Marco González Mesa, former mayor of Puerto de la Cruz from 2019 to 2024, has received an award for excellence in education after dedicating two decades to his local children’s centre in La Vera. Now a councillor in opposition and an advisor for the Canary Islands government, he continues to serve as spokesperson for the PSOE in the local council.
In a recent interview, González reflected on his time as mayor, stating he left many projects unfinished. He described his first term as particularly challenging due to a major tourism decline and a global crisis, but he believes his administration transformed adversity into opportunity through cultural initiatives, making Puerto a cultural hub. He noted over €55 million had been invested in hotel renovations and various public and private projects were initiated, helping to achieve one of the lowest unemployment rates in two decades.
While González acknowledged efforts to support vulnerable families and increase employment programmes, he expressed regret at not having more time to improve neighbourhoods, stating that maintenance works alone weren’t sufficient for recovery.
Addressing the stalled construction project at San Francisco Park, González revealed it was initially deemed deficit-ridden and the costs ballooned from €8 million to €25 million for only 600 seats. He insisted on the need for a venue that integrates well with its surroundings and remains accessible for public events.
González also highlighted the potential for the old bus station site to serve as a large cultural venue while accusing the current PP and CC coalition of hampering progress. He claimed the recent motion of no confidence that ousted him has resulted in a loss of investment in Puerto, with no funding from the Canary Islands government in the past three years.
He provided specific data on the decline in visitors, with the town reportedly losing 16,000 visitors in May and 12,000 in June, attributing these losses to inadequate action against holiday rentals that have affected long-term residents.
On the state of the abandoned Botanical Garden building, he expressed his frustration over the government’s lack of action, despite previous plans to renovate it. He confirmed that vegetation efforts have finally begun but emphasised that issues persist, notably regarding the pollution concerns at Playa Jardín, demanding accountability from the Tenerife Cabildo.
When asked about his ambitions to regain the mayoralty in the upcoming elections, González expressed renewed optimism and urged voters to trust him and his team again. He noted the firm socialist roots in Puerto’s community and the alienation many feel from right-wing governance, intending to focus on personal connections and addressing constituent concerns.
Reflecting critically on the current government, he pointed to failures in addressing local needs and questioned the partnership between CC and the PP, suggesting that their similarities inhibit real change. He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to the community, asserting the need for accountability in the face of persistent problems, particularly relating to public health and urban infrastructure.
