In La Garzota, greater cleaning and lighting are requested in public spaces used as ‘bedrooms’

In several alleys and streets of the La Garzota citadel, in the north of Guayaquil, there is concern on the part of the residents due to various problems, such as the accumulation of waste and assaults. Added to this are areas where lighting is considered insufficient by pedestrians.

In a park, located between Luis Mendoza, 6º pasaje 2NE, 2º pasaje 2NE and René Idrovo Rosales streets, one night in recent January, some residents were walking with their pets along the paths of the park.

In their journeys it was evident that they sought to travel through the areas illuminated by streetlights inside the space, while the outline remained dark in some sections, since the rays of light seemed blocked by some treetops. Lighting in several spaces was poor.

From that area, advancing in the direction of Agustín Freire avenue, there is also an alley with more green areas. There, in one of the corridors, a neighbor commented that a light had not turned on for several weeks and that also due to the easy pedestrian connection to the interior of La Garzota, on some occasions, robberies had occurred and that escape route had been used. the antisocial.

A few months ago there was the case of some paint sharpeners who took money from a person who had been leaving a nearby entity.

In other streets, according to residents, now people who spend the night in public spaces and others who are dedicated to drug use and come up to ask passers-by for “collaboration” to supposedly feed themselves.

One of those areas that is used as a bedroom and that is left littered is concentrated in the park on the streets 2º pasaje 2A NE, Luis Mendoza, René Idrovo, 5º pasaje 2A NE, and also another contiguous recreational space that gives towards Via Freire. “They don’t respect anything, they smoke on the main avenue, in the parks,” said Ramiro, a 50-year-old neighbor.

In Puertas del Sol, residents expect better use of land that is now occupied to leave garbage and by people living on the streets

In days gone by, the park on Luis Mendoza street, at the intersection with 2nd Passage 2A NE, remained with debris in the roundabout. When crossing the street and heading towards av. Agustín Freire, in the adjoining recreational space, was a young man resting on a cement wall.

In this last space, according to residents, people with drug use problems tend to be located, so the neighbors are afraid to travel through that area and try to stay in other areas when they go out to play sports or walk with their animals or small children. .

“I go for a walk because I go with my pitbull dog, but I wouldn’t go out alone, in the face of crime you are not faster than the criminal or the bullet,” said Ramiro, while crossing the recreational area.

In addition, at nightfall, in both mentioned parks it was evident until a few days ago that some lights were working, but others remained off. Likewise, some streets have defective lighting fixtures, which generates more darkness on sidewalks in the sector.

“The parks leave a lot to be desired, you would be very hesitant to bring your children, when you arrive everything is dirty and when you leave, are they going to rob me or not? Also on the main avenue,” said Ramiro, who sometimes prefers to move along busier roads to avoid any uncomfortable episodes and have options to ask for help in case of an emergency.

In another park, located between Virgilio Jaime Salinas and 2nd Passage 2A NE streets, the lights were also turned off. Meanwhile, in another space located inside the Chinese temple of La Garzota there was rubbish.

Residents of El Cóndor and Los Rosales deal daily with the sound of vehicle horns during traffic jams that are generated in the area

Another neighbor, Raúl, who has been in the area for three decades, asked that more constant cleaning be carried out in green areas and also that police officers make more rounds or be located in strategic places.

“The lighting is not very good, there are broken lights. It hurts because my mother has lived here for forty years, what can be done? A lot can be done for our city,” said Carlos, a neighbor who lives in Sauces 1, but constantly frequents the La Garzota area.

Common robberies also occur in that part of La Garzota. On one occasion, months ago, a woman and a man riding a motorcycle assaulted a person who was on the public highway, while on another occasion a couple who apparently shared a moment of leisure in a park robbed a citizen.

Due to security problems, some residents have placed bars in some alleys to prevent criminals from entering.

In some of the streets, both main and interior, Raúl and Ramiro, both citizens who walk this sector daily, consider that the lighting system should be improved so that both sides of the sidewalks can have optimal viewing at night. , since in some cases the lights are not “enough”, they said. (YO)