Por Redaccion 
The Full Council of the City Council has unanimously agreed today to request the central Government for the forgiveness of municipal debt and a 5 percent increase in the participation of State revenues. The municipal spokesperson, Félix Romero, who defended the proposal presented by the Popular Municipal Group urging «the implementation of a series of measures that will provide assistance to the economic situation of the municipalities,» emphasized that «the voice of Marbella is not the voice of any city, but of a municipality with 160,000 inhabitants with the moral strength of having been the only one that had to be dissolved in terms of its governing bodies for being robbed.» The councilor argued that «if Catalonia is forgiven the debt generated by its disastrous management, how can we not be forgiven.»
Romero has demanded that the central Government include in a specific decree the 5 percent increase in State Revenue Participation (PIE), «which is not State money, it is taxes they charge us and must be reimbursed by law.» «The Ministry of Finance has announced that the expected 13 percent increase has not only been eliminated but will be rolled back to the 2023 budgets despite a 5 percent increase in revenue,» lamented the councilor, who also advocated for municipalities to be allowed to «freely use our Treasury surplus» and for the definition of «financially sustainable investments to be as broad as possible.»
During today’s session, with the abstention of the PSOE, it was approved to request the central Government for the creation of direct accesses between the AP-7 highway and the Istán road. The Works councilor, Diego López, recalled that this road «is key for the connection of numerous developments and facilities» and that vehicles heading towards Malaga «have to pass through Puerto Banús or Nueva Andalucía, causing congestion and road safety issues, especially during peak season.» The councilor indicated that the proposal presented by the Popular Municipal Group «responds to an urgent need because it will not only alleviate traffic in a key area but also promote sustainable development and improve the quality of life of our citizens.»
On another note, the municipal Corporation has unanimously approved the naming of Paco Álvarez and José Antonio Macías to two public spaces in the city, a square next to the San Pedro Alcántara municipal market and the access road to the Calvario park, respectively. The mayor, Ángeles Muñoz, highlighted that these posthumous recognitions «are a matter of justice and to ensure that their memory endures over the years.» Regarding Álvarez, she mentioned that he was one of the founders of the San Pedro Flamenco Peña and emphasized his commitment «to bring this art to schools and organize important festivals.» Regarding Macías, she emphasized his connection to the Calvario Brotherhood, «where he left an important legacy in his various responsibilities.»
Similarly, with the support of all political groups, the initiation of the process for granting the title of Honorary Citizens to José Lara Añón, María Adamuz, Rafael Reyes, Manuel Lavigne Labernia, Antonio Sánchez, Jesús López de los Ríos, María José Ortiz Aguilar, Juan Francisco Jiménez Benítez, Alfredo Macías Sánchez (posthumously), Leonor Blanco Román, Juan Manuel Zamora Vázquez, Jesús Tomás Prieto Marcos, Manuel Pérez García, Francisco Soto Saya, Encarna Bandera Tapia, and Manuel Cortés Jiménez ‘El Pinto’ has been agreed.
On the other hand, the 50 percent reduction in the Business Activities Tax (IAE) has been approved for the Marriot, Baviera, Óbal Urban, Marbella Club, and Senator Marbella hotels, establishments that have requested this aid for remaining open all year round, as well as the motion to promote the feasibility study and implementation of new dog parks in San Pedro Alcántara and Nueva Andalucía. Finally, the proposal to create a technical committee to initiate the process of creating the city’s official flag and coat of arms has been approved; the manifesto for International Women’s Day, commemorated on March 8, has been approved, where the commitment «to continue working towards achieving effective and real equality» is mentioned, and initial approval has been granted to the new ordinance regulating Carriage of Passengers by Horse.