Since June and with the arrival of summer, the “top manta” returned to the city center, particularly to the Rambla and Plaça de Catalunya.
What is remembered is that during 2018 and 2019 the manteros became history both because of the pandemic and because of the pressure from the Guardia Urbana. At that time, the City Council estimated that there were more than 700 manteros.
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However, now in 2022 and along with the arrival of the heat and the return of tourists, the top manta returned to Barcelona.
Authorities make statements on the “top manta” issue
Eugenio Zambrano, secretary of CSIF’s Organization and an agent of the Guardia Urbana, indicated that these vendors were again seen in the city due to the arrival of tourism and normality.
The issue, he adds, is that “there is no planning or public management in security by the municipal government to control them”.
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For his part, José Casas of the UGT union and police officer of the Guardia Urbana, says that although manteros have been seen again, it will not be like the other time. It is something residual that, if not stopped in time, can cause the problems of before.”
On the same subject, Fermín Villar, president of Amics de la Rambla, affirmed that “the stallholders returned to La Rambla but only at times, since when trying to locate near the subway, the agents do not allow it”.
“Illegal manteros have been gradually reduced, just as is happening now with the bicitaxis in Barcelona.”
