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R$ 19 Billion Package Announced by Ricardo Nunes Revives Old Projects, Stirs Political Backrooms, and Reinforces Ambition for Leadership in São Paulo.
Mayor of São Paulo Announces Constructions Already Promised by Previous Administrations, Now in a New Billion-Dollar Program
São Paulo’s mayor, Ricardo Nunes (MDB), announced a new package of projects with an estimated investment of R$ 19 billion for the city.
In total, 55 urban interventions have been included in the program, many of them repurposed from past administrations or previously announced by Nunes himself.
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Russia will build 10 facilities for recycling construction waste by 2030, including a 462,000-ton-per-year plant in the Kirov region that will transform rubble into laminated wood panels in the largest project of its kind ever planned in the country.
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A two-bedroom container house measuring about 30 m² was delivered for R$ 76,500, with electrical, plumbing, painting, doors, and windows already installed: the client only needed to connect water, electricity, and sewage.
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Singapore’s colossal project aims to transform 800 hectares of the ocean into a “barrier island” the size of 1,120 football fields, with floodgates, pumps, and a freshwater reservoir to hold back the advancing sea on the east coast.
According to the mayor, this is a continuity effort and a structuring of the city, although several of the projects are still in early stages, such as bidding or project development.
Program Revives Old Projects with a New Look
Among the announced projects are the BRT Radial Leste and the extension of Avenida Roberto Marinho — two initiatives that have been the subject of previous promises.
The bus corridor in the eastern zone, for example, was promised by Nunes during his first term and reintroduced as a priority in the first hundred days of government in 2021.
In the case of Avenida Roberto Marinho, the proposal to extend the road to the Highway of Immigrants dates back to 2009, during the administration of Gilberto Kassab (PSD), who governed São Paulo from 2006 to 2012.
Despite the repetition of projects, Ricardo Nunes denies that he is merely repackaging old plans.
“These are structural works, medium- and long-term, that are part of a cycle we initiated and that, in some cases, had to be interrupted due to judicial or administrative issues,” the mayor argued during a press conference.
Projects at Different Stages and Extended Timelines
Not all projects have defined timelines or near delivery forecasts.
Some interventions are expected to extend beyond 2028 to be completed.
This is the case with the Itaim Paulista terminal in the eastern zone, which is still in the project phase.
Meanwhile, the connection between Graúna and Gaivotas avenues in the southern region of the city is in the bidding process.
The fragmentation of project stages raises doubts about the actual capacity for execution within the current administration.
Even so, the mayor expressed optimism.
“Everything is on my timeline. I am very happy with the amount of deliveries we will have upon completing a hundred days,” he declared.
Accelerated Deliveries Amid Electoral Speculations
The announcement of the new package comes at a time when Ricardo Nunes has been intensifying the delivery of projects.
On the same date as the program’s launch, the mayor inaugurated CEU Rei Pelé in Cidade Líder, eastern zone, which will serve nearly two thousand students.
This was the first unit delivered by his administration, although the 2021-2024 goal plan anticipated the delivery of 12 CEUs throughout the period.
Until then, none of these units had been delivered.
The acceleration in deliveries has reignited speculations about a possible candidacy of Nunes for state governor in 2026.
Behind the scenes, the mayor’s allies indicate that he has been strategizing his political projection for the race.
In response, the mayor stated that the program has no relation to the electoral scenario.
“It has absolutely nothing to do with 2026. These are just management styles that are similar. Everyone has their way of governing,” he said.
Comparisons with State Government and Historical Reference
In the week preceding Nunes’ announcement, the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), also presented an extensive package of projects.
Tarcísio is considered the strongest name to run for President of the Republic in 2026, in place of Jair Bolsonaro (PL), who is ineligible.
The coincidence of agendas between the two managers generated political comparisons and suspicions of strategic movements.
Nunes, however, rejected any association.
“Tarcísio’s program is broader, but follows his management style, with fiscal responsibility and structural investments,” he declared.
As inspiration for the current project, the mayor mentioned former mayor Prestes Maia, who governed São Paulo in the 1930s.
The new program was named after the book “Os Melhoramentos de São Paulo”, from 1938, which depicts the urban transformations of the time.
“Back then, there was no PSOL to hinder. Prestes Maia was lucky. Fortunately, today they are a minority,” Nunes quipped during the announcement.
Incomplete Deliveries in the First Hundred Days
Since the beginning of his administration, Ricardo Nunes has faced criticism for the low execution of the established goals.
In the plan for the first hundred days, the mayor has only fulfilled 15 out of 43 initially presented goals, according to an investigation by UOL.
Many of these goals had even been recycled from the city’s goal plan for the period from 2021 to 2024.
Among the unmet promises is the inauguration of the Casa de Cultura Cidade Ademar in the southern zone.
According to Nunes, the delay is due to the lack of electrical connection at the location, a responsibility he attributes to third parties.
“We have not left anything to be desired. There are only adjustments in timelines, which are normal in public works. But I am satisfied with what has been delivered,” he said.
Public Safety Gains Unexpected Prominence
Despite the emphasis on structural projects, one of the most visible actions of Nunes’ recent administration has been in the area of security.
In February, the city hall inaugurated a digital panel that displays in real time the number of arrests made through the Smart Sampa system, which integrates monitoring with smart cameras.
This initiative was not even included among the administration’s priority goals.
Still, it has become one of the hallmarks of the management, with great popular appeal and strong media visibility.
The measure was interpreted by allies as part of a strategy to strengthen Nunes’ image in the face of a possible major electoral contest.
Ambitious Project Between Old Promises and New Challenges
The new package of projects launched by Ricardo Nunes reinforces the mayor’s attempt to consolidate his administration with high-impact deliveries.
However, the overlap of old projects, low execution of previous goals, and the political use of the announcement raise doubts about the actual effectiveness of the plan.
With projects at different stages and timelines extending to beyond 2028, it will be up to the next administration — or administrations — to take responsibility for continuing much of the projects.
If executed well, the plan could reshape important areas of the city.
If not, it may only reinforce the criticism that the initiative is merely a rehash of unfulfilled promises.
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