Open Labanderia Popular in the Old Town of Vitoria-Gasteiz, a space left by the City Hall
- The Shower House was closed in 2013 in the mayor of Javier Maroto, claiming that it was a "problem of integration". On July 22, the members of the neighborhood's Bizi housing network entered the premises of the Casco Viejo to start a laundry called Herri Labanderia. The Municipal Police came to the place in a "very violent" way, but did not manage to evict the premises, which was being evicted.
The Etxean Bizi Housing Network, in the neighborhood, announced on Monday, July 29, the opening of Herri Labanderia through social networks. “Over the years we have recovered for the neighborhood another space left by the City Hall,” they said. It will open to the public at 117 Calle Correría del Casco Viejo, in the area of Casa Shower, closed 11 years ago. The municipal government justified in 2013 the closure of the municipal showers opened in 1948 for "an integration problem", during the mandate of Javier Maroto, but the members of EH Bildu stated that it was a "social cut" and that the site had an annual cost of 33,000 euros, according to GasteizHoy. According to municipal data, about 200 or 300 people used showers a year.
On July 22, the members of Auzo Bizi entered the Casco Viejo site, from where the municipal police officers tried to evict him. “The new space of Herri Labanderia has been made public and the munips have appeared, in a very violent way and almost hit the neighbors with the car,” they explained through social networks. They defended the space and the municipal police did not manage to evict it.
No money for the washing machine
In the case of Auzo Bizi, he denounced that the City Hall and the businessmen want to turn the Old Town of Vitoria-Gasteiz into a “showcase” and turn the city into a commodity. The gentrification and turistification processes lead us to leave our neighborhood: the high prices of housing, the unbearable noises, the police presence and the suffocating persecutions, the privatization of public space, etc.”, explained. The housing network has denounced that many residents of the area lack a washing machine or cannot afford the “big electricity costs” of their use. The Gasteiz Txiki Neighbours Association has applauded and supported the initiative.
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