Fiesta report

So here we go again, the rumour mills has started once again,without the perpetrators having a clue what the truth is. So if you don't know the truth,why not just make it up, that seems to be the level of some people.
Point 1. The power cuts on Saturday night. This urb. Is served by 4 main power lines, coming off the national grid. Apparently,due to the heat, one of these lines snapped. This put undue extra pressure on the remaining three. This resulted in the power going on and off as the system struggled to cope. This did not affect the fiesta performances as the stage, lighting and sound were working from two large generators. I managed to get a message through to Iberdrola and they sent out 4 engineers to rectify the problem.
Point 2. The story about me  forcing the bar owners to up their prices or I would cancel the Fiesta is absolute Rot.
Suffice to say, the company that ran the bars at the side of the stage was the same company that were contracted to book the acts for Friday and Saturday . They also were responsible for the stage,sound and lighting. If you really want to know who was being held over a barrel, go ask Chris or Allan at J,s and Temptations.
Or, here is a quirky suggestion, why not come and see me instead of posting rumours
 or lies.
Point 3. Overall, I thought that the acts were fantastic, the sound and stage and lighting were superb and for me Sunday was the best day of all. So I would like to say a big thanks to all the back room boys and girls who helped put this together. I would also like to thank all those who came along and went away with positive thoughts about the Fiesta.
On behalf of the Town Hall, I would like to apologise for the failure of the second half of the firework display. This was totally out with our control. But it did not dampen the spirit of the majority of the Fiesta goers . Even with the few hiccups, many thought it was better than last years and last year's was great.

Budgets

Please let me try to explain how I understand this works.
Like any Council or Government, we have to supply certain services to the population. We have to pay for these services, however certain things have to be capped because of the austerity measures.
Services such as Water, Sewerage, Lighting, Education, Sports, Social Services, Police and Emergency services, Rubbish Collection, Healthy Services,Transport, Youth, Tourism, Fiesta, employment, Council wages and more.
There are two side to the Balance Sheet: Money coming in from Taxes, Suma, works licences etc. and the outgoings are for such as the services listed above.
The Money that comes into the coffers is about half of that which is required, therefore the Grants and other payments come from Alicante, Valencia and Central Government to make up the shortfall.
If the individual budgets are not used by these departments, then when it comes to the next budget, we either get a reduced amount or it is cut completely, resulting in cuts in that particular service. How that budget is used, is dependent on the Councillor for that department.
What I dont understand is that when we have a Plenary meeting, there is always time set aside for questions. If the question of the cost of Rock Arena was so important, this was the time to put the question to the Councillor for Youth and Tourism. As no questions were asked by any of the Councillors, we have to assume they had no problems with the proposal for the Rock Arena Concert.

Setting the record straight

First, re the Rock Arena, I attended this event as did SEVEN of the NINE ruling Councillors .
It was not my taste in music, but then again I am not a great fan of country music either. I stayed for around 2 hours and had to leave for a quieter and more musical venue.
Second, the Rock Band that are playing this evening is absolutely nothing to do with our office being 1 year old. This is a private venture, put on by Dos Mas....They obviously see something in Heavy Metal Rock.They did have the concession for the Rock Arena Festival bar and they asked the Town Hall for permission to put on a mini rock concert, between 10pm and midnight and that's just about where our involvement ends.
I can assure the general public that the type of entertainment we have planned for the main Fiesta next month, is far more in keeping with what the public want. Again as far as money being spent on the Rock Arena last Saturday, this came from the budget for youth and tourism. Whether or not this was the best way of spending the money, only time will tell. It must be pointed out that that if the money is not spent on youth or tourism, we would lose part of the grant from Central government. If it was not for these grants, we would have virtually no services. The SUMA only covers about half of the requirements needed to ensure that the services provided are maintained.
For the person who is obviously jealous of the fact that I and one other councillor changed our cars, it is no business of his, but our previous vehicles no longer fitted our needs. For me a seven year warranty from Kia swung the deal. This same person seems to think that I only appear at a council meeting once a week and pick up a fat cheque, they are mistaken, for as many people know, I am in the office every day from 09.00 until 15.00, dealing with all types of enquiries. I receive requests for assistance at home and some even call at my door. Between that and other council duties I put in, between fifty and sixty hours a week. After taxes and deductions I receive the princely sum of €540 a week, (€2200 per month). I can show my bank statements to whoever does not believe me. Yes better than some,but certainly not the €3900 as was quoted by another individual, who apparently was earning quite a bit more, when he was councillor.

Help Vega Baja

http://www.helpvegabaja.com/. On the 3rd of September the Help Vega Baja organisation will be coming to San Fulgencio for a presentation and information seminar. This will be held at the Social Centre in La Marina from 1400 hrs until 1600 hrs. Following on from that date they will be given access to our Offices on Calle Madrid every alternate Friday to Age Concern. We hope that we will form a joint information service, which will cover all aspects of living and working in Spain.
May I suggest that you check out their web site to see the full range of services which will be available.
Those who wish to attend the seminar should intimate this to our offices as seating will be limited.

A couple of things I wish to comment on.

1. There have been a few comments about the amount of money being spent on the Rock Festival. This allocation of funds is from the Council for Tourism and Youth. What the Town Hall gets in from SUMAS etc. is only about half that which is required to ensure the other services are maintained. The shortfall is made up from Alicante, Valencia and Madrid. Therefore the budgets for Youth and Tourism must be spent on just that.
Viña Rock in Albacete, attracts around 50 thousand people each year and the town benefits from them. We must look at projects that will attract visitors for the future.
I suppose, as an alternative, all the Councillors could have gone on an all expenses trip to the London Trade Fare.
2. Watch out there are theives about. A band of theives are targetting the Urbanisations. They normally arrive in a hired car, hired using a stolen driving licence and paid for by a stolen credit card. They are opportunist theives who will sneek in and steal even when you are on the toilet. So make sure your front gates are locked. Make sure your windows and doors are secure when you leave the house, even for a few minutes. Report any suspect cars or people hanging around.
3. Male predators.
 About 10 days ago, the daughter of my neighbour was out on her own in the Urb,near to Consum Square, late at night. She was not a little girl, but a 26 year old mother of two. She was approached by two men who offered to walk her home. One was a white guy, the other dark skinned. When the white guy was informed that she was a mum of two  he left, but the other guy was more insistant. He is alleged to have grabbed her and tried to sexually assault her. She was told that if she screamed, he would kill her. Fortunately she escaped with bruising.
He has since been identified, but is still at large. Warn all your female friends and family that they must be extra vigilant against this type of predator.

Andi and his comments on A Spanish Life

Andi are you living in the past? I feel that you should clarify that all your references are about the previous government teams. The new government which took over in June last year is currently engaged in reducing the huge debt which they inherited. I can tell you that the budget for fiestas for 2012 is less than the that of 2003. The council has plans to bring other events to La Marina and San Fulgencio, which will be staged in other commercial areas, such as the grey area

Cockroaches, Mosquitos, Night Markets and K9

Jeff Wiszniewski

News and Views from the PIPN Councillor

lunes, 11 de junio de 2012

Cockroaches, Mosquitos, Night Markets and K9

Cockroaches and Mosquitos, The program for spraying the manholes to kill the cocroaches will begin at the end of this month into July. As Cockroaches are resilient little beggars, the Manholes will be tackled again from the middle of August until the end of that month. There is an ongoing program to combat those darned mossies. If there is a particular area that is being plagued by either of these beasties, call into the offices and we will arrange a special visit to your area.
I am afraid nights markets are a non starter. As they are run by private businesses, the proprietors do not see there is sufficient business potential for them to run a market for only one night in the week and they feel that unlike Guardamar which has passing trade on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays,  La Marina does not have that passing trade.
We are however looking into the possibility of utilising part of the Market Area for a Sunday Car Boot Sale.
On the subject of K9, I would just like to say that I will not be drawn into any wranglings regarding funds etc. I will however state that it is my view and that of the Town Hall, that they, and the other Charities, that operate in our area, are doing a wonderful job to help animals and those in need. I have noted that with more people getting involved in these Charities, it is bringing back the Community Spirit, that we need, to survive these hard times. For me it is a time to put away our differences and work towards a common goal, of making this a Community to be proud of.