Owners of commercial premises located in the Pueblo Nuevo sector of the city of San Cristóbal in the state of Táchira, reported this Friday, September 13, that officials from the mayor’s office of the capital of Táchira would be about to demolish their premises without recognizing the years of economic activity they have in the place.
María Josefa López is 78 years old and for 30 years she has lived in a kiosk where her grocery store operated. A few months ago, the mayor of the capital of Tachira, Silfredo Zambrano, informed her that her tin space would be demolished to give her another one built with cement, but now the building has three divisions, so she cannot live there.
Since the kiosk was demolished three months ago, Maria has been living in a neighbour’s house, as she has nowhere else to go. She has also been unable to continue selling food as she did every day.
“I am at a neighbor’s house, my little things are on a plaque, I am going through, as they say, more bad than good, but I am hoping to have my kiosk again as I have had it for all these thirty years, and I am already 78 years old, but I don’t have anything so much as I can say, I am at the mercy of God and the community that is helping me and also the little work that I can do while I can,” he said.
Maria Josefa explained that not even the implements for the operation of the kiosk fit inside the new space. “The little things don’t fit because the heater has six trays, that’s where I have the measurements. The bottle rack doesn’t fit, it’s also big and I have a shelf where I put the little things for display, it won’t fit either. So I don’t know, and I’ll end up there like I’m just dancing,” she added.
He indicated that before the demolition, officials from the San Cristóbal City Hall made him sign a document in which the changes to the kiosk were accepted for the construction of a new one, but he added that it was the same size and did not have to be divided into three parts.
They will be demolished
Two other businesses could also be affected by these demolitions: the office of the Intercommunal public transport line and a food store that has been operating for 40 years.
Adrián Sanguino, manager of the Intercommunal Line, reported that in December 2023, municipal personnel showed up with machinery to proceed with the demolition of the premises, without any notification, and although Mayor Silfredo Zambrano agreed to meet with them to evaluate the changes, this did not happen.
She said that this week a City Hall official told them that the premises will be demolished and that they will operate in the space that was divided into three parts, which was the kiosk of Mrs. María López, 78 years old.
“The mayor told Mrs. Maria: we are going to remove that tin kiosk and make it into a block. Now that we get here, it is clear that this has been divided into three, that is, they are going to put three people in to occupy those spaces… We have submitted the documents, we requested in writing from the office there the meeting that we had arranged with the mayor verbally, because the mayor has been very cordial and very willing to listen to us, because we cannot deny this, but his officials come to do something else,” she said.
Edison Caballero González and his family have been running a food business for over 40 years. Although they have the purchase and sale document for the property, a neighbor claimed that he had bought the space and that is why the mayor’s office would proceed to demolish it.
“We work from 5 in the morning until 12 noon, we have been here religiously 365 days a year, and now we are faced with this situation. When the mayor was here, he promised us that if it was going to be demolished, it would be done with the intention of improving the space, beautifying it with the work on the plaque, but no one has ever actually sat us down to talk to them, we have gone to the mayor’s office and the mayor’s office has not given us any response,” he said.
Merchants and residents of the area are waiting for the mayor of San Cristóbal, Silfredo Zambrano, to explain the situation and why what had been agreed in December 2023 is not being complied with.
#Merchants #denounce #demolition #premises #Mayor #San #Cristóbal
2024-09-14 04:03:12
– What are the reasons behind the demolition of businesses in Pueblo Nuevo, San Cristobal, Táchira?
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Pueblo Nuevo Business Owners in San Cristobal, Táchira, Face Demolition without Compensation
The owners of commercial premises in the Pueblo Nuevo sector of San Cristóbal, Táchira, are facing a crisis as officials from the mayor’s office threaten to demolish their businesses without providing adequate compensation or recognition of their years of economic activity.
One such business owner, 78-year-old María Josefa López, has been operating a grocery store in a kiosk for 30 years. However, three months ago, the mayor’s office demolished her kiosk, leaving her with nowhere to live or work. She was promised a new, cement-built kiosk, but the new structure has three divisions, making it uninhabitable for her.
Maria Josefa is currently living in a neighbor’s house and has been unable to continue selling food as she did every day. She explained that the new space is not suitable for her business, as the implements she uses do not fit inside. “The little things don’t fit because the heater has six trays, that’s where I have the measurements. The bottle rack doesn’t fit, it’s also big, and I have a shelf where I put the little things for display, it won’t fit either,” she said.
María Josefa added that before the demolition, she was made to sign a document accepting the changes to the kiosk, but she was not informed that it would be divided into three parts. “I am at the mercy of God and the community that is helping me, and also the little work that I can do while I can,” she said.
Two other businesses are also facing demolition: the office of the Intercommunal public transport line and a food store that has been operating for 40 years. Adrián Sanguino, manager of the Intercommunal Line, reported that municipal personnel showed up unannounced with machinery to demolish the premises in December 2023. Although Mayor Silfredo Zambrano agreed to meet with them to evaluate the changes, the meeting did not take place.
The owners of these businesses are worried about their livelihoods and are calling for fair compensation and recognition of their economic activity. They are also concerned about the lack of transparency and communication from the mayor’s office regarding the demolition plans.
This situation highlights the struggles faced by small business owners in San Cristobal, Táchira, who are at the mercy of government decisions that can affect their lives and livelihoods. It is essential for the authorities to engage in open communication and provide fair compensation to those affected by these demolitions.
Keywords: Pueblo Nuevo, San Cristobal, Táchira, business owners, demolition, compensation, María Josefa López, Mayor Silfredo Zambrano, Intercommunal public transport line.
Meta Description: Business owners in Pueblo Nuevo, San Cristobal, Táchira, face demolition without compensation. Read the story of María Josefa López and other business owners who are fighting to save their livelihoods.
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H1: Pueblo Nuevo Business Owners in San Cristobal, Táchira, Face Demolition without Compensation
H2: María Josefa López: A 30-Year-Old Business Owner Left with Nothing
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H2: The Struggle for Fair Compensation and Recognition
Am worried about my future,” Maria lamented.
San Cristóbal Commercial Premises Owners Face Uncertainty as Demolition Looms
Residents and business owners of the Pueblo Nuevo sector in San Cristóbal, Táchira, are facing uncertainty and dismay as officials from the Mayor’s office have threatened to demolish their commercial premises without providing adequate alternatives. The affected businesses, including a 30-year-old grocery store, an intercommunal public transport line office, and a 40-year-old food store, have been operating in the area for decades, providing essential services to the community.
Maria Josefa López’s Plight
78-year-old Maria Josefa López, who has lived and worked in a kiosk for 30 years, was informed by Mayor Silfredo Zambrano that her tin space would be demolished and replaced with a cement structure. However, the new building has three divisions, rendering it unsuitable for her business and living arrangements. Since the demolition of her kiosk three months ago, Maria has been living in a neighbor’s house and has been unable to continue selling food as she previously did.
“I am at a neighbor’s house, my little things are on a plaque, I am going through, as they say, more bad than good, but I am hoping to have my kiosk again as I have had it for all these thirty years, and I
