The socialist reproaches the PP and Vox governing team for now attributing the commercial crisis to changes in consumption habits, online shopping, and competition from large retail chains, “which have been the same for years”. For Puerta, the explanations offer “Carrasco's lies, who curiously completely changes her discourse since taking office”. When she was in opposition, “for Carrasco, every closed shop was the fault of the municipal government. Today, after three years in government, it turns out the fault lies with the internet and large retail chains. It is a monumental contradiction”.
The socialist spokesperson recalls that the current mayor, when she was PP spokesperson in opposition, spent months walking the city center streets, posing next to closed businesses and accusing the progressive government of “letting die” the commercial heart of the city. In fact, Carrasco even stated that “Castelló has never been as dull as with this government” and directly blamed the previous municipal executive for the proliferation of empty premises.
"What we ask ourselves is what has changed since then,” points out Patricia Puerta. “Because the internet already existed. Online shopping already existed. Large retail chains already existed, and the only thing that has changed is who occupies the mayor's office”.
From the PSPV, they consider it particularly striking that the Popular Party now points to large retail chains as one of the causes of the loss of commercial activity in the center. “Hearing the PP blame large retail chains is an exercise in political amnesia. It was precisely the Popular Party governments that bet on this commercial model for years and who opened the doors to the establishment and growth of large commercial areas in Castelló. They cannot boast about them when it suits them and use them as an excuse when their policies to support local commerce fail”.
Puerta laments that, three years after coming to power, Carrasco still has not presented an effective strategy to revitalize local commerce. “When she was in opposition, she had recipes for everything. She spoke of revitalization plans, aid, campaigns, urgent measures, and listening to the sector. Today, after three years in government, we continue to see emblematic establishments closing while the municipal government limits itself to justifying what it previously denounced”.
The socialist spokesperson has also criticized the management of the Commerce area by Vox and its councilor, Alberto Vidal. “While the center continues to lose economic and commercial activity, the PP-Vox government's balance sheet is summarized in whims and campaigns of dubious utility, such as the infamous 'Mother-in-Law's Day' campaign or 'Los Tercios de Flandes', which do little or nothing for businesses. Retailers need serious measures, not ephemeral headlines or initiatives that generate more controversy than results”.
For Patricia Puerta, the situation demands self-criticism and political responsibility. “Begoña Carrasco must recognize that she has failed in her commercial policy, but instead of taking responsibility, she has chosen to change the narrative and look for excuses where she previously saw culprits”.
