In response to the Federal Supreme Court (STF), the city of São Paulo presented, on the afternoon of this Tuesday (21), the justifications for the construction of a wall on Rua General Couto de Magalhães, in the Cracolândia region. The municipal administration rejected criticism that the wall had caused the confinement of people in vulnerable situations who frequent the area, including drug users.
According to the city hall, the wall was built in May last year, replacing metal sidings that were in place and were “frequently broken into sharp parts”, which posed risks to people’s safety.
“Currently, the wall is only installed on the side of the municipal area located on Rua General Couto de Magalhães. The other side of the land, towards Rua dos Protestantes, where there were previously fences, was opened, allowing people access and occupation of the municipal area. The land even received a new floor”, says a note released by the city hall.
In a press conference this afternoon, Mayor Ricardo Nunes commented that the wall already existed “It was an iron wall, and [a área] has a smaller number of people. It is an open area on the sides. Confinement is confinement. It was just a replacement of a sharp iron material, which hurt people, with a cement one, which doesn’t hurt anyone.”
