The municipal group of Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya has today obtained in the Barcelona City Council committees the approval of a fund endowed with 10 million euros to make investments in Barceloneta that guarantee the social return of the America’s Cup of sailing in this neighborhood maritime of Barcelona, ??which will be affected by the holding of this sporting competition.
The funds will be obtained from the collection of the municipal surcharge on the tourist tax and will be used to make improvements in public space and mobility, guarantee the right to housing, preserve coexistence and install new equipment in the neighborhood.
The approved proposal aims to reduce the impact that the Copa del América has on the city and guarantee that it leaves a legacy and a social return in the neighborhoods that will most intensely host the sporting event, and especially Barceloneta.
“We have to ask ourselves the question of what major events leave for the city and the neighborhoods where they generate the most impact,” said the spokesperson for the ERC group, Jordi Castellana. In his opinion, we must work so that the Barcelonera “is a neighborhood for the neighbors” and that its tourist activity “is not incompatible with neighborhood life.”
The 10 million euros will be allocated to investments in public transport, such as the metro exit from Barceloneta station, to define the neighborhood and adjacent areas as a preferential trial and withdrawal zone and to reinforce inspection against real estate mobbing. and illegal tourist apartments.
In addition, they will serve to preserve coexistence, reinforcing work and terrace inspection during the America’s Cup, more security agents and preventive measures to avoid situations of incivility, bottles, noise and illegal practices in public spaces.
A part of this fund will also be used to improve local facilities, such as the adaptation of the tracks on La Maquinista street to convert them into a pavilion and to achieve the transfer to the city of Barcelona of the properties owned by the State in the seafront and Port Vell.
