The suburbs of Palermo I’m a jungle. Streets full of weeds. Urban weed greenery which, in some cases, reaches the level of medium height humans. A full-blown emergency, especially with the arrival of the summer season. On Friday 14 June, the workers of Reset they declared the attempt at conciliation in the Prefecture to have failed and renewed the state of agitation. In response, the Municipality would provide a 700,000 euro fund included in a budget change to be voted on in the City Council. Resources to be allocated specifically for weed control. But while the doctor studies, the patient risks leaving.
Weeds in Palermo, councilor chains himself in protest
The last extraordinary cleaning plan conducted by Palazzo delle Aquile dates back to the beginning of last autumn. It was the then Green Councilor Andrea Mineo who coordinated the operations. From then on nothing has moved. Just on Friday 14 June, the president of the 2nd District Giuseppe Federico raised the alarm on the issue of weeding, also and above all in view of the 400th Festino scheduled for mid-July. In the suburbs there is indeed concern. Some roads are practically impassable. In some cases, citizens have to step off the sidewalk, risking being hit. A fact that becomes worse especially at night and in the presence of the usual (unfortunately) open-air waste dumps.
However, someone has decided to say enough and resort to bombastic forms of protest. It is the case of Giuseppe Guaresi, councilor of the Second District. The exponent of Fratelli d’Italia, this morning, decided to chain himself during the last assembly of the political body, thus demonstrating his dissent towards the abandonment experienced by the suburbs. “Today I chained myself in the Council to give voice to the citizens I represent – underlined Guaresi -. For months I have been asking for weeding in the areas of Acqua dei Corsari, via Messina Marine and the surrounding streets. Citizens are forced to walk on the road, risking their lives as recently happened to a disabled person. I will not stop fighting and I will chain myself for every Council until my motions and notes are accepted. This gesture is for the safety and respect of citizens who deserve a safe and livable environment.”
State of agitation in the house Reset
However, a lot of time could pass. From Reset in fact, the trade union organizations have notified the Municipality of the renewal of the state of agitation. Among the main points raised by the workers’ groups is the lack of planning. “For too long now, trade union organizations have been demanding the restoration of normal contractual and income conditions, full-time staff profiles, the unblocking of the economic part of previous seniority increases, company reorganization and the stipulation of a service contract on at least a three-year basis – write the Reset unions in a note -. While there continues to be no industrial plan for Palermo’s Multiservizi and with the tourist season already underway, the city and the beaches are abandoned and weeding has not yet started. In a torrid city in the South, the weed control service cannot be “outlined” for July with extreme delay as the high temperatures could put the safety of citizens and the workers themselves at risk”.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Administration is trying to do what it can. In fact, it was on Friday that the news broke that a 700,000 euro fund would be allocated in a budget change currently on the agenda of the City Council. Funds that will be allocated to Reset, which could also receive this task in the next service contract together with other assets. Another 200,000 euros should be directed towards tree pruning operations, following what was foreseen at the time of the approval of the restricted surplus funds which took place in October.
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