Less than a month remains until the municipal elections and, although I imagine that the parties already have their respective electoral programs quite defined, I have decided to offer them, completely selflessly, a series of proposals, in case they may be useful:
1. Neighbor Lane
Creation of a network of exclusive lanes for the circulation of Barcelona residents. This way, those who leave home in a hurry to go to work or take their children to school will not have to share the sidewalk with the large groups of tourists that clog many streets in the center and around the main tourist attractions.
2. Reconversion of can sellers into water carriers
Since water will increasingly be a more precious and scarce commodity and climate change condemns us to suffer temperatures typical of the Sahara, the can sellers who, in summer, sell beers on the streets, could recover the trade of water carrier and, equipped with a pair of clay pitchers, offer fresh water to whoever needs it.
3. Extras program for the Eixample superblock
The reform of Consell de Cent street will push the price of apartments in this new green lung of the city to unattainable limits. It is therefore to be expected that these coveted properties will end up in the hands of investors and speculators and that lifelong residents will end up expelled. Consequently, to bring Consell de Cent to life, it may be necessary to hire Barcelona resident extras: old people sitting on their benches, playing chess, like those who always appear in renders, children playing ball, as if they were in the square of a village in Empordà, or mothers breastfeeding their babies in the shade of newly planted trees.
4. Saint George
Following the example of Barcelona restaurant menus, reinvent and make Sant Jordi more cosmopolitan. That is, push Catalan aside from traditional stalls and decisively opt for books in English, Russian, Chinese or, of course, Spanish.
Following the example of Barcelona restaurant menus, reinvent and make Sant Jordi more cosmopolitan5. Soundproof bedrooms facing streets with more terraces
Collect all the encyclopedias abandoned next to the trash containers and use their thick volumes to soundproof the bedrooms of residents on streets with the most terraces and entertainment venues, where no one can get any sleep at night, like some in Barceloneta or Enric Granados. Culture will save us!
6. Exchange program between cruise passengers and Barcelona residents
The idea is that while cruise passengers disembark in the city to visit the Sagrada Família, Camp Nou, and Park Güell en masse or fill shops and terraces to the brim, residents of neighborhoods with the highest tourist pressure can board the large cruise ships to enjoy, for free, their attractions: swimming pools, casinos, shows, massage service, yoga classes, open buffet, and mojitos on deck.
The idea is that residents of neighborhoods with the highest tourist pressure can board the large cruise ships to enjoy, for free, their attractions7. Installation of a hot water source in the Carmel bunkers
It would allow the thousands of Argentinians who go up to Turó de la Rovira to enjoy one of the most iconic views of the city to prepare a mate, without having to ring the neighbors' doorbells to ask for some hot water.
8. Navigable canal in La Rambla and Passeig de Gràcia
To park, due to its excessive impact, the tram connection along Diagonal and, instead, to assess the possibility of opening a navigable canal along one of the sides of La Rambla and Passeig de Gràcia so that luxury yachts can dock directly in front of the city's most exclusive shops.
9. Pay a city tribute to Bruce Springsteen
Give him the gold medal of Barcelona, name a street, a zoo monkey and a festival giant after him, or have Jaume Plensa sculpt an enormous head of "the Boss" to place it in the middle of the old Plaça Antonio López, where the statue of the Marquis of Comillas used to be.
10. Grant the right to vote in municipal elections to premium tourists
That is, to those who stay in five-star hotels, spend money in Passeig de Gràcia shops and dine in equally starred restaurants.
It's always better to laugh it off.