This Friday, a press conference organized by the elected representatives of the Azur region was held at Nice’s city hall regarding the SRU law.
This Friday, at the city hall of Nice, Christian Estrosi and the mayors of several cities in the Alpes-Maritimes gathered to discuss the difficulties they encounter with the SRU law. Many mayors, in particular, expressed their lack of understanding regarding the national commission. “The France from above does not take ground realities into account,” stated Louis Nègre, mayor of Cagnes-Sur-Mer.
The press conference responds to the announcement of the Prime Minister’s political speech. Gabriel Attal has declared to make housing one of his priorities by modifying a part of the SRU law to include so-called “intermediate” housing.
“Fed up with this absurd law” – Roger Roux, mayor of Beaulieu-sur-Mer
The numerous mayors of the community present at this press conference claim not to be opposed to social housing. However, they consider the law to be completely outdated and obsolete. “Fed up with this absurd law, which does not take into account the difficulties of our communities. I will continue to be penalized. And this penalty jeopardizes our communities,” stated the mayor of Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Roger Roux.
The elected representatives expressed their dissatisfaction with the penalties received for not meeting the SRU law’s quota. The sum of the penalties for the metropolis amounts to 16 million euros. “The State discusses your community’s difficulties in your place,” stated the mayor of Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Roger Roux. Nice, for its part, faces a penalty of 10 million euros “a state racket,” protests Christian Estrosi. He adds that in recent years there has been a 25% delay in construction mainly due to the health crisis and the lack of supply of raw materials.
Some mayors of the Côte d’Azur wished to speak up to express their discontent with this law. “Not here to create ghettos or rabbit hutches,” asserted the mayor of Saint-Jeannet, Julie Charles, stating that in addition to social housing, accompanying infrastructure is also necessary. She denounces François Piquemal, a deputy from La France Insoumise. He had come to Nice to accuse the Azur communities of not complying with the SRU Law: “it’s disrespectful to us mayors. We live in the real world, I invite him to come to the field. We are not just wealthy communities that don’t want social housing.”
