St Julian’s Deputy Mayor Warns His Town Is Turning Into An Expensive Favela
Photo: Instagram (silvyascanu)
The deputy mayor of St Julian’s has warned his town is fast turning into an expensive version of a Brazilian favela, due to a rise of lawlessness and a construction frenzy.
“Over the years St Julian’s has transformed itself from a quiet fishermen village to a cosmopolitan centre, but St Julian’s has its own shady side too,” Albert Buttigieg wrote in The Times of Malta. “On a daily basis, residents have to make up for the irresponsibility of the many rowdy and unrestrained visitors who throng the streets screaming till the early hours of the morning.”
“Vandalism, graffiti and theft are on the increase. Driving and parking is problematic. Several parking spaces are being taken up for outside catering venues. Our shoreline has become one whole private beach concession. Open spaces are limited, except for the promenade.”
“Garbage is put out outside collection hours, in particular by short-term tenants. Lewd and drunken behaviour is a common occurrence too. Our elderly are increasingly feeling insecure, ending up barricaded in their own homes. Public enforcement is still much to be desired, especially when dealing with certain commercial outlets that play their loud music till morning breaks.”
St Julian’s deputy mayor Albert Buttigieg
Buttigieg also criticised the government for lacking a strategic plan for the impact on the town of a number of mega-developments, including Mercury House, the Villa Rosa complex and the upcoming development on the former ITS site.
“The Paceville masterplan [of 2016] was supposed to address sustainable development, but it turned out to be a wish-list exercise,” he said. “Although the masterplan was shelved after a public outcry, the government stubbornly and slyly continued taking a piecemeal approach and act as a benevolent enabler. Two mega developments, which were proposed in the masterplan, Mercury House and Villa Rosa complex, were approved to the dismay of our local council, residents and NGOs. Now, the db mega development on the former ITS site, another development proposed in the masterplan is being recommended too. At this rate, all proposed blueprints found in the master plan are going to be approved. Crafty Joseph!”
Do you live in St Julian’s? What do you make of the deputy mayor’s warning?
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