The Funchal municipal executive has been facing criticism, including from environmentalists and former councilors, for the delay in resolving issues in the city center. Problems such as worn pavements, cleaning of damaged urban furniture, unclogging of rainwater drainage systems, waste collection, and the state of gardens have been highlighted.
Municipal services attribute the delays to the vastness of the municipality and the management of operational priorities in public spaces. However, some believe that the Funchal Municipal Council has accumulated problems and is now trying to solve them all at once, causing evident disruptions for those living and moving around the city.
Urban cleaning, street washing, and pavement maintenance have been central to the debate. To address the difficulties, the council has approved the hiring of 32 new urban cleaning workers, a measure seen as an effort to better respond to growing complaints about waste accumulation and the lack of regular sanitation.
