Soraya Martinez Ferrada: Montreal Not Fully Efficient After 100 Days in Office
The recent tenure of Soraya Martinez Ferrada as the mayor of Montreal reached a significant milestone as she completed her first 100 days in office. During this period, issues related to potholes, snow removal, and slippery sidewalks have surfaced, prompting her to acknowledge the city’s inefficiencies.
Soraya Martinez Ferrada Evaluates Her First 100 Days in Office
In a candid reflection, Mayor Martinez Ferrada admitted that Montreal is not operating at full efficiency. “Does the city function at its full capacity? No,” she stated during her first major interview with El-Balad. Describing her leadership approach, she emphasized that she does not possess a magical solution to resolve issues overnight.
Plans for Improvement
Martinez Ferrada expressed optimism that residents will notice improvements within her first year, particularly in areas such as street cleanliness, snow removal, and waste collection. A key aspect of her strategy involves increasing the number of small contracts awarded to private companies to address these issues more effectively.
Emergency Contracts for Pothole Repairs
A recent example of her administration’s approach was the emergency contracts issued two weeks ago to repair significant potholes throughout the city. Lacking a contract with a specialized company for this task, her office quickly organized ten contracts that totaled nearly $500,000 with three contractors to handle the repairs manually.
- Ten contracts issued for pothole repairs
- Total cost: nearly $500,000
- Sixty companies invited to bid
- Cost savings of 50% compared to a single contractor
Martinez Ferrada highlighted the quick division of the work into ten lots and the decision to engage multiple small businesses. This approach, she believes, resulted in significant financial savings compared to traditional large contracts.
Criticism of Current Practices
Despite her optimism, challenges remain. Critics, including municipal expert Danielle Pilette, question the effectiveness of smaller contracts. She noted that while minor repairs may benefit from this approach, major winter operations like snow removal require extensive equipment and could lead to higher costs without ensuring improved service.
“Dividing contracts into smaller lots may result in inconsistencies in service across neighborhoods,” Pilette cautioned, indicating potential pitfalls in the mayor’s strategy.
As the city moves forward, Mayor Martinez Ferrada’s approach will be closely watched. She aims to bring about tangible changes that enhance Montreal’s operational efficiency and service delivery to its residents.
