It has been 50 years since the “El Tajo” Neighborhood Association, the oldest in Castile-La Mancha, was created. This Friday they celebrated it with a gala in the Thalía Hall during which a tribute was paid to these men who brought … fresh air in Toledo, new ideas and were the key to the modernization of a city that 50 years ago was still a small provincial town. The mayor of Toledo was present at the event, Carlos Velázquezwho encouraged them to continue the struggle, as they did to demand the asbestos card, as well as the Government delegate, Milagros Tolón, who highlighted the historical role of the association and boasted that, from now on, “there are more national police than local in the neighborhood”. The event brought together former neighborhood leaders as well as current leaders, including current neighborhood association coordinator Sonia Méndez.
Carlos Velázquez emphasized his proximity to the Polígono, even though he did not live there. In his speech, he thanked the efforts and sacrifices of neighbors who, over these 50 years, have played a key role in the transformation of the neighborhood and the city. In his speech, Velázquez emphasized the importance of the neighborhood movementemphasizing that “everything we achieve in the neighborhoods is thanks to you”, referring to the constant effort of citizens organized through associations like “El Tajo”.
The mayor remembers that, thanks to pressure from the neighborhood, Toledo was able to obtain the asbestos card. “If we have the asbestos map in Toledo, it is thanks to you, because you asked us for it and now you must demand that we budget and plan a plan to eliminate asbestos in public buildings,” Velázquez said.
Milagros Tolón, before retiring due to a personal commitment: his mother’s birthday, highlighted in his speech the historical role of the Polígono and the neighborhood movement in the transformation of Toledo. “This neighborhood has been an engine of change not only for the Polígono, but for the entire city. And this change was led by neighbors, in particular by the neighborhood association “El Tajo”. Tolón also highlighted the importance of democracy brought by neighborhood movements and the fundamental role they play in citizen participation.
The gala was hosted by Rosa Nogués, journalist from Toledo and coordinator of the magazine “Vecinos”, who recalled the beginnings of the association and the common effort of neighbors to transform the Polígono into what it is today: the largest neighborhood in Toledo, with more than 23,000 inhabitants. During the event, several prizes were awarded to collaborators and distributors of the “Vecinos” newspaper, the Toledo-Polígono walking race and the Bicycle Day.
This event, more than a celebration, was a recognition of the work and sacrifice of generations of Toledo who, through their efforts and commitment, played a key role in the modernization of the city. In the words of the mayor: “The Polígono is already the history of Toledo, and its history is the history of all of us.” The history of the Polígono began in 1971 with the arrival of the “Standard Eléctrica” factory, an industrial complex which, with an investment of 550 million pesetas, created 1,700 jobs and created the first housing for workers. These houses are at the origin of what will become over time one of the most emblematic neighborhoods of Toledo, whose traces of growth and transformation are marked by the commitment of the neighborhood.
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