A few days ago, the government of Mayor Jaume Colboni started the procedures to evict the Tancada dels Immigrants and thus recover number 5 Floristes de Catalunya street, next to Plaza de la Gardunya, in the Raval neighborhood. “The objective is to allocate the property to public use for the district and the rest of the city.” This municipally owned property was occupied in 2018, and since then it has functioned as a refuge for many immigrants in an irregular situation.
Currently around 40 people live there. Years ago, the Tancada became a symbol of the fight for the rights of undocumented people. Then President Quim Torra and Mayor Ada Colau visited this place. Then, however, the Tancada lost relevance.
Municipal sources detail that the Ciutat Vella district, directed by Albert Batlle, also Deputy Mayor for Security, has already opened an ex officio recovery file because in his opinion this place has deficiencies in terms of security and health. In addition, City Hall sources add, incidents and problems of coexistence both in the property and in the surrounding area are frequent.
The occupants understand that the administrative process initiated by the City Council does not comply with the law, given the heritage nature of the property, the activities carried out there and the duration of the occupation. Those responsible for the Tancada remember that the City Council already began a similar eviction process in 2019 that did not succeed and was archived so that it could continue its activities.
At that time, Mayor Ada Colau’s executive branch contemplated many occupations of City Hall properties as an opportunity to develop new forms of management. That government led by BComú announced that it would transfer the premises of the old Massana school, also municipally owned, also in Gardunya Square, to the entities that occupied it in the middle of the pandemic to distribute food in the neighborhood.
This squatter-friendly institutional spirit, however, was gradually diluted. In fact, negotiations on the transfer of the old Massana broke down shortly before the municipal elections and the squatters staged protests at numerous BComú electoral events. A good handful of alternative entities in the Raval carry out their activities here.
It remains to be seen what position Deputy Mayor Batlle finally adopts with respect to the old Massana school, if he dares to initiate a procedure here similar to the one now started in the Tancada. A good part of the Massana art school faculty wants to recover these facilities. Other associations would also like to settle here. And in no way are the socialists as close to the Occupy movement as the commoners.