There is always a first time…
Recently, there has been a lot of talk about rural France, etc. So, what could be more natural than for Christian Estrosi, a seasoned politician, to once again demonstrate his keen intuition by relocating the Metropolitan Council to the high mountains in the village of Isola.
As he emphasizes with the emphasis befitting such occasions: “This relocated council is the very symbol of the diversity of the NCA Metropolis. We are a territory committed to strengthening the identities of the communes while uniting them in a common destiny.”
Isola was the capital for a day of the Metropolis, to the satisfaction of its mayor, Jean-Marie Bogini, who was quite proud of this recognition.
A busy day focused on the economic aspect which included the presentation of the 2018-2020 investment report and the approval of the management and administrative accounts of the budget (main and annexes).
Regarding the first file—already presented during a press briefing last Friday—the President of the Metropolis proudly claimed the efficiency of the 2018-2020 investment plan—140 million per year—achieved 99%, while recalling the funding of structuring projects in various communes and nearby developments in the highlands, midlands, and coasts.
As for the management and administrative accounts, their presentation was an opportunity for a heated verbal confrontation between Christian Estrosi, supported by a “choir” of praises and thanks composed of mayors of small communes quite happy to benefit (in the positive sense of the word) from territorial solidarity (358 million euros since 2012), one of the strategic axes of the Metropolis’ management, and the constant critics who attribute to him wasteful management and excessive indebtedness (1490 million euros), bringing out the perennial argument of the cost of the underground section of metro-tram line 2.
Precisely, the finance chief Philippe Pradal, bolstered by a seal of approval from the new Prefect (letter distributed) validating proper management (-0.17% increase in operating expenses against a contract with the State of +1.35%), skillfully rebutted the criticisms and other niceties that arose from the scattered—but all in the same direction—interventions of Guillaume Aral, Benoît Kandel (towards whom Christian Estrosi might well abstain from making objectively disrespectful comments of his position as an elected official) and those, more moderate, from Patrick Allemand.
As for Christelle D’Intorni—the Calamity Jane of the valley—her sharp-toned plea received a response—”virile but correct” following a popular expression on rugby fields—from Pierre-Paul Leonelli, the leader of the majority group, who sent her back to her studies.
Climate-Energy: the Metropolis confirms its adherence to new objectives
Within the framework of the Covenant of Mayors (a worldwide organization that brings together 7100 cities from 119 different countries) of which the Metropolis (under various names before its establishment) has been a member since 2008, the signatories commit to reducing CO2 emissions (and potentially other greenhouse gases) in its territory by at least 40% by 2030 and to present a Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP) in the next two years and establish a report every two years thereafter.
In its territorial plan, the Metropolis aims, by 2026, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 22%, energy consumption by 16%, and increase renewable energy production by 15%.
The Metropolis has just renewed the Cit’energie labeling process for a period of 4 years.
Land operations within the framework of Grande Arénas and Grand Meridia (OIN Eco-Valley)
Could one reasonably think that merely announcing real estate files would miss the suspicious questions of Paul Cuturello and the irritated explanations of Christian Tordo? The answer is no. And indeed, tradition has not failed to be respected. Besides, these exchanges are made with such amiability…
Subsidy to the Heritage Foundation for the reconstruction of Notre-Dame de Paris
This deliberation led to a clash between the “localists” (and yes, once you start playing patriotism and reducing perimeters, you never know where it can take you!) who demanded that this amount (equivalent to 1 euro per inhabitant of the Metropolis) be allocated to initiatives within the territory and Christian Estrosi, who defended his commitment, announced 48 hours after the fire, following the decision of the Departmental Council of a 500,000 euro subsidy.
Not ready to back down, the President of the Metropolis presented an argument that touched on the origins of our civilization, the moral significance of the gesture, participation in an emblematic act of French history.
After all these resounding declarations (there was even talk of subordinating payment to the knowledge of the origin and dynamic of the facts!!!), the deliberation was adopted by a near-unanimous vote (against Découpigny, abstention Boy-Mottard).
