Mari-Luz Hernandez-Nicaise, municipal councilor of Europe Ecology-The Greens (EELV) and president of the tender commission, was the guest of the political meeting of the Mediterranean Press Club. Municipal elections 2014, assessment of the current municipality, status of ongoing markets, all topics were addressed candidly.
Mari-Luz Hernandez-Nicaise is a woman deeply involved in local politics. Due to her status and roles, the ecologist elected official provides her perspective on many issues. Favorable to awarding contracts based on quality and social clauses, she criticizes the current municipality for favoring other more opaque criteria. “The renovation and paving of the port streets with gray basalt transform the city into a solar oven in the summer. Furthermore, the purchase of these slabs is anything but aligned with sustainable development. Purchased in China, they transit across the entire world,” explains the official. According to Mari-Luz Hernandez-Nicaise, these slabs have resulted in an additional cost of 2.6 to 2.8 million euros in the market.
Another thorny issue is the cost of the large Allianz Riviera stadium. Deemed too expensive, the financing of the stadium will burden the people of Nice with debt. The eco-valley, a project launched in parallel, is also criticized by the municipal councilor: “Everything is done at the expense of ecology. The creation of an agri-food hub at the Baronne will result in the destruction of agricultural land to ensure its service. Many agricultural lands will be destroyed in favor of the eco-valley. It’s anything but ecological.” A bitter observation also shared on the city’s debt: “80% of the contracts have been transferred to the metropolitan budget.” A smokescreen aimed at lightening the city’s debt and concealing reality, according to her.
Mari-Luz Hernandez Nicaise still points out several positive aspects of Christian Estrosi’s five-year term. The metropolitan councilor finds the city beautified and adorned despite neglect of sustainable development. The transition to public management for several structures is satisfactory, but too much direct management will lead to the inflation of a municipal staff that is difficult to manage.
She also shows favor for a transition of water to public management. Regarding the negative points, social housing, the social policy related to the treatment of Roma and asylum seekers, and the problem of waste management by the city are highlighted. Politically, the EELV elected official acknowledges making contact with several left-wing parties in view of the municipal elections. However, the situation remains unclear regarding a potential coalition: “Nothing is decided yet.” Even though she dismisses the idea of leading a list for the 2014 municipal elections, Mari-Luz Hernandez Nicaise is favorable to a left-wing coalition against the current majority in Nice.
“If I weren’t this old, I could have led a list for these municipal elections,” she adds as a closing remark.
