Did they know about the assembly?
The first question was simple: Do you know that this Saturday, April 18, there is an Extraordinary General Assembly? Four of the six interviewees knew. Two had no idea — and both are tenants.
A tenant who prefers to remain anonymous learns about the assembly through our conversation. No one had informed him. He also knew nothing about the centre's problems.
Fabio, owner of Pride Fashion, also knew nothing. His reaction is immediate:
„¿De qué forma podría saberlo que ninguno lo comunica?" — Fabio, Pride Fashion · "How could I know if nobody tells us?"
Jorge (Souvenirs) and Sandra (Moda Sandra) were in the know. Luis Alberto (Peluquería) was present at the election of the new board. Alicia says she is up to date.
To go or not to go?
Of the six interviewees, three plan to attend in person: Sandra, Luis Alberto, and Alicia. The anonymous tenant doesn't know whether, as a tenant, he has the right to be present. Fabio thinks it falls to the unit owner. Jorge cannot go because he will be working, but he will find out afterwards.
What do they think about what's happening?
We asked them about the topics CITA News has been reporting on: the missing computers, the debts, the change of president, the secretary's resignation. Reactions varied.
The anonymous tenant knew nothing at all. The centre does not inform: not the tenants, and according to him, not anyone outside the board circle. Fabio had not read the reports either, but is surprised by what we tell him. Jorge knew there was a WhatsApp group with news, but hadn't looked at it. Sandra has read CITA News:
„Al final dicen que tenemos dinero en la cuenta y ahora tenemos deudas. No lo sé cómo va la cosa." — Sandra, Moda Sandra · "In the end they say we have money in the account and now we have debts. I don't know how things stand."
Luis Alberto was at the election of the new board but has no follow-up on what is being done. He has expectations, but no information.
Alicia is the only one who openly defends the current management — and questions the published information:
„No sé si son reales lo que expone en Cita News." — Alicia · "I don't know if what Cita News publishes is real."
She says she speaks with the current board and they tell her it is not true. She asks for proof before publishing.
It's a legitimate position — and she's probably not the only person with doubts. In a situation with so many figures, documents, and contradictory versions, distrust is understandable. But precisely for that reason, it's important not to delegate your opinion to anyone — neither to CITA News, nor to those who say the opposite.
All data published by CITA News is based on official documents, minutes, and direct conversations. Anyone with doubts can write to [email protected] — every question will be answered with the corresponding documents. Better to ask than to trust blindly.
Are they worried about the debts?
The centre has 1.9 million euros in outstanding debts. We told each person. The reactions:
The anonymous tenant did not know. He pays his community fees and is up to date with those, but had no idea about the centre's debts. Fabio, also a tenant, says it worries him and doesn't worry him at the same time: as a leaseholder he is not an owner, but he knows it affects him.
„El que diga que no, miente. Uno quiere estar saneado las cuentas, que no haya un problema." — Jorge, Souvenirs · "Anyone who says otherwise is lying. You want the accounts in order, no problems."
Sandra says of course it worries her. Alicia too, but she adds a structural point: many of those debts come from owners who simply disappeared and stopped paying their fees. Units that have been closed for 30, 40, even 50 years. She proposes seeking agreements with the local councils to modify the horizontal property law and eliminate those ghost units.
Luis Alberto frames it with urgency: it's money the centre needs, and he doesn't know what the legal or judicial consequences could be.
Professional or individual management?
Five of the six interviewees come out in favour of professional, external management.
The anonymous one sums it up in a sentence:
„Un cambio necesita." — Anónimo · "It needs a change."
Fabio wants a company dedicated exclusively to that. Sandra says: professional. Luis Alberto too, but wants to know what it would cost:
„Llevamos treinta años en barbecho." — Luis Alberto, Peluquería · "We've been fallow for thirty years."
Jorge is the most nuanced: he is open to external management, but if someone does it well internally, it would not be necessary. What he wants: results.
Alicia does not rule out the professional option, but argues that both approaches can be combined. And she reminds us that the new board has only just started: they need to be given time.
What would they change?
The last question: is there something you would like to see changed in the centre? This is where the answers become more concrete — and more convergent.
The appearance of the centre. This is the topic that comes up most. The anonymous tenant says it bluntly: this looks like a flea market, not a shopping centre. Customers get lost. The clothes at the entrance block the way. Fabio agrees: the whole exterior looks like a bazaar. Other shopping centres — Los Alicios, the Atlántico — don't have that problem.
The rules. Both tenants insist on the same thing: the rules exist, but are not applied equally. Some can set up whatever they want outside their unit. Others cannot. That creates conflicts between neighbours and destroys the shared image.
The infrastructure. Jorge wants ceilings, floors, bathrooms, and paintwork fixed. Alicia confirms that the bathrooms are being repaired as a first step. Luis Alberto asks for something more ambitious: international projection, attracting young people, families, renewing the customer base.
Transparency. Sandra wants to know where the debts come from. Jorge wants the accounts in order. Alicia wants proof of what is published. The demand for transparency comes from all sides.
On April 18, the owners meet at the extraordinary assembly. Three of the six people interviewed here plan to attend. The question is no longer whether change is necessary. The question is whether the board is willing to listen.