The mayor of Badalona and the situation of families
The mayor of Badalona, Xavier Garcia-Albiol, has once again put a vulnerable group at the center of the debate: the families of the Venus block in the Mina district. These families, who exceed 200, have been fighting for years to find a decent way out of the building, which the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia has confirmed must be demolished. In addition, this would be the solution to leave a property with deplorable conditions. However, it has not yet been determined how this resettlement of the inhabitants of the block will be carried out (https://www.softcatala.org/resum-de-textos-en-catala/).
The proposal of the general secretary of Social Rights
The general secretary of Social Rights, Oriol Amorós, has raised the possibility that the city of Badalona will assume the rehousing of some of those affected by the situation at the Mine. However, the mayor Xavier Garcia-Albiol has strongly rejected this possibility, suggesting that the families relocate near the home of the president of the Generalitat, Pere Aragonès (https://www.softcatala.org/resum-de -catalan-texts/).
The mayor’s response and the current situation
Xavier Garcia-Albiol has decided to respond to the Government’s proposal with a public refusal to host some of the families from the Venus block in Badalona. This stance adds to the mayor’s extensive history of aporophobic and xenophobic positions. While the families continue to wait for a solution, they are considering rehousing at the expense of the consortium that administers the neighborhood, formed by the Government, the councils of Barcelona and Sant Adrià del Besòs, and the Provincial Council of Barcelona, or financial compensation.
The situation of the families and the options available
The Venus block families are still waiting for a solution to their situation. The two most common options are rehousing at the expense of the consortium or financial compensation. So far, 30 families have opted for financial compensation and 31 families want to be part of the first phase of rehousing in public flats. Demolition of the building is scheduled for 2028.