Carlos Tarife defines himself as a born optimist. And he does it while he observes the future of Santa Cruz de Tenerife from the windows of his office. A city that he wants to transform into a great life project in charge of such important areas as Public Services, Environment and European Projects of the capital’s City Council.
-Nearly 200 days in office are enough to do so many things?
“They have been intense, but we are very happy with the dynamics we have, especially in the area of Public Services with the execution of works. There is a pact that works and, furthermore, I think the management of the Popular Party is noticeable in the five areas it manages.”
-Could the movement of tokens in the La Laguna City Council shake the CC-PP pact in Santa Cruz?
“In La Laguna I don’t know very well what will happen after the departure of the CC spokesperson, Jonathan Domínguez, and I don’t know if there will be an agreement between CC and PSOE. But what I am not going to do in Santa Cruz is agree with the left. I said it in the campaign, I say it now and I will say it in the future. I am very clear about the pact I want in the city and if CC changes his mind, he will have to explain it.”
-A challenge is the General Management Plan (PGO). What improvements will it bring to the city?
“The PGO of the entire city, and the specific modification in Las Teresitas, will be fundamental for the development of the capital. In this sense, the Urban Planning area is basic, because it is a more than necessary plan. We cannot continue living in a city with a PGO from more than 30 years ago, even though it had a basic adaptation in 2005. Hence so many provisional ordinances and so many modifications as in Las Teresitas. The initial approval of the document is a challenge in this mandate and we will achieve it, because the entire city will be modernized. Urban Planning’s desire is to have a detailed organization of a large part of the city, although it will involve pieces that will have to be negotiated with other administrations, for example with the urban planning operation of the Refinery where Santa Cruz will have the leading voice. A working group is being established with the Cabildo and the Government of the Canary Islands and for everyone to collaborate, something that did not happen with the previous Executive. Now we do see a Council and a Government interested in making new cities on those lands that the Refinery will free up.”
-And the specific modification in Las Teresitas?
The Special Planning Plan for the Las Teresitas Beach Front is underway and will involve the installation of a future hotel in San Andrés, something fundamental because it will provide an economic contribution to this very important area of the capital, together with other improvements in sanitation, lighting , walks and expansion of parking, since the idea is to build a building for new spaces, where the current one is, which will be free for residents and beach users. It is a challenge that, personally, I would add to bringing the tram to Las Teresitas, since it would put an end to the queues and the entire road would also be urbanized to provide a decent exit in terms of public transport to all the coastal neighborhoods from La Alegría to Cueva Bermeja, passing through María Jiménez and Valleseco, which would have much more comfortable and guided transportation.”
-Another obstacle is in the special plan for the Barrio de los Hoteles-Pino del Oro. How is the negotiation with the Cabildo going?
“This is a textbook example of what happens when two administrations do not speak to each other. The Cabildo decided to expand a special plan for the historic complex of the city without consensus with the City Council, understanding that it would give greater protection to the Bullring, when it already has its own protection. Furthermore, they have done so without missing the mandatory two years since the last resolution, so the City Council will once again be right. However, a court will decide this if both administrations do not resolve it, although I hope that before we can move forward with this historical complex just like that of the old Santa Cruz.”
Speaking of historic buildings. And the Masonic Temple?
“The work of this unique temple in Europe is being carried out, which will be a great tourist attraction for the city and will be managed by the Development Society. But there are also going to be more changes in the center and not only with regard to mobility plans or the cycle network that will imply the implementation of the Low Emission Zone (ZBE), since we have planned in this mandate, apart of the current reform of Calle La Rosa, also improve that of San Martín, the pedestrianization of Calle Santiago and the future Almeyda parking lot, which as it will be located almost on the edge of the ZBE will have European financing and will be another milestone ”.
-The Low Emissions Zone that takes time to implement…
“All municipalities are the same, because it will be impossible to have it up and running at the beginning of 2024. It has been two years to execute a plan that takes too much processing, such as taking out tenders for the future control room that will digitalize all the entrances to the ZBE, the which announcement that it will be located in the General Antequera building in a large wing that will house the Mobility department. In addition, traffic control cameras must be installed, residents must have a card to enter and leave the area and identify license plates, or launch an app to reserve parking if you have a vehicle that cannot enter the area. “There are many things and that is why the extensions are being granted.”
-Your area has also managed the paving of more than 100 streets. Will these works continue?
“There is still a lot to do and next year we will have a very powerful tool, because from Public Services we are going to draw up a framework agreement where there will be a pool of companies that carry out projects and, on the other hand, another pool of companies that execute them. , in such a way that it will not be necessary to have a tender but thanks to this action the projects will be expedited and bids will be made to execute them, thus preventing the start of the works from taking forever. I estimate that in May or June of next year we will have this tool available, which will have to be provided with financing so that it does not take us another four years to start the asphalt plan. The idea is to be more agile in execution, apart from the fact that we have a good maintenance contract for the city, endowed with 2 million euros, which we invest in improving asphalt, sidewalks or accessibility.”
-The paving of part of the Rambla was recently completed. Are new sections planned?
“Next year we want to execute the reverse direction, because now the exit lane has been made. We are also going to perform on Reyes Católicos so that citizens can see the Rambla in its splendor. Something for which we have taken advantage of Christmas by also providing this area with those garlands on the trees that help to promote an important commercial area for the capital.”
-Are promoting commerce and tourism, through large events, other important axes for the capital?
Santa Cruz is the second favorite excursion, after Teide, for the 6 million people who come to Tenerife at some point during the year and, for this reason, we also want to bet on the events as an attraction. I already said it during the election campaign, that the fact that Santa Cruz does not have big concerts is over and we already have Ed Sheeran’s concert planned, but there will be many more. The idea is that they take place in the summer so that those who come from outside to enjoy the concerts also invest in leisure, gastronomy and in Santa Cruz. For this reason, now we are going to recover the city’s tourist bus, which will also be managed by the Development Society.”
Will more hotels be needed?
“The work on the first Meliá Hotel to open in the city is being completed, specifically on Calle del Pilar, and I know of more projects, especially in buildings with certain heritage or historical values, along with some more that may emerge since we continue opening.” the city of the sea, hence the commitment to create new bathing areas such as El Block and soon Los Charcos in Valleseco. Furthermore, when the works aimed at zero discharge are completed, which is another of the challenges that I have personally, we will also be able to take advantage of the waters of Cabo Llanos and the back of Palmetum to turn the city into a great capital that also takes advantage of the economy. from the sea and there will be room for more hotels.”
-Since you have talked about the zero discharge works, how are the sewage treatment works going?
“They are not going as fast as we want, but I think they will be completed in September 2024. However, after Three Kings, around January 8, we are going to open Manuel Hermoso Rojas Avenue, so we will ask for a lot of patience. to users, since it must be crossed with a pipe that will go from the Cabo Llanos pumping station to the treatment plant, as it passes through Panama Street, and will cause traffic changes. But I emphasize that these are necessary works to make the waters suitable for bathing in Cabo Llanos again. When it is finished, together with the zero discharge ones in Añaza, Acorán, Tachero (Taganana) and the one that will be awarded in January for Anatolio Fuentes, we will achieve that in 2026 Santa Cruz recovers the Blue Flag, 23 years later.
-Another plan underway is the creation of more green spaces in the city. How is this project going?
“I estimate that in March 2024 we will be able to present this green infrastructure plan for the city, which is already in its final phase, where we will not only be talking about more green areas, but also about pedestrianizing and transforming other areas of the city. I think 70% of the actions will be able to count on European funds for the creation of new parks in all the areas to be urbanized with the new General Plan.”
And is the idea of installing a cable car for the Parque de las Mesas still in progress?
“There is an economic viability report that supports carrying out this project, although we are now waiting for the document that will say if it is urban planning wise. If not, we would ask the Cabildo for support to carry out a small project of island interest, in order for the cable car to be another tourist attraction for the city. The idea is to create the base in the Los Lavaderos area and reach Las Mesas, one of the best peri-urban parks on the Island.”
-And the project for the Palmetum?
“We are waiting for the Port Authority to give us the rear ring of the Palmetum and, once we have it, the Infrastructure area has already commissioned a pre-project called Tinglado, through which this space will be equipped with kiosks and terraces that will give new life to the area.”
-The future of many works depends on European funds. Will they be guaranteed?
“We are the administration that receives the most European funds from the Canary Islands, after the regional government that obtains them directly. So far, the capital has raised 32 million euros from Europe and three are still pending approval. Therefore there will be financing because we are going to present good projects.”
-Santa Cruz has had a before and lives in a now. What will be the future?
“There are two models: that of no to everything that the socialist opposition represents or that of changing this city with more events, open to the sea, with urban planning operations without tricks or cardboard, and more public housing. So far in our mandate I have not heard a single sentence from Patricia Hernández in which she says that we have done something well. And, honestly, after Pedro Sánchez I don’t know anyone who does worse politics than her. If she wants to live by saying no, then we live by saying yes to this city. That is the difference”.
