Item “
Mayor Abonante’s decisions
Barosini will be vice president
by Enrico Sozzetti
If the speed of decisions in the normal administration of the city were equal to that of the appointment of the new council, Alessandria could certainly be a candidate for the development engine of half of Piedmont. The mayor, Giorgio Abonante, after the elimination and withdrawal of the delegations (a decidedly unusual methodology), stated that “within 72 hours” he would appoint the councillors. And he did it. On Sunday afternoon the communication arrived which confirmed the expectations, starting with Giovanni Barosini as deputy mayor (exponent of Action, Barosini has changed various parties over the years and has even managed to sit simultaneously in the majority on one side and in the minority on the other when he had been elected both in the Province and in the Municipality), and upon the entry of new councilors and the reconfirmation of others.
The new and the old names
Here is the composition of the municipal council of the capital: Giorgio Abonante, mayor (Urban planning; Tourism; Events, Projects, Cultural spaces and institutions; Prevention and Civil Protection; Equal Opportunity Consultation); Giovanni Barosini, deputy mayor (Relations with the ASL and the university hospital company; New Theater; Twinning; Trade; Territorial marketing); Roberta Cazzulo Equal opportunities; Social policies; Work and professional training; Personnel; Animal protection); Giovanni Ivaldi (Suburbs; Relations with the State Property Agency and the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape; Participation and Associations; Intercultural dialogue; Registry Office, Civil and Electoral Status; Urban decorum, Parks and green areas); Giorgio Laguzzi (Participated Companies; Progress and Sustainable Development; Environment and waste chain); Enrico Mazzoni (Housing policies and relations with ATC Piemonte Sud; Public lighting; Security policies and Municipal Police; Enhancement of Municipal Heritage; Crafts, Agriculture and Markets; Cemetery Services); Irene Molina (Relations with the University; Public Education; Educational system; School buildings; Relations with the City Council); Vittoria Oneto (Youth policies; Sports and sports facilities; European projects and territorial cohesion; Coordination of PNRR projects; Ets and Collaboration agreements; Digital transition); Antonella Perrone (Budget; Bursar’s office, Tenders and Purchases; General affairs; Legal profession); Michelangelo Serra (Public works, urban redevelopment and regeneration; Removal of architectural barriers and accessibility; Transport and mobility; Transparency of public administration, legality and anti-corruption; Open data, Social innovation, Smart City).
Marica Barrera, Giovanni Berrone, Marina Cornara and Claudio Falleti are leaving the Council.
Experiment looking to 2023?
Abonante’s political objective is to create a strong alliance in view of 2027, when the capital will return to the polls. In the meantime, this majority contains a bit of everything, from the Democratic Party to the M5S, from the civic lists to Azione up to representatives closer to the political positions of Avs (Green and Left Alliance) than to the moderate ones represented at Palazzo Rosso. «Our objective – we read in the note released on Sunday – is, and will always be until 2027, the respect and implementation of the Alessandria 2030 programme. The unity of the progressive camp is fundamental, with the protagonism of the 5 Star Movement which is was a founding member of this coalition. The unity of these forces, with the incisive presence of Azione, has as its objective for the next three years, in addition to the electoral program, the reorganization of the Amag Group and the creation of a stronger and more efficient multi-utility of the Alessandria plain to offer citizens better public services, the livability of the center and suburbs – starting from the full implementation of a central ZTL – and a rational and coherent urban development of the territory to the coexistence between industrial development, which brings jobs, and a better quality of life. Furthermore, the daily pressure on the Region and Amp with the aim of having decent rail transport to Milan and maintaining those for Turin and Genoa. The capital must be in network with Valenza, Tortona, Novi and the other centers in the area.”
For Abonante «the improvement of transport must pass through the rapid transformation of the part of the city connected to the goods terminal and a more efficient and frequent service to and from Spinetta. The city center must be lively and the relationship between the three commercial centers (the Cristo district, via Genova a Spinetta and the historic center) more coordinated, with the protagonism of the towns and citizens who deal directly with the city, who feel it at home own. This approach must go hand in hand with greater order and security in the city. The new hospital is a fundamental project for Alessandria but must be preceded by better healthcare and an efficient network of local services.”
On this basis, Abonante is aiming for a double mandate (expiring in 2032), something that has not happened in Alessandria since the time of Francesca Calvo, Northern League mayor who marked the history of the capital).
Of course, Italian politics has seen several ‘large camps’, not all of which ended well, however. Policy experimentation must be supported both by a vision. both by a strong program, but also by people consistent with these objectives. Which hasn’t always happened at a local level.
