Buenos Aires, March 2 (NA) - The opening of the session period in General Pueyrredón marked a significant turn in municipal policy: Mayor Agustín Neme focused on public order and announced security measures, including the creation of a motorized Municipal Patrol unit and the acquisition of equipment for operations. According to the Argentine News Agency, in his speech, Neme spoke of the Municipal Patrol as the central axis of his administration and stated that during 2025 it intervened in 7,618 resident complaints, resulting in 266 apprehensions for various reasons. He also proposed to increase operational capacity and territorial presence. The most controversial measure was another announcement: an initiative with the Ministry of National Security to 'expel' from Mar del Plata those who engage in illegal car parking and do not have a domicile in the city, a proposal that raises legal and operational questions about its implementation. He also announced the purchase of 'Birna' (non-lethal) pistols and the incorporation of bodycams, arguing the need to act in situations of violence, reduce risks, and provide 'transparency' in each procedure. In parallel, the administration sought to reinforce its economic narrative: a 6.8% unemployment rate in the last quarter of 2025 was mentioned, 'Express Authorizations' with provisional permits in 24 hours, and the promise of a municipal RIGI with tax incentives for investments. However, the speech left a critical point unresolved: the real cost of the Patrol's expansion (new vehicles, motorized units, cameras, non-lethal weapons, bodycams) and the concrete mechanisms for control, sanction, and due process in operations that promise to be more frequent and intrusive in public space. IP With 'firm hand' announcements on the table, the local legislative year opens an inevitable discussion: to what extent can the Municipality go in control measures, and what transparency and auditing tools exist to ensure 'order' does not become discretionality.
