>>885728>I figured Barcelona would have the power to build it despite what NIMBY Spaniards say about it.They do in theory, but they have to get the project approved in city hall first, and the opposition parties will generally try to fuck over the ruling party however possible, and try to get votes by telling NIMBYs that which they want to hear. Opposing a tram line can be interesting for either of those ends.
However, in this case they'd probably be fucking themselves over if they did this, since car drivers from the city itself are a minority (most cars are commuters who don't vote in other townships), as are the people who are against trams, only they make more noise than people who are ok with trams and don't really give a shit if it's expanded or not.
The previous mayor did a lot to discredit the tram system and especially the proposed line, so many people are deluded in that respect, but if you actually asked around the city's residents you'd get more people in favor than against. Ironically, one basic argument offered against the trams is that there was a popular vote against it, when in reality there was a vote on how to remodel that very thorougfare. In that vote there was about a 10% participation, and out of three options (A: "Rambla" (pedestrian area down the center), B: Boulevard, C: None of these) the last one got like 90% of the votes. But since our last mayor wanted to remodel the street anyway to please business owners he went ahead not caring about the vote, and started spouting that people voted against the tram. As I said in that other thread, it's amazing with how much lying officials here get away with, and instead of being called out on it many people just followed suit on that ludicrous claim just to have an excuse to oppose the tram.
It's a fucking soap opera is what it is.
