At today’s Athens City Council meeting, Kostas Bakoyannis spoke of a “barrage of complaints” from citizens at the Daily Life Observatory of the “Athens Tall” party. “Abandonment in the city is the norm,” the former mayor of Athens said, among other things, and spoke of “interventions by residents from every neighborhood, which record a picture of extensive degradation.” By way of example, he said:
National Garden: serious litter collection issues
Agios Pavlos (Paleologou): severe clean-up issues
Koukaki (Noti Bottsari): broken pavement
Acropolis (Lazaratu Square): broken and dangerous tiles
Pangrati (Polydamantos, Damareos, Ymittou and wider): extensive damage to pavement and sidewalks
Botanikos (Khartergaton & Agios Polykarpou): damaged pavement
Kato Petralona (Agia Aikaterini Square): complaints about occupation of public space
Botanikos (Orfeos): image of complete abandonment by litter
Kolonos (Pylos Street): lack of lighting
Sepolia (Dyrrachiou and Grammou): dangerous potholes and broken pavements
Patissia (Theotokopoulou): damaged asphalt
Patissia (Park Fix): serious lighting problem
Agios Panteleimon: bazaar without a clear operating framework
KEP Patision: waiting time 193 minutes, despite workers’ efforts
Abelokipi (Lakonos): flooding at the slightest rain
Gudi Swimming Pool: serious shortages of basic equipment
Ampelokipi (Tsopanakou): complete abandonment of greenery
“Neighborhoods demand solutions here and now,” Bakoyannis said: “At some point we have to land and speak the language of truth. Because big words, nice, theoretical words are fine, but there is a life in the city, the life of the Athenians, which we must all respect.”
