The list “Nice Écologique,” which brings together several ecological parties (Génération Écologie, Cap21, Europe Écologie Les Verts, and the Independent Ecologist Alliance), is determined to win the municipal elections. Otherwise, it aims to achieve the highest possible score to influence decision-making on environmental matters.
Can you explain the principle of “co-management” mentioned by Jean Marc Governatori?
We discussed the management of the environmental aspect at the Nice town hall and the mayor’s policy. Our proposal is to request the presidency of a commission, in case the outgoing mayor wins. It would be a commission to oversee projects based on environmental criteria. For us, ecology is transversal. It’s not just about flower pots or bike lanes. All investments in the city must be considered through the lens of ecological impact.
How have you incorporated the COVID-19 crisis into your program?
The health crisis part was already included in our program. We were well aware that the environment, pollution, and nutrition have a significant impact on health; we even mentioned the impact of mass tourism on the city’s economy. What we added after the COVID-19 crisis was the realization that we were truly victims of our mono-economy. Nice, like other large cities, relies economically on tourism for 80% of its population. This isn’t new, nor is it Christian Estrosi’s fault alone. Nice has practiced this tourism economy for almost 100 years. Thus, our program has focused our attention on how we could develop an economy that is more resilient and less dependent on these foreign tourists.
What do you criticize about the outgoing mayor’s environmental policy?
We criticize Christian Estrosi’s policy for banking on tourists from the Far East, for bringing in these large planes, and for expanding the airport so that A380s could bring in people from Shanghai and Beijing. Thus, creating an economy that leaned towards large-scale, international business tourism that is not ready to restart and will take time to do so, if it ever does.
We have, therefore, added a more practical aspect to our program regarding the local economy, meaning promoting quality, nature, and cultural tourism that attracts more Europeans who have abandoned Nice because it was too expensive or too flashy.
We also aim to create new local jobs with local agriculture, highlighting our metropolitan territory, focusing on trains rather than planes, and influencing the city of Nice to encourage the SNCF to reopen night trains and bring tourists in by rail rather than by air. Since flights will greatly decrease because we have fewer planes and tourists coming, and for us, this is a good thing.
We have emphasized short-term aid in our program. As such, proposing a short-term program. As ecologists, we often think long-term because change doesn’t happen quickly, but there is a crisis, an urgency. Therefore, we have highlighted short-term actions to support restaurateurs and the local economy.
What will be your priority topics?
The priority issue is to impose a moratorium on major construction projects, notably the extension of Terminal 2 of the airport, which is an ecological absurdity. The problem is that it is located in a very sensitive bird protection area. Hence, it collides with the aviation and tourism crisis. It is clear that this project is no longer relevant.
We must also impose a moratorium on these large exhibition park projects outside of Nice. We are well aware that the world of tomorrow will limit large-scale travels for business tourism and business meetings. In such cases, other ways to meet, bond, and conduct business, such as videoconferencing, have been found.
These moratoriums also provide an opportunity to reconsider the financial capabilities of the city to launch such large projects because we know very well the financial situation, particularly that of the metropolis, is disastrous.
One major project to reconsider is the traffic plan, such as the cycling network plan, which should be designed explicitly to combat pollution. A comprehensive, coherent plan, not just a hastily put-together one. It is evident that the bike plan recently implemented by Mayor Christian Estrosi was done under COVID-19 circumstances.
It is unfortunate when there is a backlash where everything is removed because people are unhappy with its implementation. A cycling plan must be well-coordinated with the consultation of residents and shopkeepers in the area.
There is already a significant project included in the metropolitan PLU (local urban plan), which has positive aspects. It is already drafted and must be implemented in consultation with the people of Nice so they can take ownership of it. It should not become a war between cars and the elites.
How will you involve citizens more?
What we plan to do with neighborhood councils and committees involves reconsidering the term “neighborhood committee” as currently, neighborhood councils function in a top-down manner implemented by the town hall, providing information to citizens who don’t have much to do.
Our approach for the neighborhood committees includes a portion selected by drawing lots, meaning the people are invited to see what’s happening in their neighborhood committee.
Currently, it’s somewhat of a co-optation, with individuals who have invested a lot of themselves over the years, creating an aging, closed club that’s difficult to join since everyone knows each other.
Thus, neighborhood committees should include people chosen by lottery, who would propose projects. We have therefore planned a participatory budget, a budget for citizens to take hold of projects in their neighborhoods.
I don’t intend to state the same as what Christian Estrosi did in his term. The neighborhood committees proposed speed bumps, cameras, additional traffic lights, and the renovation of the bowling club. These weren’t dream projects. Instead, it would be a project that should make citizens seize their elected representatives.
For instance, a project like the one at Ray Park, substituting the Ray stadium with buildings and parks, could have been envisioned by the neighborhood committee for them to take ownership and generate ideas.
These should be venues where the word “citizen” truly has a place. There will be a participatory budget that must be evaluated, discussing the percentage of the city’s investment budget, for example. According to substantial amounts of 10% over a mandate, it will allow the implementation of things citizens can be proud of.
When we formed our Nice Écologique list in October, we truly assembled a great team, with a lineup that was 100% ecological from the first to the last on the list. The last being freediver Guillaume Néry. He agreed to join us because he’s an international figure in ocean defense and a world champion in freediving.
He said, “I’m joining you because I support you as you’re a 100% eco list and you’re making a change. You don’t have a political label of right or left but an eco-label,” and he supports us as number 69.
How do you explain the failure of a unified list combining all the left?
When the “Tous citoyens” collective invited us to meet and discuss the possibility of uniting the three opposing lists, it seemed a bit complicated to implement, especially since our list was built around the goal of 100% ecological representation. We represent associations and eco-political parties.
During this meeting, it became quite clear that one of the other two lists, notably VIVA, did not want to merge. One of them proposed a technical merger, meaning they would join our list to bring their votes but would remain separate in the municipal council.
The other two present said they were into creating something new. So, they would stay outside but would be willing to work with us internally, meaning being elected. We immediately said, of course. “Just because you’re not elected doesn’t mean we stop talking. We’re in contact with associations and citizens. We’re ready to share what’s happening internally.”
Knowing VIVA didn’t want to merge, it would have been a strange idea to say we’re going to merge with the Socialist Party, which came in third. The selected Socialist candidate was not desired by VIVA, who notably said, “anything but Patrick Allemand.”
We did not want to be the divider or conciliator of the left. In our 100% ecological list, there are quite a few former members of various political parties. That is, former members of the Socialist Party, former PRG (Radical Left Party), and Public Place members who are from left parties.
We told them, but they can’t say there’s no left at the municipal council. There will be people among the ecologists who left the left and no longer want to carry the left label, yet they will remain of the left in their hearts and convictions.
