Santa Margalida has a registered population of around 13,750, of whom some 8,700 live in the resort of Can Picafort. There are also, according to Mayor Joan Monjo, approximately 1,500 squatters. The mayor prefers to call them "social tourists" so as to not possibly imply being racist.
Monjo explains there has been a problem with squatters for years but that it has worsened. He fears for people's safety. "There are ten to twelve people living in each apartment without the minimum health and safety guarantees." The town hall has been bricking up access to properties, but the mayor says they are soon reoccupied.
The town hall bricks up properties, but they are then reoccupied.
Some squats are properties that were left unfinished because of the financial crisis. They are distributed throughout the municipality, but especially in Can Picafort. "Most of them are owned by banks."
He maintains that many of the squatters commit crimes in Santa Margalida. "There are all kinds of people. Some are illegal immigrants, who work as street vendors on our beaches. But there are also workers who don't want to pay rent. Unfortunately, there are also children."
Monjo insists that it is not tourists who are "taking homes away from us". There are roughly 250 properties with squatters, where families could be living. In his view, tourism is being demonised and blamed for overcrowding, when this isn't really the cause.
He is critical of politicians with powers to act for not taking appropriate measures to address the difficulties in accessing housing. He stresses that tourism is the main driver of the Balearic economy. "In Santa Margalida we have 17,000 hotel places. The hotels pay their taxes and create jobs. However, we have some 1,500 social tourists who don't pay anything and yet create many problems." He is clear that there should be an end to tourism being criminalised and that necessary measures are adopted to prevent squatting and to facilitate access to housing.
Very few homes have been built since 2010 and he reserves particular criticism for the last government, which eliminated developable areas from the Mallorca Territorial Plan. "This has made housing more expensive." The housing shortage in Mallorca, he argues, is primarily a consequence of squatting and of political decisions that have hindered new construction.
Matthew RileyI would guess most or all of us on here have won first place in the lottery of life. No ones fault, just a fact. So the question is what do we do to help all the poor unfortunates. They now all have mobile phones so want to come and live the life they see we have. The odd few we can cope with but its gone beyond that. The UK and several countries in Europe have demonstrated that if you let in the third world en masse your country doesn't suddenly leap upwards in economy and culture, rather it goes the other way and becomes at least in parts a mirror image of the third world. Whatever we do for their improvement has to be in the country of origin. However if we send money and then suggest how they spend it we are reborn colonialists flexing our power.
Bottom line, if we value our standard of life and living we must halt all illegal migration.
Richard PearsonWell, yes. Turns out my mother’s family goes back nearly that far. The Riley side were potato famine escapees. I’ve been quite fortunate. But I come from a country of immigrants. Sadly, they’ve seemingly lost their way, continuing a long tradition of intolerance. It seems worse now, though. Apologies to all who feel betrayed. I’m with you.
tranq tranquerIt’s difficult for me to know, as white and privileged as I am, how I might react as a young man living in a tin shack with no flood and no prospects. Or worse, with a family in the same situation. Would I scratch together what I could in order to get in the boat for a chance somewhere else? I’d like to think I would.
Matthew RileyWell firstly if they can't pay in the third world hell hole they came from how are they going to pay for anything here doing unskilled low wage jobs ?
As for Monjo criticising the politicians, I criticise Monjo. What is this " social tourist " woke rubbish. We want politicians who call a spade a spade and to hell with what people call them.
LovedSollerLet’s consider the possibility that they would pay if they could. They haven’t come here because they wanted not to pay. It’s likely they were unable to pay in their home country, as well. They need work, as do the rest of us. Immigrant labor - in the US, anyway - has always outperformed the existing labor force. Let’s try to hire them.
Sounds like another local politician in the pocket of the hoteliers.
And how on earth did you allow this ridiculous claim to go unchallenged?
“ He is clear that there should be an end to tourism being criminalised.”
Pray tell, when did tourism become a crime? Who has served time for soaking up the sun? Who has been fined for simply holidaying here?
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Matthew RileyI would guess most or all of us on here have won first place in the lottery of life. No ones fault, just a fact. So the question is what do we do to help all the poor unfortunates. They now all have mobile phones so want to come and live the life they see we have. The odd few we can cope with but its gone beyond that. The UK and several countries in Europe have demonstrated that if you let in the third world en masse your country doesn't suddenly leap upwards in economy and culture, rather it goes the other way and becomes at least in parts a mirror image of the third world. Whatever we do for their improvement has to be in the country of origin. However if we send money and then suggest how they spend it we are reborn colonialists flexing our power. Bottom line, if we value our standard of life and living we must halt all illegal migration.
Richard PearsonWell, yes. Turns out my mother’s family goes back nearly that far. The Riley side were potato famine escapees. I’ve been quite fortunate. But I come from a country of immigrants. Sadly, they’ve seemingly lost their way, continuing a long tradition of intolerance. It seems worse now, though. Apologies to all who feel betrayed. I’m with you.
Matthew RileyYou mean like “white and privileged” passengers on the Mayflower ?
tranq tranquerIt’s difficult for me to know, as white and privileged as I am, how I might react as a young man living in a tin shack with no flood and no prospects. Or worse, with a family in the same situation. Would I scratch together what I could in order to get in the boat for a chance somewhere else? I’d like to think I would.
Matthew RileyLegal immigrant labour.
tranq tranquerI agree. Also, my friend Morgan can now start referring to me as a “social tourist”. It has a Je ne sais quoi ring about it.
Matthew RileyWell firstly if they can't pay in the third world hell hole they came from how are they going to pay for anything here doing unskilled low wage jobs ? As for Monjo criticising the politicians, I criticise Monjo. What is this " social tourist " woke rubbish. We want politicians who call a spade a spade and to hell with what people call them.
LovedSollerLet’s consider the possibility that they would pay if they could. They haven’t come here because they wanted not to pay. It’s likely they were unable to pay in their home country, as well. They need work, as do the rest of us. Immigrant labor - in the US, anyway - has always outperformed the existing labor force. Let’s try to hire them.
Richard PearsonYou need to ask? Guffaw.
Sounds like another local politician in the pocket of the hoteliers. And how on earth did you allow this ridiculous claim to go unchallenged? “ He is clear that there should be an end to tourism being criminalised.” Pray tell, when did tourism become a crime? Who has served time for soaking up the sun? Who has been fined for simply holidaying here?