Nice Premium: Why is Gauche Autrement reviewing the first term of the new city council?
Patrick Mottard: We have always stated that we would assess the followed policies without any preconceived notions, and this assessment would result from comparing the actions taken by the new city council with those we proposed to the people of Nice during the last municipal campaign. We wanted to review the actions carried out by various stakeholders in local politics in Nice.
Dominique Boy-Mottard: We are opponents, there’s no doubt about it. But we are intellectually honest opponents and we share our feelings.
NP: What is your assessment of Christian Estrosi’s first year as Mayor of Nice?
PM: The first impression is one of a break from the previous city council. The city policy seems more clear, more coherent, and especially more determined. Thanks to the national profile of the Mayor, Nice is often involved in national debates. However, we highlight the lack of participatory democracy. The opinions of the people of Nice need to be sought. They are not being listened to.
DBM: It’s true that the assessment is mixed. There are positive aspects such as the rapid creation of the Urban Community and the development of the Libรฉration district and the south station but there are also negatives. We regret the excessive centralization of power around a handful of people. Many deputies say they are not used enough. We also find that the schedule lacks precision. There are announcements in every direction. It feels like each day brings its load of announcements.
“Taking into account the will of the people of Nice”
NP: What do you mean by that?
DBM: We need to be careful. We can’t say yes to everything. The city gives the impression that it can do everything, build everything at the same time. But that is not at all the case.
NP: For example?
PM: We believe it’s not feasible to plan the line 2 of the tramway and a large policy of local facilities (sports infrastructures, housing) or even the big stadium and also the recruitment in the police or the cleaning services at the same time. We shouldn’t just build line 2 of the tram at the expense of things essential to the life of the neighborhoods. We can’t be on all fronts.
DBM: That’s why it’s necessary to consult the population to take into account everyone’s choices and wills.
NP: What do you think about the increase in local taxes?
PM: I was the leader of the opposition for seven years on the city council. We knew very well the state of the city’s finances, which were not very good. It was normal for taxes to increase sooner or later. After that, maybe it should have been increased gradually, especially during this period of crisis. A little this year, a little next year…
NP: How do you judge the opposition in Nice?
PM: The functioning of the opposition is not satisfactory. Its action is barely visible and contentious on topics of lesser interest. There is a problem with the positioning of the leader of the municipal opposition. There is a problem with the positioning of the Vice-President of the PACA region (Patrick Allemand, editor’s note). He is very troubled by the more than cordial understanding between Michel Vauzelle and Christian Estrosi and cannot play in the big leagues.
In general, the opposition does not work collectively on major decisions. It lacks credibility, it is weak.
DBM: But some elected officials do interesting work. We think of Mari-Luz Nicaise in terms of public procurement, Emmanuelle Gaziello for social issues, and Yann Librati concerning environmental matters.
