The anticipated marathon took place, but the chief marathoner, Christian Estrosi, left the race during the break, handing the relay to Philippe Pradal, who led the pack to the finish line at a slow pace, allowing everyone to hold on until the end.
Furthermore, the opposition, having succeeded in their case regarding the “problematic” intervention time (gathered in 7 minutes per group for the 25 files on the argument of the July 14 attack), played its role with institutional behavior and voted by majority for all the deliberations largely inspired by the precautionary principle.
Evidently, the shock of July 14 – despite Mr. Pradal’s encouragement that “life must go on” – has not yet been fully absorbed, and this is reflected in the proposals: the range of measures planned (aid to victim’s families, support for economic actors, strengthening the school security system, audit for improving security in all public spaces, etc.), already announced and some already implemented, were voted unanimously.
Regarding the ping-pong of responsibilities, Christian Estrosi, on the eve of the National Tribute Day to the victims (then postponed by 24 hours for weather reasons), chose to keep a low profile: moreover, a judicial investigation is underway and will establish any responsibilities.
It was therefore appropriate to remain silent and wait instead of expressing oneself based on mere assumptions.
This unanimity did not prevent opponents from revisiting the content of the deliberations and the reason behind it.
Right-wing independent Marc-André Domergue ended his vehement speech by no less than demanding the resignation of the Prefect, the Departmental Director of Security, the Mayor, and his first deputy in charge of security!
Patrick Allemand (PS) welcomed the adopted measures, although he stressed the need to accompany them with education and prevention programs to promote social cohesion around republican values, indicating local associations as a channel for grassroots actions.
In the same tone, Dominique Boy-Mottard (left-wing independent) deemed the presented program “generally coherent” while criticizing the “artificially fueled” controversies post-July 14.
The sharp intervention of former first deputy Benoît Kandel (right-wing independent), who, right after the attack, had requested the formation of a municipal inquiry commission, was remarkable. The former high-ranking military officer, very knowledgeable in this field, firmly asserts that many mistakes were made in the setup.
These questions, one more pertinent than the other, provide an alarming reading of the unfolding facts and their dynamics. They remain unanswered but retain their full validity.
If the “post-July 14 attack” package was the main dish of the session, other topics were on the agenda. We report them in the chronological order of speaking.
The Christmas Village is maintained and will take place at Jardin 1er with reinforced security conditions.
The Acropolis and the Exhibition Palace will change status at the end of 2017, and the municipality will take control of them regarding capital. It is known that Christian Estrosi prefers the public management option to that of public service delegation. The reasons are multiple, among them the fact that municipal employees represent an attractive electoral pool…
Eventually, after the new Exhibition Palace replaces the MIN, the current Exhibition Palace will transform into a Sports Palace while the Acropolis will need to find a new path within the professional tourism policy framework.
The Nice municipality has also authorized the attachment of Côte Azur Habitat to the Metropolis as provided by new provisions concerning the competencies of various local authorities. This will allow Senator Dominique Estrosi-Sassone to maintain the presidency of this company, which is strategic for more than one reason.
Oppositions manifested during the presentation of two sensitive files: the renovation project of the Ray Stadium and the development of the western exit of Mathis Road, currently a bottleneck for east-west traffic. Christian Tordo’s explanations gave the impression that these advancements are made according to situations.
The municipality has full control – they ask – over these files, or is it dependent on the position of its economic partners?
Coherence has its limits: if public management is the magic formula for the congress center, DSP is, however, the best solution for the Nikaia Palace!
To motivate it, it has been stated that to manage well, specific skills are needed, which, in this case, the City would not have.
On the other hand, since the jazz festival has been taken over in direct management… obviously, jazz musicians and women abound in the municipal staff!
Is it too much to remind the thought leaders that any organization is valid if it aligns with the sought objectives? and that competencies are a raw material widely available on the market?
Conclusion: it would be better to assume the responsibility of a decision without hiding behind a fig leaf: coherence, you say?
The announced partnership between the Major Brands and Local Commerce should work in synergy with the commercial fabric and revive consumption through activities and other initiatives. Said like that, it sounds good and even friendly. But have you ever seen a lion stroll peacefully with a gazelle?
The last highlight of the evening was the attribution of the Theater of Photography and Image to (the company?) Francis Huster with the prospect of organizing a Dramatic Art Festival there.
This decision will entail the transfer of the TPI to Ferrero Collection’s place in the Old Nice, which will move to the Forum of Architecture and Urban Planning, itself relocating to the former Abattoirs. All this is a bit complicated, but that isn’t the subject, which lies elsewhere.
While no one questions the artistic value of Francis Huster, nor his willingness to invest in a Nice project, other questions remain pending and deserve an answer: isn’t there the TNN in charge of theatrical activity? Isn’t there the municipal theater Francis Gag?
Neither can incorporate into their season calendar a festival that, one can imagine, will not last the entire year (otherwise it would not be called a “festival”)?
Francis Huster had been announced before the summer as the patron-promoter of another initiative: a local amateur theater school, which would have made sense. But this project, we are told, has already foundered before setting sail.
Now we come to this Dramatic Art Festival: assuming it is the right project, how can quality performances, of which Francis Huster is both emblem and guarantee, be envisaged in the beautiful yet very limited setting of the former Artistique?
How many places are available there? What economic model can sustain the project? And finally, is there a need for a year-round theater for a festival?
The lengthy, passionate speech of Gerard Baudoux, defending this file, was an admirable exercise in eloquence and rhetoric fitting for a forum’s prince, yet that was all it remained. In the end, it did not convince.
And what if the truth lay in Dominique Boy-Mottard’s remark?: “There was the Duez fad, now there’s the Huster fad.”
