There are days like that, when it’s all calm, where the majority takes a step back and the opposition pretends to oppose. Besides, the agenda of yesterday’s Metropolitan Council session was particularly light and didn’t warrant any intellectual energy beyond mere routine application.
From this soporific session, we will mostly remember the information concerning the humane gesture of the metropolitan staff who worked to help the victims and participated in various logistical operations.
These admirable people decided that the allowances and compensation received on this occasion should be paid into the CCAS fund, which collects financial aid.
A gesture that honors them and expresses the true meaning of solidarity and generosity. It deserves to be highlighted in these times where “self” has taken precedence over “us,” becoming a reason for division between people.
In chronological order, the more significant deliberations included:
The solidarity fund for the victims of the July 14 attack (already announced and presented several times) was formalized regarding the involvement of the Metropole, which will contribute just over a quarter of the 2 million granted.
The scope of application will be that of the ministerial decree of the Macron law. The amendment presented by the socialist group requesting the expansion of the application area to other neighborhoods was circumvented with the creation of an observatory of the 49 cities of the Metropole to monitor the post-attack economic situation of the territory.
An option allowing what couldn’t come through the main door to enter through the window.
A response that forced Patrick Allemand to curb his inclinations and fall in line by voting for the deliberation.
The transports of Lignes d’Azur will be free for all police officers (all categories) and military personnel. The request originates from a right-wing aligned union (Alliance) and how could Christian Estrosi dodge it? The decision was well packaged: enhanced security during trips. It might not be that, but it holds ground.
Continuing on the subject of transport, a socialist wish demanded a moratorium on the “optimization” (a trendy word) of bus lines, affecting several less frequented routes. Should we ensure a public service or balance management? – asked the opposition elected official.
It was the president of the finance committee (and incidentally, president of the transport company) Philippe Pradal who motivated and defended the chosen option: below a certain occupancy rate, the service is cut. A numbers man, he did not skimp on explanations, each more rational than the last. Patrick Allemand would only have to return to his constituents and tell them to prepare for longer journeys than usual.
Nonetheless, a strategy is essential (with the future commissioning of tram line 2 definitively changing the game), and it will be necessary to perhaps think outside the box and demonstrate, at least, creativity and, at best, imagination.
The illustration of the Metropole’s application convention of the State-Region PACA contract could be summed up in the concluding comment of the 1st Vice-President, Louis Nègre: “It’s good to win elections.” In other words, when you have the keys to the treasury, you’re better served.
At least on the surface, this was the impression when listening to the long list of financial benefits the Metropole obtained in various investment files. Good news for the metropolitan inhabitants.
The fervor of the rapporteur in praising the President of the Region, who concluded this agreement with the President of the Metropole (during negotiations, one being the double of the other?) is reminiscent of the inscription engraved on Machiavelli’s tomb in the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence: “Tanto nomini nullum par elogium.”
A reminder of sobriety that would make the good governance of political institutions even more appreciable and less obviously a partisan interpretation of an elective mandate.
Traditional hotels are threatened by new tourism trends that could render their economic model, if not obsolete, at least outdated?
The question deserves to be asked when considering the success of uberisation forms between demand and supply in a booming sector. More and more people travel, but they are not necessarily hotel and restaurant clients.
In a region where second homes represent a significant portion of the real estate market, what could be the impact of a growing propensity for owners to transform into potential hoteliers? How to control this drift, even more invasive due to its borderline nature between legality and illegality?
The Deputy for Tourism and President of the OTC of Nice wants to be pragmatic on this point: it is useless to prohibit a widespread practice, it’s better to channel it by clipping the wings of speculation and authorizing a framed practice: seasonal rental valid for only one dwelling per tax household.
It’s better than nothing, but we should expect considerable shocks: the application of new technologies will reorient society towards unstructured forms and facilitate the creation of new behaviors, choices, and economic arbitration: fewer intermediaries and fixed solutions, more direct contacts and “do-it-yourself” solutions.
Conclusion of the morning: Christian Estrosi is awaiting a response from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (which also covers Tourism) regarding his request for a contribution of 1 million euros (the same amount allocated to Paris after the Bataclan) to finance a territory promotion plan (a file that has been subject to various announcements and conferences by the Departmental Council, CRT, CCI, etc.) in collaboration with Atout France, the specialized government agency.
There is hope that the campaign will be visible not on local totems and buses, but rather in European and world capitals where potential tourists reside.
Because imagining the residents, attracted by the promotional slogan “Côte Azur Now,” leaving their apartments to stay in hotels to boost Azurian tourism… Even in times of great patriotism, that’s a stretch…
Phew, it’s the weekend!
