“Stop the ‘food factory’ even outside the historic center” / VIDEO

“Stop the ‘food factory’ even outside the historic center”, from that UNESCO area, that is, already protected by an ad hoc regulation. Announcing the proposal, to stem a phenomenon, that of the proliferation of all types of administration activities, which in recent years has caused quite a bit of discussion, is Sara Funaro, mayoral candidate for the Democratic Party and centre-left.

He did it this morning from Piazza Beccaria, the second stop, after the one at the Piagge, to announce the ‘house plan’ of the electoral tour of the neighbourhoods.

Neighborhood commerce

“Our will is to defend neighborhood trade and historic businesses even outside the centre. The new rules allow us to do so”, explains Funaro, referring to article 12 of the annual law for the market and competition of 2023, which will soon see its practical effects materialize.

“Thanks to this law we will limit the establishment of activities such as ethnic delicatessens, fast food, large chains, catering and administration activities in areas characterized by a quality and diversified commercial and artisanal fabric”, explains the PD candidate.

Funaro then announces a further restriction also in the centre, where in fact a stop has already been active for some time. “We will block the transfers of food and administration activities to new areas in the UNESCO area, where the new licenses are already frozen and also in some areas within the ancient circle of the city, so as not to allow them to proliferate in an uncontrolled manner”, he adds .

The first streets

The first streets from which, in the event of his election, he promises to leave, are those visited this morning: via Gioberti, Borgo la Croce, via Pietrapiana, all areas with a strong commercial vocation. Then Borgo San Lorenzo, a stone’s throw from the Duomo. “The discussion with the trade associations will be constant, to also identify new areas where to intervene”, he promises.

Then there is the desire to “promote natural shopping centers” and initiatives such as ‘white nights’ or similar, which can bring the territory and neighborhoods to life, in addition to the commitment to a reduction in the tax on public land for such initiatives and a reduction in the Tari.

“Florentine”

“We want to defend the neighborhood shops, their historicity and their Florentine nature” he continues, with words that should not displease even the center-right electorate, the latter anxiously awaiting Eike Schmidt’s event at the Teatro Cartiere Carrara. “These types of activities are safeguards for citizens, also fundamental for increasing the liveability of neighborhoods and stimulating residence.”

Funaro then announced a 1 million euro tender with non-repayable contributions of up to 20 thousand euros “for the development of projects for the redevelopment of nearby public space and accessibility aimed at organizing events, providing services to citizens, carrying out social projects and initiatives for the district, thus encouraging collaborations with other local entities” and finally the introduction of a municipal fund of 100 thousand euros per year to co-finance the activities of natural shopping centres.

“When it comes to the protection of historic activities we can only be in favour”, comment almost in unison Marcello Mini, Confesercenti Florence, and Stefano Guerri, deputy director of Confcommercio Florence, who spoke this morning at Sara Funaro’s electoral tour in the area. Especially from the parts of Confcommercio, historically closer to the centre-right (while for example the current deputy mayor Alessia Bettini comes from Confesercenti) the ‘shootings’ of the former director of the Uffizi against the tramway would not have been appreciated at all. For the centre-right it could be a problem.

Funaro’s ‘house plan’: “Responses to 12 thousand people”

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