The Madrid City Council has issued 180 fines in Sol for dirt and alcohol and drug consumption

The vice mayor of Madrid, Inma Sanz, detailed this Thursday that the City Council has imposed 180 fines related to alcohol and drug consumption and cleaning in the Puerta del Sol camp. She warned of the "serious danger" posed by the protest and once again demanded that the Government Delegation expel the protesters.

In the press conference after the Government Meeting, the vice mayor of Madrid, Inma Sanz, detailed that a total of 180 sanctions or fines have been imposed in the area around Puerta del Sol. She explained that 76 of these fines correspond to the Citizen Safety Law for consumption of alcohol or drugs on public roads and more than 100 fines have been imposed through the cleaning ordinance.

In this regard, Sanz stated that "you just have to go there to see many of the issues" for which sanctions have been imposed such as "urine and throwing waste in different areas." The vice mayor indicated that it has not yet been possible to make a detailed assessment of the heritage damage, but pointed out that there is "serious damage that can be seen with the naked eye" in monuments such as the Bear and the Strawberry Tree, the Mariblanca and the sculpture of Carlos III.

He added that the state of the kilometer 0 plaque, the rest of the square, the street furniture and the fountain itself will also be evaluated, since "there are serious acts of vandalism" and "moorings, for example, to the hooks of the awnings and streetlights." Sanz assured that "there will be very large damages" and that they will do "everything possible so that those who have caused these damages have to pay for those damages."

Sanz reported that the City Council has several open procedures through its service created specifically to prevent graffiti and acts of vandalism, and that the incidents are being investigated.

"ILLEGAL" CAMPING

The vice mayor insisted that the camping trip is "illegal" and that the Government delegate, Francisco Martín, has "complete responsibility" for any situation that may occur. He denounced a "very clear abandonment of functions" by the Government Delegation by not adopting measures so that Madrid residents can enjoy their public space. Asked if they have any alternative security plan taking into account the dates that are coming in the coming weeks such as long weekends and Christmas. He stressed that "the alternative plan to illegality is to recover legality."

The City Council met yesterday with merchants, who according to Sanz expressed their concern about the "loss of business", security problems and access to the Metro. Traders also expressed concern about the inability of an ambulance to enter in an emergency.

He also mentioned that the Community of Madrid has conveyed problems to them regarding the exits from the metro and Cercanías entrances of Puerta del Sol, one of the most important transport nodes in the city. He stated that "it does not seem reasonable that those evacuation exits and the square itself are absolutely surrounded as it is in its composition right now, full of tied plastic."