The Civic Front of the Southwest District from Santa Cruz de Tenerife unveiled yesterday in the City Hall some 3,300 citizen signatures opposing the future extension of Tram Line 2, which is set to run from Tíncer to the Snowman, cutting through Majuelos Avenue as part of its planned extension to the La Gallega neighborhood.
The group also called for the resignation or removal of district councillor Javier Rivero, accusing him of betraying the residents’ trust by strongly advocating for the tram’s expansion.
In a formal submission to the mayor, José Manuel Bemúdez, the Civic Front insisted that the opposition to the proposed route, as expressed in the popular initiative, should not be disregarded. They claimed that politicians and Metropolitano surveys had disregarded the residents’ voices, distorting information and opinions.
The affected individuals voiced their discontent, stating that the district councillor, Javier Rivero, had failed in his duty to represent and govern for all residents, instead of promoting harmony and seeking solutions. They demanded his resignation or removal in favour of a more impartial and effective councillor to address the issues faced by the Southwest area.
With signatures spanning 352 pages, the residents urged authorities to explore alternative routes or adhere to the original plan, but insisted that Majuelos Avenue should not be considered. They argued that such a route would negatively impact the neighbourhood, which lacks social and commercial spaces found in other areas.
Despite claims by political leaders that 99% of residents supported the tram route, the submission of over 3,000 signatures contradicted this assertion.
Furthermore, the residents highlighted that the Coalition Canaria had not abandoned the project, only delaying it due to political challenges. They accused officials of distorting data, surveys, and statistics to force through the project against the wishes of the majority.
District councillor Javier Rivero chose not to comment on the issue when approached, but he noted that the residents’ associations Unión de La Gallega and El Humilladero had lost their community status for failing to update their credentials for years, rendering them without neighbourhood representation.
