With the start of the new political term, the Mayor of Santa Cruz, José Manuel Bermúdez (CC), returns with a notebook full of responsibilities for the city. He claims he is resuming activities after the summer with “great enthusiasm, very happy and fully engaged”, asserting that the set challenges are being met. With municipal elections approaching in May 2027, he observes, “I’m not focused on the elections, but on advancing projects. I don’t want to leave a legacy in Santa Cruz. My goal is for the city to be better in a year and a half. I guarantee it will be.”
– What challenges will mark the resumption of the political term?
“This is an important year because we are reaching a peak in investments and activities in a Council that is now running smoothly. We are managing the budget well, particularly exploring avenues to secure funding from other administrations. This is the first time in the recent history of the municipal corporation that we have far more projects than money. Therefore, our primary objective is to ensure the management is largely focused on achieving goals, funded by the Cabildo, the Government of the Canary Islands, and the Spanish Government, whilst also pursuing European funds that have become crucial for competing with other public institutions to obtain them. We’ve never had so many works underway, and I am confident that the forecast made at the beginning of the mandate, regarding investing around 100 million euros in projects, will be surpassed. We are currently experiencing a period of frantic activity.”
– What would you like to have completed by May 2027?
“Our projects, those nearing completion today, began five years ago and were not influenced by upcoming elections. I am not working with that in mind but rather to ensure that in the next term, there will be finished projects, such as the new bathing area in Añaza, where I would like to see funding secured from the Spanish Government or the Canary Islands Government next year allowing the works to go to tender, similar to the Puerto-Ciudad building, which, despite being announced, I hope will be approved by year-end.”
– Are you satisfied with your management so far?
“I am executing a city project that I envisioned when I took office, and I have never stopped striving to bring these ideas to life, particularly the enhancement of the Anaga coastline, including El Bloque or Los Charcos de Valleseco. Other projects, such as Añaza, the Palmetum ring, or Las Teresitas will have to wait for the next term; however, we must keep progressing. Despite this, I am never fully satisfied with what I’ve achieved, and I consider it a personal shortcoming, as I am always seeking to improve and do more. I am pleased to have more projects than money, but I will not stop until all are funded and can move forward.”
– Which projects do you feel less enthusiastic about?
“Everything I want to progress relating to works and services is underway, but I would say that the Santa Cruz Verde 2030 project, involving the decommissioning of the refinery, is not progressing as swiftly as I would like. I have conveyed this to the Government of the Canary Islands, the Cabildo, and Cepsa. I understand these matters are complex from a bureaucratic standpoint, but I wish that the decommissioning could happen faster so that people can see pipes, chimneys, and tanks being removed. Another issue concerns the city’s road connectivity, where I am also dissatisfied. The closure of the ring road for the metropolitan area is not on the agenda. I do not understand why there isn’t the same political ambition for the capital as there has been for the closure of the southern ring. Traffic from both motorways should not be passing through the TF-5, which has volumes exceeding those of the M30, yet we continue to discuss the north-south bypass, the closure of the ring, and northern and southern trains.”
– Is there a disconnect between political discourse and public perception about the city?
“The fact that there are public protests over certain issues does not mean we are not on the right track. The politician who does nothing faces no criticism; it is only those of us who take action that expose ourselves to it. Criticism over implementing a bike lane, when all of Spain and Europe have them at the heart of their cities, is inexplicable. It’s a positive initiative, not simply bike lanes to Las Teresitas, but lanes through the urban centre for those who wish to travel differently. In our case, it is a 2.5 km bike lane on roads totalling 900 km in our municipality, meaning the proportion dedicated to cycling compared to cars is minuscule. The same applies to the intention to limit vehicle use in the city centre, as is done elsewhere. We are heading in that direction, implementing measures aimed at better accessibility in the city and shifting habits. The goal is to create parking spaces to organise parking, allowing for more rotation and, consequently, more opportunities for residents to park. Simultaneously, we are working on the ordinance that will enable the establishment of blue and green zones, all tied to improving public transport and supporting bicycles and electric scooters. That is the path we are forging, but the issue is that here we are accustomed to everyone wanting more rubbish bins, festivals, or terraces but not beneath their own homes.”
The bike lane is currently on hold pending a judicial ruling. What will happen if it is unfavourable?
“If the challenge we lodged against the court’s precautionary measure is not upheld, I will have to make a decision, as we cannot indefinitely wait for the court to decide whether a city can implement a bike lane. It is indicative that this issue has to go to court and question whether the Council can execute it. We will have to see how things ultimately unfold, but it is clear that I cannot leave a project unfinished and unused whilst waiting for a ruling. We remain hopeful of winning and continuing with the works, as if we lose, a definitive ruling could be appealed and prolong the process for years. We cannot allow that, nor can Santa Cruz’s commerce.”
The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) has also been challenged. What will happen?
“The LEZ is not something the Council wishes to implement due to an air quality issue, but rather because the law mandates it for all municipalities with over 50,000 inhabitants. Furthermore, the Spanish Government will penalise us if we do not comply, as in terms of subsidies or state income, it will be taken into account as a penalty that we have not implemented it yet, which should have been done by 2023. Unfortunately, I have had no choice but to comply with the law, and that is why we have approved the project, which Vox has taken to court, and we will now need to approve the ordinance, which will also likely face a challenge. The government of Pedro Sánchez has handled this so poorly that many low emission zones will likely be struck down in court, and it will not be the Council’s fault, it will be the State’s.”
– Do you hold the state government responsible for pressuring councils?
“In many matters, yes, such as the increase in urban waste rates to which we are now being subjected. During my time as mayor, the waste rate has either been reduced or frozen each year, but now due to a state regulation, all councils must adhere to the principle that the polluter pays, which will result in the tax having to increase exponentially, reaching 140 euros per year, or I will be in breach of Pedro Sánchez’s law. Therefore, with the LEZ and the increase in waste bills, this Government is creating more problems for residents.”
– And what about housing? How are you addressing this issue?
“Regarding public housing construction, I am requesting the Government of the Canary Islands to provide the funds that the Spanish Government has yet to release to enable us to build. I have projects ready to tender, such as the 226 homes in Cuevas Blancas, and I cannot proceed as no one guarantees financing. In terms of rehabilitation, I have entire neighbourhoods, like Juan XXII, La Salud, or Los Gladiolos, waiting for the State to release the project supporting urban rehabilitation areas that would allow us to execute them. Nevertheless, we are not sitting idly by, as in Juan XXIII, La Salud, or Chimisay, we are carrying out these projects, including installing lifts in blocks, using Council funds without any guarantee of financing since the General Budgets are extended. We are rehabilitating blocks of homes with European funds and tendering works for adjudication, as is the case with Añaza. I am going beyond what is typically expected of a Council, as with acquiring residential promotions, such as the 25 flats in Valleseco, which I hope to award next year.”
– In the State of the Municipality debate, you announced the launch of the first strategic plan against unemployment. What has been done?
“This plan must be highly participatory, making the opinions of unions and small to medium businesses crucial. We aim to identify those employment niches generating greater labour demand, such as construction or services, and adapt the training we provide to these profiles, ensuring that job openings are filled. There are things to streamline, such as licenses, but the best way to create jobs is to make it easier for companies to set up here.”
– Another focus is to make Santa Cruz an attractive destination for tourism. Is that being achieved?
“We have the best tourist data, hotel occupancy rates, and cruise visitor numbers in our history. We remain very appealing to tourists stayed in the north or south wishing to visit the capital, yet we want to grow further, not necessarily in terms of tourist numbers but in their spending. Therefore, it’s essential that the city remain attractive, offering leisure activities, cultural events, sports, or festivals which also create jobs.”
– Would this justify the hotel at Las Teresitas?
“In 2011, I could have developed the hotel envisioned in that project, but I never pursued it. Today, our intention is to expand the uses of the site to potentially create more housing or a socio-health centre, although the city’s next government will have the authority to make that decision, as there will be no hotel in this term. If CC is in charge, the idea will be a socio-health centre for Anaga. The urban planning modification for Las Teresitas also includes a promenade with areas for sports, new lighting, sanitation, and reorganised parking, which I consider the most important.”
– What is your wish for this year and a half as mayor? Will you run again?
“My wish is for ongoing projects to be completed by 2027. I want Santa Cruz to be better in a year and a half than it is now, as it is currently better than it was two years ago, and I can demonstrate this with data on employment, the economy, registered businesses, and quality of life for residents. My aim is not to leave a legacy but to ensure the city is better, and I guarantee it will be. As for whether I will be a candidate for the Mayor’s office, I will say that I have always been available to my party, and now will be no different.”
