The Secretary of Security of the Municipality, Daniela Valarezo, presented the preliminary results of the operations in the historic center.
The first four days of intervention and recovery of the historic center of Quito, 532 actions have been carried out which include care for homeless people, attention to complaints, precautionary measures in public spaces and commercial premises, attention to urban fauna, sanctions for violations, cleaning of the streets, among other aspects.
The preliminary results were shared by the secretary of Municipality Security, Daniela Valarezo, during an extraordinary session of the Metropolitan Council, on October 21. The official described as “Just and deserved” the performance of metropolitan agents.
The Quito Security and Coexistence Plan was approved by the Council
Valarezo exhibited an illustrative sheet with details and dates of the three phases that comprise the plan in the historical center:
- Phase 1: Between October 11 and 15, information groups were held for self-employed traders.
- Phase 2: Between October 16 and 20, the control of the public space recovered; as well as relocation and regularization of self-employed traders. On October 25, information groups will be held in the La Marín sector.
- Phase 3: As of October 29, a process of intervention in La Marín with the support of the National Police and the Armed Forces.
Currently, the scope of intervention It is around Avenida 24 de Mayo, Flores, Cuenca and Esmeraldas streets.
During phase two, which is underway, the activities focus on the documentary and physical control of autonomous traders; assistance to homeless people, social prevention and crime situation; protection for national and foreign tourism; and, strategic communication. On the last point, the Secretary of Security recognized that communication with the population must be improved.
Regarding the actions these days, the agents and authorities have received all kinds of comments of citizens and merchants.
“We have been told that we are confusing crime with poverty. They need security. They have asked us to control order and cleanliness in public space. That they need to walk with space in their tracks. They have asked us to give freelance traders work alternatives. We have suggestions from various people and merchants who tell us that they should be in the public space. Several traders who do not want to go to the markets, either. They don’t want to settle in the La Merced market, ”Valarezo described.
The recovery work is carried out with several municipal institutions, to relocate informal traders circulating in the streets.
Valarezo showed a video where it is seen that in the La Merced savings shopping center, located four blocks above the Plaza Grande, there are empty premises where street vendors can be installed, once they formalize their activity.
What’s more, broadcast videos of some performances by metropolitan agents. In none of these images is it observed that the uniformed men proceeding aggressively against the merchants, as has been seen in videos captured by citizens and circulating on social networks.
Quito councilors ask the mayor for reports on clashes between municipal agents and merchants
In the same transmission that was presented to the councilors, it appears Carlos Castellanos, President of the Unitary Confederation of Retail Traders and Self-Employed Workers of Ecuador (The Ukraine), who stated that merchants agree to plan of economic reactivation that the Municipality undertakes.
“It is time to regularize and order. The nine zonal administrations have to receive the documentation in November and December. We bet on that regularization process and on that ordering process, ”said Castellanos.
The extraordinary session of the Metropolitan Council ended without other institutions being able to explain their participation and results within the recovery plan.
Mayor Santiago Guarderas had to close the meeting in the middle of the presentation of the Secretary of Security, because several councilors withdrew and left the Plenary without a quorum to be able to continue. Only eleven councilors were present in the room listening to the information.
“For the record, we have made the effort to explain what many councilors, who are not present here, have requested, “Guarderas said at the end of the session. (I)
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