The President of Lisbon City Council, Carlos Moedas, addressed the Municipal Civil Protection Operational Coordination Center and called for unnecessary travel to be avoided, especially tonight, between midnight and 6:00 am, taking into account the forecasts of heavy rain.
“We are going to have very challenging days here until Sunday, with rain and wind, especially tonight, between midnight and six in the morning and, therefore, I would leave here some important advice for Lisbon residents: the first is to avoid unnecessary travel, the second is to avoid everything that is riverside areas and parking in those riverside areas”, he warned. The mayor ordered the closure of the city’s municipal gardens, such as Estrela, Serafina and Alvito, justifying the decision with the danger of falling trees in the gardens.
The head of municipal civil protection in the capital asked that concerns be taken into account in the city’s riverside areas, stressing that the authorities are taking into account the evolution of the situation and the safety measures to be adopted, such as blocking the doors of houses because “all measures are important to prevent these floods”.
Moedas was questioned at this Wednesday’s Chamber meeting, but was silent on what pressing plans he might have for prevention. He ruled out a repeat of the 2022 flood scenarios and highlighted the importance of the Drainage Plan, stressing that “there are parts already executed, such as in Sete Rios”, which will help minimize problems.
Opposition with criticism
Livre reported outrage that Joana Baptista, councilor, had implied that there would actually be a renovation on Avenida 5 de Outubro, which could destroy the area’s iconic jacaranda trees. The PS had discussed the action plan for the Leonardo depression, the problem of increased drug consumption in Campo de Ourique and the anger at the impossibility of using public properties for students. Councilors from the Socialist Party voted unfavorably to the proposal to carry out expansion work with demolition on the building located on Rua Pardal Monteiro, lamenting to the DN that the compensation is below market value, representing a loss of over 250 thousand euros to the public treasury.
To Diário de Notícias, Bloco de Esquerda said it had asked about the removal of bicycles by the municipal police. “If there were excesses by the Municipal Police, they must be stopped and the bicycles must be returned to the population. We have no intention of hunting for bicycles”, said vice-president Gonçalo Reis. The Police command stated that the bicycles were “improperly rented from public space”, citing “14 bicycles collected from five thousand scooters and four thousand cars.”
The Bloc also questioned the appointment of Mafalda Livermore, from Chega, to the administration of social services. Carolina Serrão urged Moedas to present opinions, procedures for appointment and asked if there was a competition with other candidates. There was no response, claims BE. The party’s motion for the university residence on the 5th of October, which the PS also indicated was essential to maintain in the municipality for housing purposes, was rejected by Chega and the coalition, housing that will belong to the State, but which the opposition in Lisbon points out to Moedas for inaction.
The PCP focused on the Elevador da Glória accident, delivering a request asking for information on the response to the needs of victims and families and the results of technical audits, as well as news regarding the arrangements and supervision in other elevators, which the PCP claims does not yet have information for them to return to operation.
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