The business owner, Antonio Jesús Pérez, asserts that the fine is a result of a complaint from a neighbor with whom he has a strained personal relationship, inherited from the previous owner. The penalty, initially set at 10,000 euros and later reduced to 1,600, could be settled at 990 euros if paid promptly.
Pérez explained that he resumed organizing cultural events after receiving verbal confirmation from the Granada City Council's licensing director that it was permissible under the responsible declaration held by the Association of Friends of the Old Book. However, following the official notification from the Council, he has canceled all scheduled events.
“"He took care to provide the City Council with all the information without any shame or reservation."
The bookseller criticizes the lack of written responses to his inquiries, stating that the only replies received were verbal, accompanied by warnings of potential fines or even closure if he pursued written consultations. He claims the neighbor was "helped more than I was" and that the sanction arrived after he had obtained his bookstore license.
Antonio Jesús Pérez laments the financial impact of the fine, which requires selling "many books" to cover. His primary request is to establish a line of communication with the City Council, arguing that "all bookstores hold these types of events" and that the presence of instruments or brief performances during book presentations should be included in bookstore licenses.
The owner aims to "offer culture" from his establishment on Calle Elvira and hopes to normalize the situation to avoid future police interventions, which have occurred previously.
