In the future, to apply for the municipal council, one will need to present a health certificate and have successfully participated in a rhetoric contest?
After more than 10 hours of session and interventions where eloquence often overshadowed content, this seems to be the belief following yesterday’s marathon or (considering the diversity of topics that made the course varied and with different types of challenges) or even better, the triathlon in the amphitheater of the CUM, whose acoustics and air conditioning are in serious need of revision.
More than 100 items were on the agenda, and among the routine ones, there were several major and current ones.
1 – The Grand Stadium file
Starting with the debate on the CRC’s report on what the opposition wanted to define as “Christian Estrosi’s ego-stadium” during the various and vehement interventions by Madame Arnautu, Olivier Bettati, Gaël Nofri, and Paul Cuturello, all united in stigmatizing this “pharaonic” investment (according to them) and its financial and management deviations as highlighted by the CRC.
To be honest, nothing particularly new came out compared to the public declarations of recent days. The mayor of Nice had already used his powerful communication machine to get the message across… there are plenty of channels) and could only confirm all his positions in his responses to various opposition speakers. Except to point out, with a hint of malice, that the choice of Vinci was made by the bidding committee chaired, at the time, by former municipal councilor Mari-Luz Hernandez-Nicaise.
Moreover, we learned that it was the mayor of Nice himself who requested the intervention of the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office on June 15th following the receipt of the CRC’s final observation report.
As for the observations, no follow-up is required; as for the “queries,” the answer will come, or not, from the ongoing preliminary investigation.
Regarding possible political consequences, Christian Estrosi willingly took them into account in a thunderous conclusion: “There is too much mix-up between the CRC report and the preliminary investigation. Let’s wait to see what the justice system will establish… but I stand by this choice,” then stating, “The Allianz is one of the elements of my strategy for prosperity and for the employment of our youth.”
For now, we remain there, awaiting the developments that will surely follow.
2 – Requalification of the Ray sector and the old stadium
After numerous meetings and consultations, a new project has just emerged from the magic idea box: a green lung for 2/3 of the perimeter surface with the complete disappearance of the old stadium (in a previous version the playing field was supposed to remain), maintaining the tennis club, expanding the school, plus… housing and shops to finance the operation.
At this stage, there will only be a launch of a consultation with developers-lessors-designers to verify the realization conditions. However, the reflection seems well advanced, and one wonders if these orientations will be well received by the local population, who have shown a keen sensitivity on this issue.
This deliberation raised concerned comments from Dominique Boy-Mottard, known for her vigilant attention to the problems of the North neighborhood, who highlighted the haste that, in her view, hides a simple operation of selling the land to private operators as indirectly indicated in responses to magistrates of the Court of Auditors: “the City plans a valuation of the Ray stadium at 30 million euros on which it has provided no supporting elements.”
This is what the councilor says between the lines. Too much cunning or simple argument?
3 – Management and administrative account of the 2014 fiscal year
This opportunity couldn’t help but pique the appetite of the oppositions and particularly the FN, who, through the voice of Madame Arnautu, didn’t hesitate to define it as: “a worrying financial situation characterized by colossal debt, insufficient gross saving despite very heavy taxation, all in a context of economies imposed by the current government.”
This uncompromising remark was answered with the language of numbers by the first deputy in charge of finances, Philippe Pradal: “Despite a significant reduction in state transfers and transfer of charges (-11.4 million euros), Nice is reducing its debt by nearly 20 million euros because it better controls its operating expenses compared to other cities, particularly personnel expenses.”
Who is right?
4 – Sale of nearly 40,000 m² of municipal land in Saint-Isidore to Ikea for the construction of its mega-store.
The transaction will be for an amount of 21 million euros following an evaluation by France Domaine. The real estate project, in addition to the new generation Ikea commercial area (urban store and not the traditional “shoe box”), will include offices and housing for an investment of 170 million.
A lengthy and well-argued intervention by Marc Concas, questioning the correct valuation of the land and thus the amount of its sale, was not retained.
These were the main points on the agenda. However, there were still some corollaries.
The tourist tax will be increased with ventilation by hotel site category and according to low or high season. Its maximum ceiling will be between 3 and 4 euros.
As part of implementing the requalification program for degraded old neighborhoods, adopting the relocation charter between engaged partners opened the floodgates to the traditional accusation of Côte Azur Habitat, the city’s social landlord, and particularly its president, Madame Dominique Estrosi-Sassone. Normally it’s the socialist Paul Cuturello, a specialist in this area, who experiences the sharp reaction of the one who rejects any accusations. But, one wonders why, it’s Marc-André Domergue (FN) who launched the attack by taking advantage of a specific case. The confrontation was fierce (verbally) and once again showed that the saying “the woman is weak” should be definitively declined in the past!
Finally, in response to the proliferation of shopping centers in the metropolitan area and the consequent proximity trade crisis, a reflection in consultation with associations and the concerned economic categories will be established for the guardianship of this commercial fabric. A development aid fund, financed by large distribution companies, could emerge. To be continued…
To conclude, another fund, named endowment, will be launched to mobilize financing and sponsorship to enhance public action in various initiatives thanks to the fiscal advantages for donors. A very interesting initiative that deserves revisiting.
