Municipal secretaries and gastronomy entrepreneurs in Copacabana debate alternatives to face the neighborhood’s problems

The meeting between secretaries and businesspeople from Copacabana was to discuss alternatives for confronting and overcoming the neighborhood's problems - Rio City Hall

The Community Action Secretariat, together with the departments of Social Assistance, Environment, Public Order and the Subprefecture of the South Zone, promoted a meeting with businesspeople from the Copacabana Gastronomic Center to discuss alternatives for confronting and overcoming the neighborhood's problems that are reflected in the day-to-day running of their commercial establishments.

The meeting highlighted the issues of excessive homelessness, illegal street vendors, lack of security caused by the increase in thefts and robberies, and poor lighting and cleanliness in the neighborhood. Local merchants and residents also requested the development of fiscal and tax strategies to help the sector during this time of health pandemic that has seriously affected them.

– One of the missions of my department is to bring the government closer to the favelas and surrounding communities. Listening to the demands of residents and business owners who have been my partners for years, in one of the most famous neighborhoods in the world, which gave the most votes to Mayor Eduardo Paes and which is home to favelas whose residents are the labor force of these businessmen, are the reasons why I brought an important team of secretaries from the Paes government – ​​says the Secretary of Community Action, Marli Peçanha.

– The meeting to discuss issues that are sensitive to business owners in the hub is very important for the neighborhood and for the South Zone. We know how much the pandemic has affected the economy and the sector. The city needs a new outlook. I believe that together we can strengthen and improve the scenario in general – says the Deputy Mayor of the South Zone, Ana Ribeiro.

Projects and actions were also presented to local traders and residents

According to the Environment Department, the recovery of Copacabana is essential for the city and joins the alliance efforts of all departments with businesspeople.

– We are restoring the infrastructure of Parque da Chacrinha, one of the environmental icons of the territory, for example – says the Secretary of the Environment, Eduardo Cavaliere.

Laura Carneiro, Secretary of Social Assistance, stated that they are systematically taking actions to welcome the homeless population.

– Since January 1st, we have already provided more than 19 services and 1.500 shelters, most of them in the South Zone and the city center, where there is a greater concentration of this population. Always respecting human rights and following the National Social Assistance Policy. We are also working to renovate shelters and transform them into truly welcoming places, and to do so we count on the help of the business community and organized civil society, in implementing this new social development policy.