Costas Bakoyannis criticizes the attitude of the municipal authority on the issue of the refugees of Alexandra Avenue, in a post on his personal Facebook account, while regarding the interruption of the meeting of the Municipal Council, he speaks of “an image that does not honor the institution”. He also comments on other issues concerning the Municipality of Athens.
The former mayor and head of the “Athens Tall” faction says first:
“What happened at the meeting the day before yesterday is truly unprecedented: during the discussion of such a serious issue for the city, that of the Refugees on Alexandra Avenue, the proceedings were interrupted due to tension created by demonstrators. An image, which does not honor the institution and for which the municipal authority is responsible, as its attitude and the absence of a clear position leaves room for the situation to escalate instead of being defused through a clear institutional dialogue.”
And he goes on to discuss the individual issues:
“Let’s look at the issues we had time to address before the meeting adjourned in detail:
REFUGEE: The Refugee issue is as much about the restoration of a historic complex as it is about the social role it will play in the city from here on out.
As announced by the Attica Region, the apartments that will be created will have a social use: for families, unemployed, young and elderly people with low income, but also for accompanying patients of “Agios Savvas”. This is a proposal that has been shaped through previous phases of public debate and institutional initiatives, with the participation of different political forces.
We stressed that the process must proceed as planned, with transparency, dialogue and the participation of all stakeholders, respecting both the historical importance of the site and the current inhabitants of the area.
DAY-TO-DAY OBSERVATION: We continue to receive a large number of complaints from all neighborhoods throughout the city, capturing an overall picture of difficulties in daily life. We have therefore presented specific issues from many areas of Athens concerning cleanliness, lighting, roads and public spaces.
We proposed immediate and targeted interventions in the neighborhoods, with priority given to the most burdened areas.
SCHOOL DRIVERS: These workers, with great responsibility, support the safety of students outside schools. There have been allegations that they have remained unpaid since the end of December, which is a cause for legitimate concern.
SURVEYING A Municipal Police Department: On Saturday, in the Exarchia area, during a scheduled shift, a Municipal Police patrol car was vandalized and the two employees were beaten up. This is not an isolated incident and cannot be a matter of indifference.
SUMMER CAMP: At the 13th Primary School, for the past three years, parents have been organizing a summer camp on their own initiative. This year they were informed that the Municipality’s camp will be held in the same place.
Travel & Parking at Philopapoo: A serious problem has been created in the wider area, with thousands of vehicles flooding the Filopappou ring road and the roads in the surrounding areas, such as Thiseio and Petralona, putting a strain on them.
DISCLAIMER: Complaints about excessive grass in squares, hills and common areas are strong, with a picture of neglect evident as summer approaches.
