Home » Mayor Massaro goes straight: “Three devastating years but I never gave up and the citizens know it”

Mayor Massaro goes straight: “Three devastating years but I never gave up and the citizens know it”

by admin

BELLUNO. “We faced a devastating three-year period, but we never gave up.” The mayor of Belluno, Jacopo Massaro, responds to those accusing him of a drop in tension since the end of his mandate, so much so that he has lost sight of the city’s priorities. The freezing of Titian’s exhibition is only the latest object of discord, with attacks also coming from within.

Mayor Massaro, they say he has lost momentum and is increasingly distant from the issues of the city. Do you feel the end of a journey approaching or is it tired?

«I understand that, from the outside, there may be the perception of managerial fatigue. It is impossible not to be tired after a catastrophic three years, first with Vaia and then with Covid. Emergencies managed in the dark, without historical experience, without being able to predict the choices of higher bodies, nor ever knowing which resources to rely on. For the councilors, who were very good, it was a physically devastating period, but keeping the overview is the sole responsibility of the mayor: the sum of the problems, to which I have to give an overall answer, falls on me. However, it is one thing to perceive objective fatigue, and I hope understandable, another is to think that this has pushed me away. Despite everything that happened, he never gave up and the greater the severity of the challenge, the greater the intensity in his response, often inventing creative and complex solutions ».

Even among the majority municipal councilors there are those who negatively read the last months of his administration.

«From the different angle of view of the directors there cannot be a total awareness of the difficulties of this three-year period: they are called to a fundamental but different role, which often prevents the perception of daily complexity. The criticisms are a must, but I feel the pride of those who know they never gave up also because they know they have to lead by example. In any case, the indicators confirm a positive picture: another 39 million have just arrived, after the first 18 for urban regeneration. Our administration is the one that has brought to the city the highest figure in history in external contributions, precisely in the period of greatest contraction of available resources. Furthermore, in the last year the consent of citizens towards this administration is 57%: the results are evidently perceived. We also have the highest percentage of vaccinated people in the province and in the Veneto region: such a reactivity on the part of citizens cannot be independent of a strong pull. If you think about it, the city is now more supportive, fairer, more touristic and has shortened the distances between generations. So there are criticisms, but the results are there ».

See also  UIDE Loja is getting ready to participate in the 2024 Architecture Biennial – DIARIO CRONICA

Freezing Titian’s exhibition also led to criticism from the president of the Theaters Foundation, whom he appointed. How did he take it?

«I wanted Tiziana Pagani Cesa in that role, because she is a capable and intelligent person and my opinion has not changed. Those who come from a private sphere take longer to enter the often incomprehensible public logic. You have only seen part of the work on the exhibition, but there is much more, starting from the need to make assessments as a good family man with respect to the evolution of the pandemic. There are things that Pagani Cesa cannot know, because it is the junta that you have Roman contacts with those who manage the pandemic. Perhaps the president has sinned in inexperience, but it can happen and the controversy does not interest me. Everyone continues to work for their part and responsibility, for the good of the city. Responsibility for health and public money, for example, is up to us ».

Some citizens complain that it is difficult to get answers from her and her council. Is that so?

“When I arrived there was a flood of messages from people angry about many things, but over the years there has been a drastic decline and indeed a lot of positive feedback. Of course, those who complain never fail, but during Vaia and Covid there was a wave of requests for information and suggestions to which I would not have been able to respond if not hiring someone to do it in my place with the usual courtesy messages, but this fake way of relating is not for me. Today most of the issues are raised by the opposition, rightly so, and we try to answer them. But we can and must always improve, in the awareness that being close to citizens also increases their requests ».

See also  Small children can be sick up to eight times a year

The majority, less than a year after the elections, seem to be having difficulty planning the future without her. Do you think you have been too much of a “man alone in command”? Do you intend to participate in the after Massaro?

“It is undeniable that this electoral system centralizes political elaboration, but one of our objectives was to create an alternative ruling class to those who have governed in recent decades. We did it: in the council, in the council and in the subsidiaries there are very competent and prepared people. I agreed to the request to disengage from future negotiations and I do not think there is a disorientation, if anything a little fear of making decisions. The new ruling class is ready, it just needs to understand it. I will stay by their side as long as they want it, but I represent a cycle in the Municipality that rightly closes ».

Returning to the criticisms, there is concern about the future management of containers being recovered.

«The problem is not there. Bembo and Fulcis also didn’t have a destination and we filled them very well. In addition, there are projects: the covered market at the former Jesuit church, the recovery of the pedagogical identity at Gabelli, which will remain a school, and a space for socializing, other than the bar, for young people at Crepadona ».

Is tourism slowing down? The feeling is that this summer is less lively than the one passed in full pandemic.

“The data do not highlight problems, if not the physiological ones from Covid. We made a choice: to do everything possible to overcome the pandemic. Sorry that there are few events and that someone considers them subdued, but where “free all” is preferred, the first outbreaks are already seen. Do we want to close everything? You have to work responsibly and in the face of a changed picture, Titian’s exhibition had to be suspended: those who accuse us do not have the perception of the risks that are coming ».

See also  Tribute to Chinese Doctor's Day | "Healthy China, you and I walk together, care for life, and save life by your side" - themed public welfare activity linked to the four cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hangzhou is held - Xinhua English.news.cn

The last drawback concerns the maintenance.

“You have to be pragmatic: for a perfect city, and what’s more, a vast and mountainous city, you need a lot more money and you have to raise taxes. We have chosen to keep them as low as possible and are now among the least taxed cities. However, I invite everyone to remember what the city was like in 2012 and that in 2015 alone we invested more in asphalts than in the previous five years, continuing the following years as well. We also decided to eliminate glyphosate, which is carcinogenic, by making a priority choice: putting up with a little more weed in exchange for more health. However, we wanted to leave the city more beautiful than we found it and I believe it is so ».

Do you have something to reproach yourself with?

“Only stupid people do not have it, but I have no remorse or regrets: going back I would do everything again, even the mistakes because I made them in good faith and in any case there are no serious ones”.

What will he do when he grows up?

«For me, politics is a great passion, but it cannot be a profession. Furthermore, I am not a member of any party and this closes all doors for me, so I don’t think there will be more space for me, even if I would like to. In the future I aim to improve myself from a working and professional point of view ».Irene Aliprandi

You may also like

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More

Privacy & Cookies Policy