Rome. Concession of the “Cenci-Giustiniani Casino” to Cnel, clash in the Commission

Trombetti: "Today the opinion, the resolution in the chamber". Casini: 'Why did he change his mind in just 7 days?"

ROME – What was supposed to be a calm debate has turned into a heated and polemical confrontation: the protagonists of the ‘singular duel’ this morning were the president of Commission VII – Heritage and Housing Policies of Rome Capital, Yuri Trombetti, and councillor Valerio Casini.
The subject of the dispute was the concession in favor of the Cnel of the ‘Casino Cenci-Giustiniani’ building owned by the Capitoline located inside Villa Borghese, in via David Lubin, 4 for the creation of a public knowledge center for young people. A building that Roma Capitale is preparing to give free of charge for the next 30 years to the National Council of Economy and Labor, which is committed to renovating and enhancing the building.
President Trombetti recalled that “it is necessary to grant custody to the Cnel, because this would avoid the impoverishment of the asset. Today we can express the opinion and subsequently we will have the discussion on custody in the chamber” but then announced that no inspection would be carried out.
It was precisely at that moment that the controversy exploded. “I wanted to understand what led President Trombetti – asked Casini – to completely change his version in the space of a week. Seven days ago we met to examine some papers, we had agreed to do an inspection and given a line of work to this Commission, the one responsible for examining and discussing these issues. Today, instead, you ask us for a vote, you support this project and even tell us that there will be interesting spaces for young people, when last week it seemed to me that I had understood that your opinion was totally against it”.
“I – he continued – will do an inspection myself today, because I would like to understand why the custody was entrusted with the minutes of January 29, 2024 and I would like to delve deeper into how we had agreed”.
Then the thrust. “If you think that the Commission is only there to express a vote to ratify or express an opinion, tell me right away, because then we have to do it everywhere, without for example doing inspections in Ostia, without doing the inspections that interest you for various reasons requested by the councilors or citizens. If we agree to do an inspection, we will follow through – argued the Capitoline councilor – it’s not like you get up in the morning and completely change your version. You must respect all the commissioners“.
“I had the opportunity to see and appreciate the project – the response of president Trombetti – I spoke about it with director Antonucci. It is a project aimed at young people but the concern is that the times to make the resolution are too long and these properties are occupied or vandalized or that the property is impoverished and deteriorated. And this happens in many municipalities of Rome”.
Then the reassurance. “If tomorrow I were to know that the Cnel, in via Lubin, is throwing parties for the kids, I would immediately organize an inspection. In fact, let’s go and see: the further we go, the better. Today, however, there is no need, because the Cnel is only doing the custody. Today I would give my opinion because the Council’s times are not easy and I would like to avoid the problems being stopped for political debates“.
The one who poured water on the fire was the director of the Department of Heritage Valorization and Housing Policies of Rome Capital, Silvia Romano. “The minutes speak of exclusive temporary custody pending the process. During the first inspection we coordinated with the first Municipality to put up barriers, to prevent passage near the property, precisely because there was a safety issue. I repeat: nothing other than temporary custody“.
“Let’s regulate custody better – Trombetti was keen to point out – and on this Councilor Casini is right, we are working on this aspect”. “On the delivery minutes – Casini pointed out – no project is mentioned, it only speaks of delivery but there is no mention of ‘what’ and ‘how'”.
Also present at the debate was Valentina Senese, representing the Department of Heritage – Housing Policies. “For us – he highlighted – it is essential not to let our heritage deteriorate. In cases like these, where the property is particularly deteriorated, it is located inside Villa Borghese, next to the headquarters of the Cnel, which has committed over a million euros for the restoration and energy efficiency works of the building, we believe that an entity of this kind can enhance both from the patrimonial point of view a property of the Capitoline heritage, and from the point of view of general interest”.
At the end of the work, the resolution received four votes in favor out of 7 participants, while Councillor Casini did not participate in the vote.