Arzano. Prof. Russo, what is the condition of the municipality of Arzano, three years ago? Can we draw a balance? "That the initial surge made more of form than substance, has left room for disappointment in what had very often been proposed and promised, is in the facts".
Please explain better
"We can only denounce a widespread malaise. The causes range from territorial control to the full expression of citizen services. I would like to point out that by territorial control, I do not only mean security, but I also think of the problem of wild parking; illegal parking without any real consequences for offenders, which, as much as our local police command tries to combat, unfortunately encounters serious difficulties due to a lack of personnel".
Taxes? We have a law that provides that where there is a disability declared by L. 104, one can be exempt from paying the Tari. However, it should be made accessible by municipal resolution. For us, the law is not accessible because the municipality of Arzano has not provided this relief. And it breaks my heart to think that in addition to health problems, certain people also have to deal with this.
On the recovery of financial resources, tax evasion in Arzano still has a high percentage. The traders are mortified not to mention what they pay with sacrifice to the municipal coffers for waste collection”.
In your opinion, Professor Russo, has the city changed?
“I can’t give a precise opinion on this aspect, I only ask myself one thing: The Puc? Well, here too there was a terrible slip. Is it possible that there is a misfortune? Every time it comes to discuss it. In a municipality like ours where redevelopment is necessary, the structural adaptation of buildings that are now in precarious conditions. A historic center where walking around on foot is a blow to the heart.
Furthermore, there is no real project on what needs to be done to give a vision and a real perspective to the country. The regeneration of public and private building heritage, the use of the Development and Cohesion Fund (FSC) 2021-2027 and the Fund for strategic investments could serve to determine development conditions for citizens and businesses in the area. I think of taxes. I think of houses to buy or renovate. Everything that would give value to our territory.
If I then think about the kids, we have lost an abnormal number of them for 15 years. The job offers are practically zero; but if we do not unblock competitions in this direction, we will only be able to dissipate this capital. And a municipality that loses its "children" as happens to families, loses its future".
And what is politics doing?
“There have been serious defections in relation to the electrical cabin, where many reported an unawareness of the issue, others I remember saying, have sketched out by shrugging their shoulders (or perhaps knowing, but choosing to remain silent), the result was that something was brought to the Council to approve (the cabin), which was then rejected causing a councilor to move to the opposition and which no one (or almost no one) knew about.
All this happened, in defiance of the public opinion of the Arzanesi, who in turn found themselves not only excluded, but seriously excluded as if for certain decisions, it was not necessary to hear every citizen who voted, and therefore chose the voice of those who represent them. It is a method that I consider disrespectful towards the democratic exercise; especially if everyone says they have control of the car, but no one holds the steering wheel.
Then there are the council committees, often lacking adequate preparation I suppose if the malfunction is evident through such cumbersome dynamics, starting from the usual "delays" in the beginning of the works, which would start after an hour from the convocation and considered "normal" by the participants themselves. If this is attention to the "res" publica...".
So whose fault is it, Professor?
"I don't want to assign blame, or sentences, on the contrary. I would like to state something if I may use the pun "unpopular for populists" but in my case I have no desire to make an enemy of those who are already against me, at least to say in all honesty what I see. We cannot (always and in any case) blame the First Citizen, on the contrary.
I recognize that in the case of Dr. Aruta there was a huge amount of work to consolidate, but it would be short-sighted not to admit that her initial experience was compounded by the ambiguities of some political figures who thought they were pulling the wagon to their own side to the detriment of greater cohesion and political growth among the groups that support the majority.
Political directions do not come only from the First Citizen, and many councilors are used to hiding behind the nursery rhyme of "It's not my fault, it's the mayor's fault ..." and this is a habit of the old ones as well as the new ones. Nothing could be more wrong. If anything, the opposite. It is up to the Mayor to speak out and clarify when the Board and Council disregard the chosen lines. And it is not always a simple thing. In Arzano I would say it never is".
Yet it is stated by those within some parties that something has been done:
"Then we should ask these people what has been done. Sport? If it exists, it is practiced and proposed by the association world; education and cultural events are languishing and we could open an anthology of proposals never realized by the area assessor.
Even public greenery, four meetings followed, also with the world of associations: I think of Agrippinus and Legambiente who had been very active and it is the only real merit in this story for both, but exhausted by meetings that went deserted, unclear answers, never completed forms because the Councilor in charge of public greenery for the request to the Region, to the nurseries, to the volunteers was always so busy that he could not be present and therefore be able to clarify at what point things were. Everything faded in the count of empty flowerbeds that remained so. Empty.
I also want to make a point, which has saddened me quite a bit: I still wonder what a series of meetings proposed by the yellow sector of this majority led to, inconveniencing the National Councilor of Arcigay Antonello Sannino, by virtue of a regulation that should have proposed an additional shield aimed at preventing acts of homophobia and verbal and physical aggression towards the LGBTQ+ community and which, already by discussing it, led to abject statements.
Everything was left unfinished with the approval of the same majority councilors who would have proposed it. Is it incompetence or fear of a political crisis? One of the two, for sure.
Ultimately I think of the parties on the territory, the PD a small light stuck on itself and I say this as a member and participation even more: there have been two enormous shocks in the majority between the city council and the board, and yet, there has been no analysis or shared line from the top. I would ask myself what kind of plan is being pursued by those who act as regents, without ever formulating a real discussion.
There is already talk of elections, Professor Russo. Do you intend to make a proposal?
“I think I just did. It’s premature to discuss elections in my opinion, but it’s certainly useful to stay “vigilant” if I made my point. The rushes of the last “month” before the vote are a poison we’ve drunk too many times. Sirens and braggarts who wake up from cemeteries, or arrive from stormy heights with rancid soups. This time I’d advise avoiding them.
I don't see the solution in those who were also the cause of the problems. A necessary and also generational break. I say openly that a young person in terms of professionalism and approach to things, is now preferable. The turnover, is to be hoped for now and especially in politics. Especially here in Arzano".
PB
Article published on November 29, 2024 - 07:06
The article touches on many important points but sometimes it is difficult to follow the thread of the discussion, there is too much information and it seems that a synthesis is missing. Let's hope that the situation improves and that people are listened to.
I agree that the situation is complex and the proposals made do not seem concrete. We need a clear plan to solve the problems, otherwise we risk always remaining in the same place.
It is true that there are many difficulties, but perhaps we should also give space to new ideas and young people in local politics. Without real changes, citizens will continue to feel neglected.