Naples, the shame of the Galleria Umberto transformed into a soccer field during the night hours

Naples. “For months we have continued to receive dozens of reports from citizens exasperated by the degradation of the Galleria Umberto during the night hours. The latest video sent to us shows a scene that has now taken on the shape of a habit: a group of kids playing soccer in the middle of the gallery. It all happens without any kind of control. Damage, fires and broken marble have changed nothing. The space is still held hostage by hooligans and baby gangs who continue to rule the roost. Kids left to their own devices by their families, free to cause damage. When they aren’t playing soccer, the gallery turns into a scooter track. The structural degradation is there for all to see. The Galleria Umberto, in terms of decorum, is light years away from similar spaces in other Italian cities.” These are the words of the regional councilor of the Greens Francesco Emilio Borrelli and the councilor of the Sole che Ride in the I Municipality Benedetta Sciannimanica. "For some time now - Borrelli and Sciannimanica continue - we have been asking to adopt solutions that allow us to preserve the Gallery from a process of decay that now seems irreversible. The only viable solution, in our opinion, is the installation of gates that allow us to close the gallery during the night hours, so as to save it from the hordes of uncivilized people who frequent it from a certain hour onwards".