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An intervention by a councilor from the municipality of Santa Rosa (Canelones department, Uruguay) sparked controversy when he claimed that “the neighbors can’t take it anymore” due to the presence of Cuban citizens in the area.
In statements to the local press, officials attributed to the Cubans annoying noise, inadequate waste management, and “overpopulation” of that community in a small town, according to complaints from residents.
The councilman assured that there are police reports indicating that some residents "take sleeping pills" due to the loud music, and that the number of migrants —estimated to be "around a thousand" in such a "small" city— "affects everything, health, everywhere."
The mayor of Santa Rosa, for his part, distanced himself and condemned any acts of xenophobia, emphasizing that the municipality, the department, and the country are “open doors” and that cohabitation with the Cuban community has not caused significant problems in recent years.
He proposed as a solution the establishment of a coexistence table and the organization of workshops for the mutual adjustment of customs, recalling previous meetings with departmental authorities to guide the dialogue and avoid interpretations that "could lead to other paths."
The councilor who sparked the controversy stated that "they are not against foreigners," but demanded that "they get used to what Uruguay is like" and described a pattern of behaviors that, according to him, persists despite dialogue: throwing out garbage any day, leaving it on the ground when the truck doesn't come, and breaking containers by loading old appliances that the service does not collect.
He mentioned specific streets—Carrillo, Bartolomé, and Uruguay—with different collection frequencies and pointed out that the lack of coordination leads to littering and packs of dogs tearing open trash bags. “We are already fed up,” he emphasized.
Among the examples, they recounted observing a Cuban neighbor empty his trash can onto an existing pile and leave with the empty cart, and they asserted that even a container was damaged by loading it with stoves and washing machines.
He stated that he had tried to speak with groups of residents to avoid "the clash," but concluded that "they do not understand" and that a "limit" has been reached, which necessitates taking action.
Although he did not specify which ones, he insisted that his goal is for the community to be “a model, clean, and respectful” and that he will continue “working for the people.”
The mayor emphasized the importance of not stigmatizing the community and reminded that Uruguay is a country of migrants, stating that “many of these situations also occur among Uruguayans” and that the way forward is to work together with local institutions to address minor issues without discrimination.
In his view, the priority is to foster coexistence, strengthen channels of dialogue, and prevent specific grievances from escalating into xenophobic rhetoric.
"We repudiate any act of xenophobia," he emphasized, on behalf of the municipality and the departmental government.
In this scenario, Santa Rosa stands between two messages: one from a local authority calling for restraint and integration policies and another from a councilwoman who channels community unrest regarding noise, waste, and service saturation attributed to an increase in the migrant population.
The municipal administration is promoting workshops and community gatherings to alleviate tension, while part of the neighborhood is demanding more immediate responses regarding urban cleanliness and noise control. Officials acknowledge that this discussion requires careful handling to avoid leading to discrimination and to maintain the social cohesion of the city.
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