We are pleased to publish this contribution from Madam Brigitte Ferrari (President of the European Movement of Alpes-Maritimes and former city councilor of Nice).
It is known that the necessary budget restrictions to restore financial balance will be essential and we will all suffer the consequences, through the increased personal contribution and by the reduction in the funding of public facilities and public actions.
But upon taking a closer look at the projects involved, I am somewhat dismayed to see that they include projects from the Nice municipality, and not insignificant ones, particularly the relocation of the prison and the tramway line 2.
As a former elected representative of the City of Nice during the second Peyrat mandate, I remember that the project for the second tramway line was ready, its route adopted, and its budget practically complete! It was up to the newly elected team to implement it (which, by the way, was not as easy as it sounds, since it meant turning part of the city into a construction site). But it was feasible and coherent due to the success of the first line and the need to build a network for the broadest possible population to benefit from it.
As for the prison, its reconstruction has been announced several times.
Today, I wonder how such important projects for our fellow citizens have not come to fruition, even though we had a Mayor in the Government and the stadium project, on the other hand, reached a more favorable outcome. This question also concerns the high-speed line PACA, which is so necessary for the opening up of our area. A matter of priority, you might say. But precisely, why today observe that the cause for calling these projects into question is due to government austerity?
As a simple citizen today, I say to myself that the management of a territory should not fall under political machinations. And I would like (yet another pious hope) our elected officials to be more attentive to the development needs of our city, our metropolis, our department, our region…
by Brigitte Ferrari
