El Ciudadano
Original article: Alcaldes y alcaldesas progresistas advierten impacto de reformas del Gobierno y refuerzan trabajo común por los territorios
Progressive Mayors Raise Concerns About Government Reforms Impacting Local Communities
During the National Municipalities Meeting held in the Coquimbo Region, progressive mayors from various communities across the country convened for a vital opportunity to coordinate and analyze political and technical issues, organized by the Progressive Think Tanks Network, serving as the technical secretariat for the initiative.
This gathering is part of an ongoing effort that local leaders have been pursuing since March 7, aimed at creating a unified approach to address critical issues impacting municipalities today: local funding, municipal autonomy, urban planning, social services, public safety, and the potential effects of government reforms on the daily operations of local councils.
Over the past months, this platform has enabled the systematic gathering of diagnoses, the raising of shared alerts, and the strengthening of a municipal agenda from a progressive perspective, highlighting the role of local governments as the first point of contact with the State for citizens.
The Mayor of Coquimbo and host of the meeting, Alí Manouchehri, emphasized the importance of a united front among local authorities from different regions.
«It is an honor to host mayors from all over Chile in the Coquimbo Region. Municipalism has historically shared a common vision in the fight for greater independence, increased resources, and better public policies to improve the quality of life for our residents,» stated Manouchehri.
«Today we are on alert regarding government decisions that could impact municipalities and the services we provide. Therefore, we will continue to insist that the voices of our territories be heard,» added the mayor of Coquimbo.
Meanwhile, the Mayor of Quinta Normal, Karina Delfino, underscored that the work being conducted by municipalities aims to preempt decisions that could have direct consequences on community life.
«Municipalities are closely familiar with the urgent needs of the people. This collaborative effort is crucial: it allows us to look beyond our individual municipalities and establish a common stance on issues that directly affect primary healthcare, public education, safety, and social programs. Defending municipal capacities is essential for protecting the quality of life of our residents,» Delfino stated.
From the Horizonte Ciudadano Foundation, Executive Director Eolo Díaz-Tendero emphasized that this process aims to provide technical and political input to strengthen municipal action in the current scenario.
«Since March 7, we have facilitated a serious and systematic collaboration among progressive mayors to build a shared perspective on the challenges facing municipal governance. Undermining municipalities is not a technical decision: it is a political choice that directly impacts families’ lives,» affirmed Díaz-Tendero.
Mayors agree on the necessity that any reform affecting municipalities be discussed with the effective participation of local governments, taking into account the concrete experiences of those who manage essential services and face daily citizen demands.
Jeannette Jara
In La Serena, former presidential candidate Jeannette Jara participated in one of the discussion panels at the National Municipalities Meeting, where she highlighted the management and collaborative spirit expressed by local leaders across the country.
The former minister valued the declaration reached at the meeting, stating, «It emphasizes that resources should not be diminished, but rather, the municipal fund should be strengthened, particularly focusing on rural and vulnerable communities. This is one of the most significant developments in current politics.»
In this context, she questioned the direction of the Government, which, «under the pretext of existing hardships, instead of creating a path to improve our situation, seems to be doing the exact opposite.»
Regarding the comprehensive reform project proposed by Kast, Jeannette Jara commented that «the mechanisms being suggested come with a certainty: in the coming years, tax revenues will decline, and while they might eventually rise due to increased investment, it is certain that tax revenues will fall. The potential recovery is uncertain and could go either way.»
Additionally, the Mayor of Maipú, Tomás Vodanovic, highlighted the achievement of a unanimous and cross-party agreement, «which allows us to raise a single voice against the budget cuts to municipalities.»
«Attacking local governments directly affects the people, especially those with fewer resources who are most in need of public services. We hope to be heard and to rectify measures that will have serious consequences for the lives of the people we represent,» asserted the Maipú mayor.
We will continue to provide updates.
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