We’re used to the marathon of the City Council. However, this pre-summer session quickly took on the nature of a condominium meeting at its worst, or a luncheon discussion at its best, sometimes even devolving into political fair antics.
122 deliberations to illustrate, debate, and vote on, sometimes amid a certain chaos of voices for and against, abstentions, non-participations… And, as a bonus, three monumental resolutions: For the elimination of ozone peaks, for the reversal of territorial reform with the maintenance of the general councils and the elimination of the regions (!), and finally, for the restoration of the Nice-Cuneo-Turin railway line (!!!)
For the record, the first was not approved and the debate revealed that pollution is not only caused by ozone. The other two, however, received the necessary majority, but to what end? Pure exercises in wasting time for not much. Ah, the fantasy in power…
Fortunately, the mayor of Nice was in a good mood and managed the proceedings and the chamber as a court moderator, exercising just the right amount of severity to prevent students from putting their feet on the school bench and distributing, with ecumenism, a few “pateravegloria” to the most recalcitrant.
Let’s try to proceed in an orderly fashion.
First, the FN/RBM group split: It has already been discussed and nothing new has occurred: The dissidents were expelled from the party (FN) and the movement (RBM). The legitimate representatives of the national bodies are Marie-Christine Arnautu and Marc-André Domergue. The group led by Guillaume Aral does not, to date, have legitimacy to represent the RBM…but in politics, “never say never.” Relations between the two groups are civil, there are no grounds for unnecessary polemics.
Election of CM delegates for the municipal election: The 392 delegates were distributed among political groups as follows: 287 Nice Ensemble (UMP/UDI), 34 Another Future for Nice (PS/EELV), 28 Nice Bleu Marine (Dissident Frontists); 22 My Party is Nice (Olivier Bettati), 11 FN/Rassemblement Bleu Marine
Resignation of Alain Philipp who joined the administrative services of the City/Metropolis: In short, the former deputy mayor for urban planning continues his work with a different role. His delegations were divided between Philippe Pradal (Public Works) and Madame Gilletta. José Cobos was elected deputy in charge of sports events.
Resignation of Anne Bocquet, Director of the City and Metropolis Services and her replacement by Prefect Drevet: Not even a final appearance to bid farewell to the elected officials? Christian Estrosi officially announced a new, more simplified organization, as is the trend these days.
Formation of a public procurement control committee open to members of the opposition. It is rather a good thing in these times when individual and collective behaviors are sometimes not up to the task.
2013 Exercise: Administrative accounts and determination of the City’s debt volume: Bypassing some technical dissertations and refraining from a free interpretation of the figures, it can be considered that it is set at 523 million euros with a debt reduction level equal to 8.25 years. Then, there is the debt of the Metropolis, which is a separate legal entity. The Regional Court of Accounts sets the bar at 15 years to determine an alert situation.
Our opinion is simple and has been expressed several times: What matters is not the volume of the debt, nor its positioning in relation to the 15-year standard which has no scientific or empirical significance, but the repayment capacity by freeing up the necessary resources to ensure debt service. Even if it may seem paradoxical, in these times of very favorable rates (2.39% on average), more debt should be incurred, either to intensify investments or to increase the treasury.
Underground Line 2: More discussions from the oppositions. Conceptual error of the mayor of Nice who believes that the March 30 election was also a referendum on the construction methods of Line 2. He did not have the majority required by a referendum even though the citizens elected him with a large majority. The two matters are separate, there is no reason to confuse them artificially. In any case, the project is underway…
Neighborhood councils: Proximity policy involves these bodies. 9 councils will be both elected and appointed (40 people organized into various colleges with an opposition present). The nine territories are the replica of the departmental collectivity’s cantons: Participatory democracy or tools for the electoral campaigns of future candidates? Proximity with citizens and their bodies or proximity with potential voters?
Côte d’Azur Habitat: The social housing provider of the city and the Metropolis: Protest from Frontist elected officials against Dominique Estrosi-Sassone who is the president: Reason, suspicion of non-transparent management in housing allocation. Dominique Estrosi Sassone is not easily deterred, the rest is easy to imagine. Plankings can be severe in a council session…
Formation of a local public services and financial control commission: Open to the opposition. No critical situation regarding so-called toxic loans (which in truth are not, unless…). Unnecessary discussions due to the lack of technical skills from the speakers. some had difficulty making themselves understood, yet they were sometimes right!
Museum pricing: End of free admission for tourists and non-residents. Nothing too serious, everyone needs money and gets it where they can. More curious are the reasons: The people of Nice already pay local taxes. And then, tourists spend and help the commerce flourish. Is this a sufficient reason to fleece them?
Tobacco control: A third beach (Sainte-Hélène) is added to those of the Centenary and Lenval. This is quite a good thing, smoking is no longer in vogue even though many are still die-hard “smokers”. But, the essential is that they do not harm others.
Taxi aid: via a reduction in municipal taxes. Yes, they face stiff competition from illegitimate drivers and especially from UBER vehicles. Theirs is a rearguard battle against technologies that will change the profession. But, why not also face realities? And pitch in: a 30-euro ride from the airport to the city center, a journey of 10 to 15 minutes maximum, that’s more a tithe than a fare, isn’t it?
Creation of a museum of Niçois memory: Everyone agrees to enhance the heritage of this city with a strong identity through a vast and ambitious project. However, suspicion from the opposition towards the mayor of Nice’s intention to use it as a communication opportunity. Oh Niçois, who thinks harm…
School rhythms: Switching from political opposition, which served no purpose, to legal action for procedural defects. In the meantime, the City will organize or reorganize extracurricular activities. A severe clash between Lauriano Azinheirinha and Dominique Boy-Mottard, but everything is back to order as it should be between a lady and a gentleman.
After all that, vacations will have been well-deserved, and the next rendezvous is set for a return that we already imagine will be very… studious!
