The current ombudsman, Josep Escartín, who has dedicated 15 years to this task across two periods, acknowledges an improvement in institutional listening. However, he emphasizes the critical need for citizen complaints to translate into concrete actions by the administration.
“"Institutional silence, which is a lack of respect for the citizen, remains a common practice two decades later."
Among the main challenges still facing the city, Escartín highlights noise pollution, which accounts for 20% of complaints, the quality of administrative attention, and the perception of insecurity. These issues, according to the ombudsman, require greater political courage and the effective implementation of civility ordinances.
The institution has expanded its presence with 10 neighborhood offices and has significantly increased the number of interventions, reducing the number of census areas without in-person coverage from 49 to 30 in one year. Escartín has also addressed the issue of mandatory prior appointments for public services, achieving its elimination at the Sabadell City Council, and has advocated for the implementation of green parking zones to improve residents' quality of life.
Looking ahead, the ombudsman aims to enhance the Sindicatura's proactivity with more official recommendations, such as on tow truck management or the housing market. He also plans to open the institution to minors and prepare an orderly handover for his successor, although he does not rule out continuing if the institution were at risk.
