CARRARA – «In recent days the dispute between marble industrialists and the municipal administration regarding appraised assets and article 21 has reopened. As expected, various positions have been taken by parties, unions and associations. Thus, with the spirit of fray typical of the rugby player, we throw ourselves into the political arena and bring to the attention of the “powerful” some common questions and rumors that have always spread among the “normal” citizens of Carrara (and not only)”. Thus intervenes Cesare Micheloni, former provincial councilor.
«The list would be long, therefore we limit ourselves to reporting the main popular mentions, namely: “But where does the money from marble go?”, “Carrara should be the richest city in Italy”, “But how can we be reduced like this?”. Yes, perhaps they will be barroom or Everyman talk, and given the Wild West climate, paraphrasing Colonel Mortimer’s phrase (“The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”) we feel entitled to say that the questions are never indiscreet, the answers sometimes are. To contribute to the discussion we cite two examples. The first concerns the Basilicata Region where, thanks to oil extraction, Lucanian families will no longer pay for gas. The second example, not far from us, is Peccioli (PI) where, with the help of garbage, the town is now more beautiful and richer. In fact, the Belvedere SPA company was founded in 1997, and today 64% of the landfill belongs to the municipal administration, while the remaining shares are in the hands of popular shareholders. Also recently, Peccioli won the eleventh edition of “Il borgo dei Borghi 2024”. – continues Micheloni – Other than Carrara Unesco Creative City, creative yes, but in privatizing profits and socializing losses».
«But returning to the Peccioli “case”, let’s try to imagine what our city would be if also in Carrara. It’s a shame that in our country marble seems to be a curse rather than a resource. The Municipality collects, thanks to concessions and extraction tax, around 26 million euros, a significant sum. Faced with this, the vast majority of citizens think (rightly) that marble entrepreneurs, who quarry a public good, should pay more, but one thing is certain, currently the money that the various municipal administrations have received from the marble sector is not have been put to good use. In Carrara unemployment, urban decay and social hardship are constantly growing, and the Apuan Alps are among the largest environmental disasters in Europe. In other words, be caught and beaten.”
«But what solution? In this context, industrialists could stop making appeals, especially on agreements signed by them, and accept that the valued assets are anachronistic, out of time and out of any logic. For a few euros more perhaps they would be able to restore some justice to the community and guarantee “social peace”. – he concludes – In short, whoever has the most (money) has the most (brains), then, alas, the ball would pass to politics and given the precedents there is nothing to be happy about. Who knows”.
