The homeowners' community of Jardins de Llevant has accumulated unanswered complaints regarding encampments of homeless people, night racing, and litter in vacant lots. They have been demanding action from the City Council of Palma and the Local Police since 2022.
Residents of Jardins de Llevant, in the Palma neighbourhood of Nou Llevant, claim they are living in an unsustainable situation. Since moving into their homes in 2022, they report that issues of security, cleanliness, and mobility have been piling up without any effective response from the City Council of Palma or the Local Police.
María Eugenia, spokesperson for the neighbourhood community, explains that the main concern now is the proliferation of encampments of homeless people on several plots in the neighbourhood. “We ask that the vacant lots be fenced and cleaned in compliance with regulations. Otherwise, homeless people enter, start with one or two shacks, spread out, and then it takes years to dismantle them,” she points out.
According to the resident, these encampments have been expanding into the green areas located between the highway and the streets of the neighbourhood. She also warns that the occupants are making bonfires, which adds a fire risk to the already delicate coexistence situation.
The poor condition of the vacant lots not only facilitates the appearance of shacks but also leads to the accumulation of rubbish and the presence of rats and cockroaches. “They have even entered the community, and we have had to pay out of our own pockets for a pest control company,” laments María Eugenia.
Another issue that bothers residents the most is the car racing that takes place at night on various streets in the neighbourhood, such as Avenida de Mèxic and the streets of Bogotá, Barranquilla, and Brotad. The community asserts that when they notify the Local Police, the response is that it is difficult to catch the drivers in the act of the infraction.
Additionally, there are the so-called “disco cars,” vehicles that drive or park near the Can Palou park with loud music. “They pass through the park and the surrounding streets, open all the windows, park, and start having a party,” recounts the neighbourhood spokesperson.
The entrance to the community parking lot also generates daily complaints. To access the parking from Avenida de Mèxic, drivers must cross a solid line, which constitutes an infraction. “Every day about two hundred residents commit an infraction. We have been requesting that this section be made discontinuous for years, but it is of no use,” denounces María Eugenia, who claims to have contacted the Local Police, the Neighbourhood Police, and the Civil Guard without success.
The construction of the future Caja de Música has also caused damage to the sidewalks in the neighbourhood. The trucks working on the construction have deteriorated the pavement, and residents believe the City Council should take responsibility for the damage.
The Jardins de Llevant community asserts that they have submitted numerous written complaints and requested meetings with municipal officials, but so far they have not received concrete solutions. “We feel abandoned by the City Council,” concludes María Eugenia.
Nou Llevant is a recently developed neighbourhood in Palma, which has grown in recent years with new housing developments. Residents demand that the council address their requests to ensure coexistence and safety in the area.
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