Mayor puts people first in parking spat

MAYOR JOSÉ ISABEL BLANDÓN dug  his heels in  this week,  making it clear to opponents  that the  decision to recover the area around the Einstein bust so that citizens can have space to  move, is irreversible.

His response at a Municipal Council meeting was not good news for businessman Aldo Mangravita, one of the directors of La Casa de la Carne and an opponent of  the works underway in on Via Argentina. The ‘Einstein Head’ location is being converted  into a park and will  eliminate an access road and more than 60 parking lots.

Blandón said that the city will not safeguard private interests, but those of the citizenship who are the sole owners of easements.

He stressed that on several occasions, he  has met with local  merchants and made it clear that it is not a matter of removing parking lots, but of recovering the easements that were appropriated by businesses. “The lots  were not even owned,” he said.

Mangravita asked Blandón to reconsider the impact that the project will generate, as it will eliminate  parking lots of his 45-years-old  business, and other businesses will be forced to close

Blandón reiterated that Mangravita had proposed alternatives for lateral parking, but the space is needed  for the redevelopment. “He can  come to the Council  five times and to  the National Assembly if he prefers, but the mayor’s position will not change,’’ Blandón said.

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