José Luis Mena, a lawyer specializing in urban planning law and former Head of Urban Planning for Telde City Council, is evaluating the possibility of returning to the council. Mena was disqualified as a civil servant following his conviction in the Alisios case for document forgery, related to the incorrect inclusion of a legal report to authorize a housing development in La Garita.
The request, made informally last May, stems from Mena's perception of a "chaotic" situation in local administration, particularly in the Urban Planning department, which faces difficulties processing files and lacks qualified personnel. "I just want to lend a hand, nothing more. Almost do them a favor," he stated.
Mena emphasized that his interest is neither economic nor professional, as he runs his own law firm. His aim would be to help unblock pending matters and contribute technical expertise, especially concerning the revision of the municipal urban planning. However, his final decision will depend on the specific conditions of his return, including the assigned area, the collaboration format, and compatibility with his private practice.
The lawyer made it clear that he would not return amidst political or media controversy, conditioning his potential involvement on a context of "institutional normality." The possibility of his rejoining raises administrative questions, as he lost his civil servant status following a final court ruling in 2015 that permanently disqualified him from holding public employee positions in Telde.
Any potential reincorporation would require a different arrangement than reclaiming his former position. Mena was a significant figure in Urban Planning during previous administrations and, although acquitted in the Faycán Operation, was convicted in the Alisios case and also in the Grupo Europa case, serving several years in prison.
