An Extraordinary Plenary Session of the Algete City Council approved yesterday, Thursday, the removal of Joan Manuel Serrat’s name from a municipal building, to rename it after a local resident, who will be declared an Honored Son of the Town of Algete.
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The City Council will approve, with the majority of the local Executive and the rejection of the rest of the opposition, its proposal to change the name of the municipal building “Joan Manuel Serrat,” which will be renamed “Cruz Epifanio Mateo Fernández Building,” director of the town’s music band.
With this change in the name of this municipal space, the local coalition government of the Popular Party (PP), Union of Independent Citizens (UCIN), and Santo Domingo Union (USD) want to recognize this local resident for his cultural, musical, educational, and social career, as well as for his historical contribution to the life of the municipality.
From the opposition, PSOE and Neighbors for Algete have announced that they will vote against this proposal, although they do support the appointment of Don Cruz Epifanio Mateo Fernández as Honored Son of the Town of Algete. They believe this measure has caused strong rejection among different social and cultural sectors, not because of the tribute to the recognized Algete resident, but because of the removal of Joan Manuel Serrat’s name.
Last March, during the public information period of this proposal, Neighbors for Algete submitted objections that they maintained in this plenary session, defending the preservation of the current name of the building. Their spokesperson, Sergio Velasco, considers that Joan Manuel Serrat is a cultural reference and that his name associated with this municipal space has been firmly rooted among the residents for almost two decades.
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Velasco defends the preservation of the already established symbolic and cultural heritage and rejects that to recognize outstanding personalities of the municipality “names with evident value for many residents” be replaced, such as that of the Joan Manuel Serrat building.
Both PSOE and Neighbors for Algete also criticized that the final approval was made in a closed-door Extraordinary Plenary Session, ending, they denounce, with the highest level of transparency and citizen participation that a decision of this public relevance would deserve.
From the municipal government, led by the Popular Fernando Romo, they defend the merits of Don Cruz Epifanio Mateo Fernández, as a teacher, director of the Villa de Algete Music Band, and promoter of local cultural initiatives, against “the lack of roots” and “direct connection” of Joan Manuel Serrat with the municipality.
They insist that there is no other center in the municipality that meets the characteristics that match the merits of Don Cruz Epifanio Mateo Fernández, regarding the type of activities carried out there, and affirm that the residents are expressing their agreement with this name change.
