—
26 people were arrested during a large anti-drug and other trafficking operation on Monday evening. The police cordoned off the Trachel neighborhood for 2 hours. The targets were dealers and other traffickers active in this area of the azure capital.
It was an opportunity for elected officials and other candidates to express themselves.
For Patrick Mottard, outgoing general councilor and candidate for the departmental elections for this same district: “For months and months alongside the population, I have repeatedly urged the public authorities to respond to the deterioration of the social climate in the popular Trachel neighborhood (which in the former districting was not part of my district). Trafficking of all kinds continues to develop, prosper, and make life difficult for residents. And I’m not even talking about what is euphemistically called ‘incivilities.’ A number of places are also known to harbor this underground economy (in fact not so underground…).
The operation on Monday, which resulted in 26 arrests, was therefore anticipated, very much anticipated. But let’s be clear: it is only meaningful if it signifies a strong will from state services and the municipality to make the pacification of this neighborhood a priority. In my position, alongside residents as with the mobilization that saved Jeanpierre Square, I will continue to play the role of a sentry.”
A response also comes from Gaรซl Nofri, municipal and metropolitan councilor and candidate for the departmental elections for this 5th district of Nice:
“The operation conducted on Trachel Street by law enforcement was initiated by local residents and neighborhood syndical associations. It therefore reflects both the deterioration of the situation in the neighborhood, the legitimate exasperation of the population, and also a refusal of fatalism by the people of Nice confronted with insecurity, impoverishment, and their abandonment by the municipality.
Indeed, beyond the media announcements by the Mayor who constantly pretends to ‘create’ brigades without ever providing them with means and missions, the conclusion is unequivocal: failure. This failure belongs to a neighborhood where the City, insecurity, and immigration policies have destroyed peace and quality of life. We won’t succeed in ending this failure by continuing the same policy, rejoicing over the construction of new social housing planned by the PNRQAD (National Program for Requalification of Deprived Urban Areas), or by demonstrating a lamentable naivety as the Left General Councilor of the sector does.”
