The one who aims to be a local mayor has a clear idea: To optimize public service, the number one priority for citizens (far ahead of security), problems must be brought closer to decision-making centers. “It’s governance through common sense,” explains Olivier Bettati, “to avoid pitting the infinitely small against the infinitely large.”
The recipe? Divide the city into 5 districts: 3 urban and 2 on the hills, managed by deputies with real powers and a true budget. “Knowing how to delegate is a strength,” adds the candidate, who wants to maintain constant contact with those who contribute to neighborhood life.
The method? Subsidiarity, which means that every problem should be tackled from the bottom up, and those that remain unresolved move up the hierarchy.
The exact opposite of a vertical and centralized organization that decides everything and upon which everything depends… Some will recognize themselves without difficulty!
The formula? The district will become the perimeter of political action. District councils composed of 1/3 from associations, 1/3 appointed by the Mayor (elected officials from the majority and opposition, qualified personalities), and 1/3 drawn randomly from the electoral list will be created, and the mayor will visit each district about ten days a year.
This mini-council will be under the authority of the District Mayor, who will have a transversal mission over central services and operational control over decentralized services.
Regarding security, there will be a municipal police station in each district with more than 100 officers to conduct real community policing and a night service (as the highest number of offenses and violations occur during these hours).
The maintenance of urban furniture and roads will be addressed with genuine decentralization of personnel and economic resources. Rapid response vehicles will be on-site to intervene quickly when needed and prevent a small problem from becoming a larger one due to lack of attention or overly bureaucratic organization.
It is also at the district level that community life will find its anchor point: Events and activities will be managed administratively there, as well as the handling of grants under €25,000.
To be continued…
