A Radical Party politician in Necochea, Argentina, has accused the local government of allowing the city’s casino complex to deteriorate, warning that the lack of maintenance could be used to justify a future sale of the coastal property.
Alberto Esnaola, a former municipal official, made the remarks during an interview with local broadcaster La Radio 93.5, where he criticized the current administration for what he described as years of inaction over the condition of the casino building.
He said: “This administration has been in office for six years and hasn’t put a single can of paint on the casino. They talk as if they had nothing to do with it.”
According to him, the deterioration of the complex may not simply be the result of neglect but part of a broader strategy to prepare public opinion for a potential divestment of the asset. He said the approach resembles the dynamics seen during Argentina’s wave of privatizations in the 1990s.
He added: “You let the service collapse so that residents are so fed up they say, ‘get it off my hands, do whatever you want.'”
Beyond the casino dispute, Esnaola also pointed to what he described as a broader governance gap separating Necochea from neighboring districts such as Tandil, Tres Arroyos and San Cayetano. According to him, the issue extends beyond elected officials to the level of civic participation within the community.
Esnaola stated: “I don’t think 20 city councilors and a mayor solve a city’s problems. The professional associations, clubs and unions of Necochea don’t produce significant social leaders who participate in decision-making.”
Discussing infrastructure, Esnaola also referred to the proposed reconstruction of the Ezcurra Bridge, which connects the port district, arguing that the investment would be modest relative to the economic activity generated by the port.
“Ten million dollars for the port and export sector is nothing. The problem is there is no strategic plan,” he said.
He concluded with a critical reflection on his own generation’s role in the city’s development: “Hopefully the generation coming up is more capable than ours and puts Necochea on the development path. So far, ours hasn’t been very efficient.”
Necochea’s Municipal government authorized the sale of the historic casino complex through a public auction, but was later suspended in February after a court injunction
