VIDEO | Suburbs, Battilocchio (FI): “The establishment of the national day is a positive signal”
The president of the commission: "From Caivano to Tor Bella Monaca they ask us for functioning services and more State"
ROME – The law establishing the national day of the suburbs, approved unanimously by the Chamber, is “a beautiful page of parliamentary politics, a positive signal that is sent to the suburbs. June 24th will be, starting from the next, the national day of urban suburbs”. A date that “arises from a dramatic event”, when “on 24 June 2014 little Fortuna Loffredo was killed in Caivano”. This was stated by Alessandro Battilocchio (FI), president of the parliamentary commission of inquiry into the state of safety and degradation of cities and their suburbs, interviewed by the Dire agency.
The day was established to address “the many problems and critical issues that concern our suburbs”, but also to talk about “the many beautiful stories of rebirth, redemption and revenge that exist in our country. Many positive examples that speak of an Italian periphery that, from North to South, is raising its head again suburbs, this is a small signal in the right direction to give continuity to our interventions”, continues the president of the commission. Therefore, explains Battilocchio, “we take note with satisfaction of this beautiful page written by the Chamber of Deputies last week, on a proposal that arises from my initiative, but which then found the consensus of all the political groups”.
Since its establishment, the bicameral commission has traveled to different areas of the country: from Tor Bella Monaca and Primavalle in Rome to Caivano and Scampia in Naples, from Bari to Catania up to Genoa: “This is a commission that has carried out much of its activity in recent months in the field, in the territory – underlines Battilocchio – We have visited many metropolitan cities, from Rome to Naples, from Bari to Genoa and Catania The common trait found is first and foremost the need to guarantee a presence of the State, because for too many years the institutions have been perceived as something distant and distant. The second aspect is that the citizens of the suburbs do not want to feel like second-class citizens. What they ask for is ordinariness in their territories, functioning means of transport, safety, decent conditions, school services and training offers that are up to the standards of the rest of the cities”.
During the hearings at Palazzo San Macuto, around twenty in all, the commission boasts a record number of ministers audited. In addition to representatives of local institutions and associations: “We are moving through a scheme of triple-pronged action. On the one hand, in-depth analysis, analysis and research through the hearings but also through the initiatives we are carrying out in various areas, for example involving the police, Istat, the Cnel, the National Institute. of Urban Planning. So on the one hand, analysis and on the other, proposal because the objective and ambition of the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry is also to make concrete proposals, as we are legislators”.
Some, underlines Battilocchio, “we have already managed to achieve, but there are still more than three years left of the legislature, so the ambition is to continue on this aspect. The third area, no less important, is that of presence in the territories for make it clear that free zones can no longer exist and that in terms of legality the State is not willing to give up even an inch. Therefore, analysis, proposal, presence on the territory. We will continue our commitment on this plan of action”.