Luís Mendes spoke during his first official campaign event for the October 12 elections, touring Bairro Alto in the Misericórdia parish, alongside party president Márcia Henriques.
“My major proposal is the idea of having a home in every parish. Currently, the elderly, after a certain age, find their families forced to seek solutions outside the municipality, often even outside the district,” he stated.
The candidate for both the city council and the Marvila Parish Council argued that if 20 beds are created in each of Lisbon’s 25 parishes, it will “increase social support for the elderly” and value those who have “worked and lived their entire lives in Lisbon.”
Luís Mendes began his visit to Bairro Alto on Rua das Gáveas, guided by Leonel Jesus, who grew up in the Lisbon neighborhood but no longer resides there.
Through this “proximity to the population” action, the RIR candidate listened to “complaints that are somewhat general to the entire city but particularly prevalent in the Misericórdia parish.”
“People mainly complain about the unsanitary conditions of the streets, the amount of trash, pest proliferation, and the wear on public spaces resulting from the high pressure of nightlife activity here in Bairro Alto. I think it is time we need a little political courage to change and make strategic decisions,” he stated.
Thus, Luís Mendes proposes the “gradual and partial dismantling” of nightlife establishments and their relocation to other city areas, while retaining restaurants, fado houses, and local commerce, except souvenir shops.
The candidate defended these ideas, noting that “entrepreneurs and investors cannot lose.”
The idea is that the relocation happens to the riverside area, “enhancing the zone,” he explained, recalling it is a concept discussed “for many years,” though lacking “in-depth consideration.”
The RIR candidate also advocates for a “comprehensive inventory of all municipal and state assets,” pointing out that “there is much vacant state property,” and both could be suitable for requalification or rehabilitation for housing, student housing, and housing for displaced teachers.
“Besides that inventory, achieving – my desired goal – the construction of 11,000 homes over the next 10 years. This is feasible with public-private support and PRR support, to build and create housing solutions for people,” he expressed.
Regarding urban hygiene in the city, an area in which he has experience as an operative in the Lisbon municipality’s urban hygiene department, Luís Mendes highlighted the need for “a new approach.”
He criticized the “senseless” division of responsibilities between the municipality and parishes, suggesting they should be distinguished “but all for the city.”
“They cannot be no-man’s lands. It can’t be that this is not the municipality’s, but the parish’s responsibility, and vice versa. These indecisions obviously cause the city’s current state. It’s also important to precisely define internal regulations for urban hygiene. Not only for the workers but also for the municipalities,” he stated.
The candidate, therefore, focuses on “awareness, supervision, hiring more operational assistants, more personnel for cleaning, and a new urban hygiene management.”
In the municipal elections, Alexandra Leitão (PS/Livre/BE/PAN), Carlos Moedas (PSD/CDS-PP/IL), João Ferreira (CDU-PCP/PEV), Bruno Mascarenhas (Chega), Ossanda Líber (Nova Direita), José Almeida (Volt), Adelaide Ferreira (ADN), and Tomaz Ponce Dentinho (PPM/PTP) are also running for the presidency of Lisbon City Council.
Currently, the municipal executive includes seven elected from the “New Times” coalition – PSD/CDS-PP/MPT/PPM/Aliança, seven elected from the “More Lisbon” coalition – PS/Livre, two from the CDU, and one from the BE.
