“Six years to achieve the rebirth of our city” or “The time for change has come.” Clearly, Christian Estrosi does not want to be associated with the last two terms. He stated that he participated with the Alpes Maritimes General Council in some funding, but only to relieve the people of Nice. A justification for those who might have started to whisper a protest. He admits to playing games with the media by never naming his opponents. A fool’s game. He delivers unmistakable blows to his two main rivals, Jacques Peyrat (Republican Agreement) and Patrick Allemand (Socialist Party), forgetting the others. Regarding Jacques Peyrat not voting on the municipal budget for 2008, he talks about a “democratic hold-up”: “All the warning lights are red. Why was Nice’s city budget for 2008 not presented? How can you put out a call for tenders of 300 million euros for a new city hall before even having voted on a budget that allows for this call for tenders?” He lambasts the city’s debt (“706 million in 2007 versus 663 in 1995”) and the unpaid companies for their work on the Tramway.
Patrick Allemand, still without naming him, the candidate from the Socialist Party, is accused of doing nothing for Nice: “Talking is good, criticizing is conceivable, acting is better! His action was null for Nice except to increase regional taxes by 100% and decrease regional aid for Alpes Maritimes by 30%.” With the opponents cornered, it’s time for the Estrosi project.
“In the first hundred days, specific actions will be applied to restart Nice, to create the shock of renewal. The people of Nice must feel and measure on very concrete domains the new momentum our team will give our city.” The timing is precise. Christian Estrosi immediately wants to make his mark in the daily lives of the people of Nice. He enumerates the changes that will occur in the hundred days: creation of a Rapid Action Cleanliness Force, a unique cleaning service, a monthly allowance of 200€ for parents who are denied a spot in a daycare, immediate opening of 200 daycare spots, free first hour of parking in municipal garages, a 24/7 Allô Mairie helpline with a toll-free number to answer the people of Nice’s questions, sale of the public housing office headquarters, recruitment of 150 building superintendents, additional buses, establishment of a noise control service within the Municipal Police, redeployment of the Municipal Police to community policing duties, creation of 50 Public Interest positions, creation of a citizen civil reserve so that each resident can have the opportunity to serve their city alongside the Municipal Police, limiting the presence of homeless people and increasing the number of available spots in suitable establishments, free museums and opening of the municipal library on Sunday afternoons, implementation of the right of first refusal for undesirable shops in the heart of Nice, launch of a major safety audit on the situation of Nice’s schools, creation of a free sports pass for children under 12. The list is nearly exhaustive.
Christian Estrosi has promised to achieve all this in the first hundred days of his term. “I commit to leading 100 actions to meet 10 challenges for Nice with you. A third of these actions will be implemented in the first 100 days of the mandate.” The ten challenges further clarify his program:
– An honest and well-managed city
– A city that guarantees the right to housing
– A major international city serving employment
– A city where circulation and parking are improved
– A greener city with better air
– A cleaner city
– A safer city
– A more humane and closer city
– A cultural capital
– A city focused on youth and sports.
All this is listed in a small pamphlet that will be distributed to the people of Nice.
As for major projects… it all depends on the money in the coffers! Especially for the Tramway. He does not set a specific deadline. Christian Estrosi displays his preference for upgrading the SNCF line by constructing a station at the Airport and at Magnan. He abandons the construction of the new city hall costing 300 million at the south station to replace it with a 1000-seat concert hall, a parking lot, an interconnection between the railway line and the tramway. The stadium will be built in the Plaine du Var and could host EURO 2016 football, Stade du Ray would be transformed into a Sports Palace with a large ice rink, Sulzer parking into a large museum that could accommodate a million visitors… The city will become greener with 100 hectares of new natural spaces, will host major national and international cultural festivals. The people of Nice will have “Niçoise blue bikes” and electric vehicles available for public use.
Finally, in the Plaine du Var, newly named Ecovallée, candidate Estrosi wants Nice to be a reference space and a place of excellence. He demands audacity. “A neighborhood of the future will be envisioned with innovative architecture resulting from an international competition open to the world’s greatest architects. Ecovallée will be recognized globally as the reference pole for a new urban development.”
Christian Estrosi, between proximity, audacity, and ambition, has presented his project for Nice. The show was well planned. The political and non-political speakers (Denise Fabre, Jean Marc Giaume, Maurice Cohen, Eric Ciotti, Rudy Salles among others) have justified their commitment well, and the room was obviously conquered. The most fervent remained attentive for more than two hours. Others slipped away before the end. There are 28 days left for the UMP candidate to convince the majority of the people of Nice. And there, the timing is the same for all candidates.
