evicted from the building, voiced the frustrations of waiting for decent housing for eleven years without receiving any assistance, criticising the lack of empathy from the mayor and the councillor of the Municipal Institute of Social Care (IMAS).
Similarly, Norberto, a cancer patient evicted from the building, appealed for affordable social housing, emphasising the need to support his neighbours with children. Patricia Hernández called for equitable treatment for the remaining families in the building similar to other areas where the city council had facilitated housing solutions.
Councilor Charín González clarified that priority cannot be given to specific families over other applicants in similar situations, as there are over 3,000 people on the waiting list for social housing. She asserted that favouring the purchase of the building for only six families would further encourage illegal occupations.
Mayor Bermúdez expressed solidarity with the affected families and suggested redirecting the request to acquire the property to the Executive branch for a more adequate response. Ultimately, the motion was passed unanimously.
