To understand, one must start from the… starting point. Since the municipal elections of 2014, with Christian Estrosi being re-elected as mayor, a new organization has been set up, structured around 9 territories (each with a deputy) and 9 neighborhood councils (instead of the previous 17).
The goal is to ensure a link between elected officials (including those from the opposition) and the representatives of the population within an advisory body. In total, 263 people are part of it, including 197 from civil society.
Given his rather centralizing method of work and directive style, it was never thought that these neighborhood councils had any role other than acting as signaling cells for minor issues in city management, besides serving as a conduit for the mayor’s policies.
Furthermore, having chosen his deputy Madame Dominique Estrosi-Sassone, known for handling issues… appropriately, as the person responsible for coordinating the territories.
Moreover, until now, there had been no news regarding the impact of these councils’ activities, which seemed more like co-ownership meetings to voice minor grievances.
However, Christian Estrosi wants to kick off, at least according to his words, a new direction, and on the eve of the first formal meetings, he emphasized the “primary role” of everyone’s proposals and actions in the city’s participatory life.
“I need your investment, your knowledge, and your proposals,” he told them during a plenary meeting.
Suggestions for reflection? The mayor of Nice was not short on suggestions: environment, societal evolution, sustainable mobility, development of Nice’s heritage, culture, digital innovation, and new technologies.
“A true society is built with everyone, and each citizen can contribute their share to this work” would be the conclusion of the mayor of Nice. A true grassroots democratic model that requires these beautiful words to be followed by deeds.
This occasion was also an opportunity for the candidate for Regional Council presidency to boost his image in the eyes of the delegates present and, through that, to convey the message. Christian Estrosi also reminded the assembly of projects already completed and those underway or in planning stages.
The list of the latter is long but deserves to be mentioned to show how the city is moving: development of the Plaine du Var, Nice Mรฉridia; villa la Luna on the Prom; the Vallon des Sabliรจres; the Ray site; the Gare du Sud; the Nice Centre project; Saint-Roch hospital; the development of the Pasteur Health Hub; the extension of the Promenade du Paillon; development of the Abattoirs site; requalification of the Place Saint-Franรงois, redevelopment of the Chรขteau site.
Given the agenda, there’s plenty to think about!
