The debate over municipal awards should not focus on whether the Yacht Club deserves recognition, but on what these awards conceal. While private initiative in tourism and sports is applauded, many families in Calp lack decent housing or social assistance. The solution is not to eliminate the awards, but to balance them with prizes for the fight against exclusion and to increase investment in basic needs before ceremonies.
Open data to measure investment imbalance 📊
A municipal open data platform would allow real-time comparison of spending on recognition events versus social budget items. For example, in 2023 the budget for protocol events doubled the investment in rental assistance. With a public dashboard, residents could see what percentage goes to social housing, school cafeterias, or mental health. This would force prioritizing basic services over the obligatory photos at the port.
The gold medal for the impossible rent 🏅
While the Yacht Club receives its plaque, residents search for an apartment with the same efficiency as a tourist looking for parking in August. Perhaps next year they should award the citizen who manages to rent a studio for less than 800 euros. That would be a true local hero. Or better yet, give the award to the social rent that never arrives. But of course, that doesn't make it into the town hall photos.