At the ITB fair in Berlin earlier this week, Palma's mayor, Jaime Martínez, announced that there is to be investment of 21.5 million euros in modernisation of Playa de Palma and in enhancing security in the resort.
In terms of security, the mayor's plan includes the use of drones for tackling anti-social behaviour and crime and in enforcing provisions of Palma's recently revised civic ordinance. Issues in Playa de Palma over recent seasons have been well chronicled, making it Mallorca's number-one tourism trouble spot. Given that Playa de Palma's tourism is predominantly German, the mayor's messages went down well with his audience in Berlin and indeed with businesses in the resort area, the hoteliers in particular.
But while the mayor was focusing on the likes of street drinking and drug dealing during the tourism season, residents of Playa de Palma have been drawing attention to current problems in what is the main centre for the issues in the summer - the 'Ballermann', as it is known by the Germans, the area around Balneario 6.
A group of homeless people have occupied a building on the sea front, and a number of them, according to residents, are drug addicts. "Every day there are people lying in their own excrement, surrounded by crack pipes. As a woman, I am afraid to walk past there," says one. "I have to walk past them several times a day. It's terrible. It's not only unpleasant, it is also dangerous," says another.
They explain that the situation began to arise last autumn, since when more and more people have been arriving. The matter has been referred to the association of owners, which says nothing can be done. The police intervened on one occasion, people left but then came back again.
The mayor, it would appear, has a security issue to deal with before the season gets under way.
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Charles Dalrymple-ChumleyOnce again you show your ignorance and lack of compassion with your scathing personal attack, and make yourself look very foolish with your lack of understanding and totally wrong assumptions! I am one of the most independent people I have ever met. I have worked hard all my life, had my own business, and achieved everything that I have (home bought with cash and NO MORTGAGE, CAR BOUGHT CASH, NO CREDIT ANYWHERE, and never a single government handout!) And all single-handedly! I doubt very much that you, and most of the population could honestly say the same! I WILL give you a very clear example, as requested. A lot of people are only able to work low-paying jobs. Some can only work part-time as they have family members to care for. So, working in a low-paid (but often vital to the public) job, they are faced with a "dumbass system" that requires them to pay €300 per month social security IRRESPECTIVE of how much they earn! There is no earnings percentage-based payment like there is in the UK. Therefore, it creates a forced "black" economy. I always say that if they ever DO make things cashless, Spain would collapse overnight because of the HUGE black economy that exists, and in reality, actually props up the country. I would say feel free to enlighten me if I am mistake, but unfortunately your views have lost all credibilty.
How many years has this been going on and NOTHING ever happens.
TawnyLike others on these pages you blame the Government for everything. You say ".....unable to find legal work because of the dumbass bureaucracy...." Explain this assertion, if you can. How does bureaucracy prevent people from working? If I'm a plumber, carpenter, electrician, office worker....how does bureaucracy stand in my way of finding a job? What utter tosh you believe. People like you live their lives certain that all their ills are as a result of Government interference. They aren't. You and you alone are responsible for the success or failure of your life and any battle you may have with the authorities is for you to overcome. We're born alone and we die alone. Government is incidental to the path we choose to take. Wake up to this reality and your life will change, overnight.
Charles Dalrymple-ChumleyPlease don't compare this beautiful island to LA!!! LA is a sprawling den of iniquity lacking any moral compass with Hollywierd as the main culprit! One cannot bear to think of Mallorca in the same light! It is incredibly sad. And you can show these people videos of whatever you want, but in most cases these people have hit rock bottom and when you feel you have nothing left to lose, this is the result. Unable to find legal work because of the dumbass bureaucracy, cannot afford a roof over their heads, and probably just want out! So they take drugs to escape the pain and maybe in the hope they may never wake up again. Your view smacks of simplistic and idealistic ignorance. The whole socioeconomic structure needs to change in order to improve the lives of all. I don't have the answers, but I have some compassion no matter how disgusting it may look at first glance.
It's everywhere. One of the wealthiest suburbs of LA has a ghetto of drug-addled homeless which requires residents to cross the street to avoid. What's needed is education (about drugs). Tell them how it all ends before they start using. Show them pictures of bright, clever, pretty boys and girls who tried drugs and got hooked and how they look and live five years later. Like the images on packets of cigarettes it's a very scary life lesson. No good ever comes from drugs and no users got rich from taking them. It's a message that needs to get out there.
It´s a Sad Situation unfortunately but the reality is that Mallorca has Big Drug Problem san Banya etc etc and if the Police & Gov do not start to seriously deal with it soon it will only turn into a Bigger Problem costing live´s of Young people , Bussiness´s and the community in General and it will also get a lot scarier .