Coronavirus: they went to clandestine parties and now they are forced to sweep sidewalks and maintain squares

Javier Firpo

06/12/2021 6:00 AM

• Clarín.com

• Society

Updated 06/12/2021 6:00 AM

It was necessary to look for some dissuasive, awareness and visibility measure to try to reduce the contagion of Covid in Río Tercero, the Cordovan city that has almost

80 percent occupancy of intensive care beds and an average of 50 infections a day

. Thus it was that the mayor Marcos Ferrer decided to take an initiative, a priori novel, that fell well with the almost 60 thousand inhabitants of the municipality: "Those who participate in clandestine parties must pay high fines or

perform community tasks

."

The regulation, which dates from 2007, is found in the Municipal Code of Offenses and until now it had not been applied, "that is why we believe that it is the right time to carry it out and create awareness in those who do not respect the rules and

make visible a sanction for those who look at it from the outside

.

We seek to generate a coup,

"he says in dialogue with

Clarín

Ferrer, who is concerned about the numerous clandestine parties in Río Tercero, which endanger the health of the neighbors and the capacity sanitary.

Ferrer, who has been mayor since 2019 and belongs to the UCR, is convinced:

 "We Argentines are children of rigor ...

As we warn that they are lacking or failing, we organize them to control them, we transgress the rules because we know that there will be no sanction. Well, We don't want that here anymore, we want it to be

an exemplary measure and that there is a difference between those who abide by the measures and the offenders

. "

The decision that motivated the implementation of the measure was when a clandestine party with fifty people broke down at the beginning of May.

"The announcement was made a month ago and

the sanctions began to be carried out the first days of June with the presence of two young people in a vaccination

, who collaborated to order lines, check shifts and data.

It continued this week with other girls who were assigned to

paint curbs and gutters on public roads

and will continue with another batch next week, in a square, where there is much to do ", describes Damián Monti, director of the office of Human Resources of the Municipality.

These two women had to collect garbage, plant flowers and fix flowerbeds on the public thoroughfare.

Mayor Ferrer's initiative had

not only the support of the entire local political community, but also had the approval of the parents of the transgressors

. "Did the kid give a snot? Let him learn!", Monti paraphrases one of the parents of a minor who had to go to prove the data of his 17-year-old son who refused to pay the fine of 40 thousand pesos . "Let him do what he has to do, otherwise they will not learn more," is what another indignant parent downloaded.

Community work

consists of performing tasks between 10 and 15 hours, depending on the activity and obligations of the sanctioned person

, who must present himself at the municipal Human Resources Department office to commit to comply with the fine. And of not attending? "He is called up to three times, but the penalty of 40 thousand pesos is automatically applied."

Who designates the tasks?

The Human Resources Department puts on

a fluo yellow uniform

that says the Municipality of Río Tercero and sends supervisors who accompany and control the tasks that per day require an average of two hours.

"So far both pedestrians and drivers who see them applaud the measure. '

Let's go to work!' Is the most heard comment

."

Two young men had to sweep squares and paint cords.

The neighbors endorse the measures.

Monti shares that "

the boys are guilty and sorry and they are ashamed of being

exposed to the neighbors, they know that the uniform they have identifies them as those who attended clandestine parties. It is not the most pleasant thing, but they are obliged, that is why we insist vehemently in raising awareness. And

since we announced these measures we have noticed a considerable drop

in the organization of forbidden social gatherings. "

Mayor Ferrer emphasizes that "it is not a question of escrating anyone and insult or aggression will not be allowed, but we remain strict in carrying out community tasks in case they are unwilling or unable to pay."

What happens who relapses at a party?

You must directly pay 80 thousand pesos and 200 thousand for the organizer.

Of the fifty attendees at the clandestine party that they found at the beginning of June, almost half decided to pay (there are several minors) the fine and

today the municipality counts 24 that they will carry out community tasks

.

"I want to clarify that we are in no way pursuing a collection purpose, nor do we intend to become a repressive state, but that

we are desperate to open the eyes of the youngest

. Criminalizing them is not the way but they do understand that it does not matter to abide by not to do so, that's why we defend these exemplary sanctions. "

The mayor of Río Tercero, Marcos Ferrer.

"We are looking for a measure to raise awareness of young people and make them visible so that outsiders do not do it."

Both Ferrer and Monti made it known that they

have been contacted from other Cordovan municipalities,

"impressed by the good repercussion

that it generated in the interior of the province, "with the idea of ​​internalizing to replicate the experience." Until now, something like this had not been done in Argentina, nor is it something to rejoice in, but

if it works to deter clandestine parties

, then let echo nationwide ".

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