Aspiring mayor for the National District (Santo Domingo), David Collado of the PRM says he would not embark on major public works but would concentrate instead on solving the city’s basic problems. He seeks to replace Mayor Roberto Salcedo who has been in the post for 14 years and is making a bid for another four. Collado made the statement during an interview with Listin Diario newspaper over the weekend of 23-24 April 2016. He was accompanied by his campaign head, deputy Victor (Ito) Bisono and aspiring candidate for deputy for Circunscription No. 2, Alfredo Pacheco, himself a former candidate for mayor.
Collado stated that the city’s basic problems included poorly maintained cemeteries, street lighting, garbage collection in poor areas, and proposed a change of schedule to nighttime collections. In the Colonial City, for example, he said garbage should be collected from 2am to 6am. He also spoke in favor of strengthening the municipal police.
He said that he has an Inter-American Development Bank proposal for US$7 million to lay underground electricity cabling in the Colonial City.
He proposed improving street lighting with 50,000 low consumption bulbs for 1,491,000 meters of city streets that are currently in darkness.
He said that this project should have priority over the annual Park of the Lights that the Salcedo administration organizes every Christmas.
He also pointed out that under the city administration, cemeteries have become hideouts for criminals and have been neglected by the government despite the fact that they generate around RD$23 million in revenue a year.
He proposes to improve the municipal food markets in the Honduras neighborhood, and in El Nuevo (Duarte) and Modelo on Av. Mella. He said that they generate RD$36 million in taxes that should go towards their upkeep.
He proposes to build green areas and sidewalks, especially in Circunscription 2 and 3 of the National District. He said they would purchase low-cost properties and turn them into parks, as is done in other cities of the world.
He said the lack of parking spaces in the city worsens traffic and he would create a network of parking areas in coordination with the private sector. He would also establish a transport discussion table for proposals and improvements, coordinating all traffic sector stakeholders.
To resolve the rainwater drainage problems, Collado proposes to buy 10 trucks to maintain the 689 drains in the city and carry out an education campaign to stop residents throwing garbage in the sewers.
He said he would return the Nuryn Sanlley Amphitheater to the Ministry of Culture, and would invest in the Teatro Agua y Luz restoration.
He proposed to regulate city vendors, saying that the vendor plazas that have been built are not being maintained by the current municipal administration.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2016/04/25/416876/david-collado-promete-solucionar-los-males-de-santo-domingo
