Naples: City Council approves acquisition of 30 confiscated assets

The resolution of the proposal to the Municipal Council of Napoli The motion regarding the expropriation of the land on which the Palasciano di Pianura school complex was built was approved by a majority vote.

Councilors Alessandra Clemente, Rosaria Borrelli and Toti Lange abstained, while the Forza Italia group voted against. The vote opened today's session of the civic council.

The Chamber then continued its discussion with resolution no. 308, regarding a budget change preparatory to the implementation of the 2023 Supplementary Decentralized Agreement for the Management Area. The document, presented by Councilor Teresa Armato, was approved by a majority, with Councilor Lange abstaining and Councilors Savastano and Borrelli voting against.

Subsequently, Councilor Antonio De Iesu presented Resolution No. 257, which provides for the free acquisition of 30 assets confiscated from organized crime within the unavailable assets of the Municipality of Naples. An expression of interest for these assets was published in 2023 by the National Agency for Assets Seized and Confiscated from Organized Crime.

During the debate, Councilor Fulvio Fucito (Manfredi Mayor) emphasized the importance of the resolution and the message it conveys: assets confiscated from criminals should be reused and returned to the community, with particular attention to the possibility of allocating some of them to social housing projects to address the housing emergency.

The President of the Legality Commission, Pasquale Esposito, praised the administration's commitment in this area, appreciating the work of the councilor and the director of the confiscated property service, a newly created office that represents a significant change from the past. Esposito also indicated future priorities as investing in assets less suited to social purposes and monitoring the effectiveness of the work of the associations involved.

Walter Savarese d'Atri (Manfredi Mayor) highlighted the importance of ensuring the immediate reuse of confiscated assets, citing the example of the housing assigned to the families of the victims of the Scampia collapse.

Iris Savastano (Forza Italia) announced her vote in favor of the resolution, presenting an accompanying motion calling for greater involvement of the Commission and the local authorities in determining the purposes to be pursued with the confiscated assets.

Massimo Pepe (Azzurri Noi Sud Napoli Viva) expressed appreciation for the administration's approach to confiscated assets, emphasizing the need for spaces to be dedicated to social and collective purposes, even in derogation of urban planning instruments.

Ciro Borriello (Five Star Movement) noted the lack of a dedicated service in the past and the symbolic value of choosing a confiscated property as the site for this service, a sign of a radical shift in the approach to the issue. Sergio D'Angelo (Napoli Solidale Europa Verde Difendi la città) urged continued positive thinking, calling the initiative an example of local welfare, which contributes to development and employment while simultaneously weakening criminal organizations.

In his reply, Councilor De Iesu thanked the Council for recognizing the value of the resolution, emphasizing the importance of listening to the local community to determine the best uses for the confiscated assets. The goal now is to make the list of available assets more accessible, facilitating associations' proposals.

Following the unanimous approval of the motion presented by Forza Italia, the Chamber also unanimously approved resolution no. 257. Councilor for Welfare Luca Fella Trapanese then presented resolution no. 319, accepting the proposed donation of €150 from the Grimaldi Foundation. The donation will be used to finance the summer transportation service to and from Scampia to Campania's seaside resorts for minors whose families were affected by the Vela Celeste collapse.

After Councilor Luigi Carbone (Napoli Solidale Europa Verde Difendi la città) announced his favorable vote and expressed appreciation for the Grimaldi Foundation's donation, the resolution was approved unanimously. After the roll call to verify the quorum, requested by Councilor Guangi, 19 councilors were present and the meeting was adjourned.