NP: Auguste Vérola, where does your strength come from in this fight for the Nice city center in general? From right to left, everyone praises your action in this respect.
Auguste Vérola: The city center is my life; I was born there, I work there, I live there, I think I know it seriously, and my election without political support has proven that in the field we need to go beyond divisions.
NP: More specifically, why did you organize this meeting in the Notre Dame neighborhood?
Auguste Vérola: As early as January 2005, during the inauguration of the Leisure Center on Rue d’Angleterre, I launched ideas to stop the deterioration of the Notre Dame neighborhood. The population reacted well but since then all the work I had undertaken with Annie-France Hogan, as part of the City Center-Renewal mission, has not been followed up. This meeting aimed to debate and propose concrete and immediate solutions to real problems, all of this with the very present neighborhood committee.
NP: We noticed a lot of anger among the population at the announcement of yet another delay in the construction of the underground parking promised in part to residents since 1993, and even a feeling of abandonment. It was very much wanted by the attendees as soon as possible (solutions for construction: private, joint management, etc.). What are you proposing?
AV: Regarding the parking, it all comes down to political will. The Mayor had promised it during the city council meeting in response to my query. Is it a cost issue? But the errors and malpractices of the tramway have cost more than the parking overspend. Finally, since the other parkings have been abandoned and the new City Hall is postponed, there is enough to pay for the Notre Dame parking since it is the only one that remained.
NP: Overall, isn’t the city’s policy on resident parking in the city center a semi-failure (Notre Dame, Libération-Mairie, Lépante none of the projects are moving forward)?
AV: I will have the opportunity to propose during the next city council meeting some global parking solutions that “maybe” the Mayor will be willing to hear if not listen to.
NP: Without dramatizing the insecurity in this area of the city center, some residents complain about various small problems and incivilities. What needs to be done?
AV: The Saetone police station should not remain closed on Saturday, the busiest day. It’s a matter of common sense.
NP: There has been a lot of talk about housing renovation in the neighborhoods around the station without seeing the elimination of insalubrious housing or slum landlords. How to restart a mixed housing initiative also providing clean homes for working professionals or affordable students?
AV: For housing, it is necessary to relaunch a Programmed Operation for Housing Improvement as it was done 5 years ago but with greater control over the homes that have been subject to aided improvements.
NP: What about 2 projects of housing for active individuals that are stalled. The Hotel des Nations and the buildings at 11 and 13 rue de Belgique?
AV: The rehabilitation project for the Hotel des Nations has been relaunched, as for 11 and 13 rue de Belgique, let the City begin by renovating what belongs to it.
NP: Can the public authorities do more?
AV: A city is judged by its center and if this center collapses, it drags the whole city down with it. Public authorities can do more provided they are present. However, at this meeting, which was meant to be neither political nor controversial, neither the City nor the Municipal Police responded to the invitation. The Prefecture and the National Police were present. The latter reviewed its action and was congratulated by the population. Overall, this part of the city center is classified as a Sensitive Urban Zone, it should receive the same resources as the suburbs. The city of Toulon has created a free zone in the city center, the Opera district has been renovated both in terms of housing and on a commercial level. Today, the residents who have remained and the businesses that have settled are betting on the future. It is imperative to quickly take measures and aid to meet this expectation. The proposals I have made, supported by the Neighborhood Committee, can meet them, and I hope that finally the Municipality will understand the legitimacy of our request which is not controversial but constructive.
NP: When will the renovation of the Notre Dame basilica take place?
AV: For the Notre Dame site, everything depends on the parking. It must be built as soon as possible but in the meantime, order must already be restored. I have made here a concrete and immediately applicable proposal.
NP: Do you not sometimes feel alone in fighting for this neighborhood? How will you manage your end of term on the city council?
AV: No, I am not alone. There is the Neighborhood Committee, the merchants who believe in it, and the inhabitants, who, by coming massively to this meeting, wish to contribute their part. And then, I have the support of the Deputy, she has the same determination as me for these issues. She places her full trust in me, and together, we should overcome the difficulties. I am also counting on the city center-renewal mission that has understood that, beyond personal quarrels, there is a will to act together. The County Council has launched a policy to renovate urban centers. I plan to very quickly contact its President to energize this part of the city center.
NP: A thought for 2008 while you shave in the morning?
AV: Not having to redo the same meeting next year. This would prove that we have been heard.
