In just over a month, in those meters that run parallel between via Spinello Aretino and viale Michelangelo, all kinds of things have been seen. Fights, drug dealing, stabbings. The so-called Porcinai Gardens, cyclically, they return to the spotlight of the city news due to the repetition of episodes of crime and social degradation which occur here with greater frequency than in other areas of Arezzo. From March to today there have been at least five the moments in which the police had to intervene for investigations, arrests, investigations and restoration of public order. An escalation which, given the data, saw a succession of events which increased the sense of insecurity on the part of citizens and traders.
Blitzes, fights and attacks: the dates
8th of March – At first light in the morning, a 26-year-old Tunisian with no fixed address was found dead on one of the benches in the area. His death, as emerged following the investigations conducted by the investigators, could not be attributed either to violent causes or the consequence of an overdose.
March 20 – During the morning, state police officers subjected two people to checks and were subsequently accompanied to the police station for investigations regarding alleged drug dealing and consumption activities.
April 7 – Just after 8pm, the police and healthcare personnel rushed to Viale Michelangelo to provide aid to a 40-year-old man found lying on the cycle path with stab wounds to his limbs, face and abdomen. Another man was also injured, more lightly, and was rescued. Subsequently, investigations conducted by the state police led to the identification of a second man believed to be the perpetrator of the attack. The latter was arrested on April 9 on charges of attempted murder.
April 13 – Between 7.30pm and 8pm there was “two minutes of madness on stage, with punches and chair shots”. A young man in an evident state of alteration flew into a rage and, despite attempts to calm him down by some present, triggered the spark that would start the clashes: two opposing factions would thus be formed. Those who witnessed the incident, frightened, sought shelter and alerted the police. When the police arrived, the protagonists of the incident had disappeared.
April 16 – At approximately 2.15pm near the intersection with via Guido Monaco, a furious argument occurred between some people which ended with a man being injured in the neck by a blade (perhaps a bottleneck).
Residents: “Unbearable situation”
“We are tired – say the residents of the area – it’s time to say enough. The situation we live in has never improved. On the contrary. There have not been the anti-decay and safety implementation interventions promised almost ten years ago by the current administration. Those who live and work here too often find themselves witnessing shocking scenes for a city like Arezzo. We have all, at least once, requested the intervention of the police for one reason or another situation be taken seriously once and for all.”
And it was precisely from the residents that the idea of making their voices heard publicly by the institutions was born. “In the past – the locals reiterate – we have met the commissioner, prefect, administration, municipal police, trade associations. Everyone agrees with what we have complained about but, unfortunately, we see very few changes”.
Shopkeepers: “Meeting requested with prefect and mayor”
Confcommercio and Confesercenti they wrote to the prefect Maddalena De Luca and the mayor Alessandro Ghinelli to ask for a new meeting. “For weeks we have been collecting reports from traders in the area – declare the director of Confesercenti Arezzo, Valeria Alvisi, and the deputy director of Confcommercio for the provinces of Florence-Arezzo Catiuscia Fei – we are recording a series of episodes which reveal bad attendance of gardens, confirming the fears reported by operators. From knife attacks to bottle blowing and saloon scenes. An escalation that worries those who work here every day. We do not want repeated episodes of violence to contribute to driving citizens away from frequenting and walking in the gardens. We have written to the prefect and the mayor to ask that surveillance by the police be intensified and public lighting strengthened, even on a temporary basis, aware that the redevelopment times of the area will not be short. n new discussion on the situation. There is a need to sit down at a table again to analyze the problems. In addition to security, there is also the image of the city at risk.”
Waiting for redevelopment
In the meantime, the municipal administration of Arezzo, again in recent weeks, presented the definitive project which will lead to the redevelopment of the Porcinai gardens area. On this occasion, the results of the questionnaire submitted to traders who were asked to evaluate, among others, the degree of urban decorum, safety and noise as well as providing advice on how to improve the level of collaboration with the authorities were also presented. 80 businesses were surveyed and 74 questionnaires were completed, from which problems, critical issues and proposals emerged. Among the suggestions, greater lighting and decorum, increased presence of law enforcement, assistance programs for homeless people, promotion of cultural and recreational activities.
Tags: Stabbings drug dealing fights Porcinai gardens Residents
