Torre del Greco - During the night, in the public area at the intersection of Via Nazionale and Via De Gasperi, a beautiful round hand-tiled lava stone table was broken.
Unfortunately, this isn't the first time this street furniture has been targeted by thugs, as reported by one of the many elderly people who frequent the space, which is a social gathering place for a game of checkers, briscola, or tressette with friends.
"We are truly sorry and offended," Ciro tells us, "by this latest instance of criminal behavior against the community by individuals who, without scruples, continue to gratuitously cause harm to citizens, who are forced to equip themselves, even bringing makeshift wooden tables from home to replace the original ones, just to continue their fun-filled activity."
Francesco, one of the most astute of the card-playing group, also adds to the controversy. He's retired for years, having worked in public administration. He tells us, "These violent acts of vandalism are criminal offenses, subject to prosecution, and there's no shortage of surveillance cameras in the area. We did our part, promptly reporting the incident to the municipal offices."
Now we hope that he will intervene decisively as needed." And Paolo, who never misses a game of tressette, adds: "Unfortunately, in the neighborhood, in addition to the lack of adequate supervision and control, there is widespread degradation, as evidenced by both the sidewalks with widespread dog waste and weeds and the nearby roundabout at the intersection of Via Nazionale and Via De Gasperi, which has long been devoid of greenery, with flower boxes in a disastrous state.
And the scene doesn't change even in front of the church of Sant'Antonio , where the unacceptable conditions of the flower boxes remain in plain sight, without flowers, overflowing with rubbish and the pavements in evident disrepair".
Meanwhile, given that the municipal administration led by Mayor Luigi Mennella has on several occasions been so prompt in purchasing special carpets, curtains, and various furnishings to make the executive offices in Palazzo Baronale more elegant and welcoming, it is hoped that they will be equally sensitive and prompt in purchasing a new table, in order to restore to the neighborhood's many seniors those moments of aggregation and social connection that are essential in such a densely populated community.
