FLORENCE. “Never again 2 November 2023”, “Never again flood” this is the slogan that accompanied the demonstration on Saturday 25 May promoted by the coordination of the committees (2023 Campigiani Flood Committee, Via Cetino and Via Campanella Committee and Noah’s Ark Committee and the Bagnolo due to the flood) started from Osmannoro in Campi Bisenzio to reach the regional headquarters in Novoli. A thousand people with signs and banners made up the 300 meter long procession in which the mayors of Campi Bisenzio also participated Andrea Tagliaferri and that of Montemurlo Simone Calamai. Families, young people, elderly people walked and braved the sun and heat of a Saturday afternoon to ask for the safety of the area, but also to be able to receive refreshments capable of guaranteeing the reorganization and reconstruction of their homes and remaining businesses flooded last November. The long procession crossed via Lucchese up to via Baracca to reach the San Donato park.
The reasons for Coordination
«It is a peaceful and non-partisan protest – says Luca Claudio Ballerini of the Coordination – where we claim our rights as citizens for what we have not yet had, that is, the contributions to rebuild our homes and our companies, to buy back all the movable assets lost in the flood and naturally and above all we ask for the area to be made safe so that there is no more November 2nd.” The issue remains that of refreshments, of the resources necessary both for the safety of the territory and to allow people who have lost everything, such as their home or business or both, to be able to start over, rebuild, restart their lives. Almost seven months later, however, the committees complain, very little has arrived. «66 million have been allocated by the government which are added to the others for a total of almost 380 million, – says Ballerini – but they are still not completely sufficient to cover all the damages caused by the flood which amount to more than a billion of Euro. There is a backlash between the Region and the government because, in my opinion, this money needs an implementation decree to be distributed: we need to understand who distributes it and how.” Many donations have arrived in Campi, the latest taking place on May 17th at the Puccini Theater in Florence during the charity evening “How fast! But where are you running…”, made it possible to collect 17,500 euros to help the population of Campi Bisenzio affected by the flood, delivered yesterday to Don Bledar Xhuli, parish priest of the parish of Saints Quirico and Giulitta in Capalle. «The money went to the associations and parishes who in turn distributed it – continues Ballerini – but there is no precise registry to understand who these funds went to».
The refreshments
A separate chapter is that of the Region and the 3000 euro refreshments that are arriving, but have not yet covered all the requests received. «We need speed in our bureaucracy to put houses back in order. Also because what do those who don’t have money do? – asks Ballerini – Banking institutions need to come to an agreement with the institutions to obtain financing or mortgages for reconstruction at very subsidized rates, almost zero interest or non-repayable. June 2 marks seven months since the flood. We want to make our voice heard in front of the Region building: we are protesting with the bodies that were supposed to protect us first and foremost.” The mayor of Montemurlo Simone Calamai also spoke about the need to speed up the process. «It is important – says Calamai – that greater attention is paid to Tuscany and all the territories affected by the flood which was enormous. We want quick answers both on the needs of the interventions of the institutions that must be carried out in our territory, and for the people who have suffered damage. It is inconceivable that even today not one euro has arrived from the government to the flood victims, and it is inconceivable that there is still no certainty that all emergency sums will be covered. We ask that resources also arrive quickly for the structural works necessary to make the territory completely safe, because mitigation interventions are fundamental and therefore everything necessary for reconstruction is needed. Time is precious.”
