"Public land given away to rent apartments for 1,400 euros": Neighbors and PAH explode against Cort

PalmThe spokesperson for the Platform of Mortgage Affected People (PAH), Àngela Pons, has lashed out at the decision of the Palma City Council (PP with the support of Vox) to reject neighborhood requests to reverse the transfer of endowment plots to development companies for housing construction. Pons has censured that public land is being given away to put homes on sale for 270,000 euros or rental flats for 1,400 euros. "They are not limited prices nor reasonable rents," she criticized, before concluding: "They are giving away municipal land to rent flats for 1,400 euros".

The controversy was evidenced this Thursday in the municipal plenary session, where the local government rejected the demands of neighborhood associations, which demanded to maintain the endowment use of the plots and prioritize social and truly affordable housing. From the Federation of Neighborhood Associations, Maribel Alcázar has denounced the breach of the citizen participation law and has called for policies designed "for the social majority." In the same vein, she has warned of the "northern migration" phenomenon, with buyers with greater purchasing power who are straining the real estate market and expelling residents.

Vicente Pastor, from the Coll d'en Rabassa neighborhood association, also joined, citing the Son Fangos plot as an example and criticizing that the citizen participation regulations have not been respected. The representative of the neighborhoods also asked that a public nursery school for children from 0 to 3 years old be built on the Son Fangos plot.

From Son Rapinya, residents have warned of the "de-endowment" of plots and have described the model as "incoherent": more housing implies more population and, therefore, a greater need for facilities. "A model of 90% residential and only 10% endowment is proposed, where the economic point of view prevails," they have denounced. Furthermore, they have questioned that the meetings with residents were held afterwards and with minutes that, according to them, do not correspond to the procedure.

For his part, the PP councilor, Óscar Fidalgo, defended the measure, assuring that it allows for the activation of public land that has been underutilized for decades and its incorporation into an affordable housing strategy. As he explained, the plan foresees the construction of 807 rental homes, in addition to facilities. An argument that the PAH flatly rejects: "1,200 or 1,400 euros is not a reasonable rent, and 270,000 euros is not a limited price," insisted Pons, who also argued that in the previous legislature, public housing at prices linked to 30% of the average salary was indeed promoted.

The assignment may continue

The dismissal of the allegations presented by the residents was the last hurdle the City Council had to overcome to continue with the processing of the cession of the plots of Coll d'en Rebassa, l'Olivera, Son Güells and Son Quint.

Lucía Muñoz, spokesperson for Podem, has linked the PP government's support for the promoters' interests with the disregard for citizen participation denounced by neighborhood associations, as well as with the situation of public services. In this regard, she has linked the controversy to the regularization process and has directly questioned the executive: "Was it you who gave the order not to strengthen the OAC to handle the process?".

The spokesperson for MÉS per Palma, Neus Truyol, has gone further and assured that Cort's refusal constitutes "a hijacking of the neighbors' right". "With this decision, the PP and Vox are eliminating future schools, day centers, and health centers, while giving away plots to developers: they are giving away what is public to do business," she denounced.

From the PSOE, councilor Pepe Martínez has cast doubt on the real existence of the shock plan announced by the municipal government and has criticized the lack of citizen participation in the process of ceding the plots. "They have posted six meeting minutes in the BOE and three correspond to neighborhoods that are not affected by the cessions nor was the matter discussed," he stated. He also questioned the proportion of planned facilities: "What is 10% of a school or a health center?", he asked.

For their part, the spokesperson for Vox, Fulgencio Coll, has disqualified the left's criticism, which he has described as "a joke," and has accused them of being responsible for urban speculation. "In eight years they did nothing," he snapped, referring to Neus Truyol's time as Councilor for Urbanism, as well as the governments of José Hila and Francina Armengol.