"Malamovida, the parties must find an agreement"

Almost a year after taking office, the president of the Cervia city council, Samuele De Luca , finds himself facing one of the most delicate moments of his mandate. The issue of the so-called bad nightlife in Milano Marittima is now at the center of the debate, after a petition promoted by the committee "For those who love Milano Marittima" that denounces an escalation of episodes related to baby gangs , vandalism in the center and out-of-control beach parties .

"The request coming from citizens is clear - says De Luca -: we need concrete answers. The administration has the duty to address this situation with seriousness and openness, as it has already demonstrated with the public meeting on Wednesday. But it is important that the answer is global, shared, not fragmented".

The issue will be at the center of the city council on Thursday, May 22, a session that promises to be tense but fundamental. "That day represents an important turning point," he emphasizes. "I hope that we can emerge with a single, shared voice that gives strength and legitimacy to the administration's actions in view of the summer season. Cervia is a tourist destination: discussions are necessary, but they must lead to something useful, otherwise a climate that is harmful to the city's image will be fueled."

The citizens' committee has collected about 3,000 signatures, which will be formally deposited in the coming days. "Maximum respect for this form of participation. The signature collections are an important democratic tool, which expresses attention towards the city. But these too must converge into something constructive. If they are exploited, they risk damaging the social fabric, as happened with certain television services that painted Cervia in an excessively negative way".

On the institutional level, the debate is also heated among the council benches. The opposition groups have presented a motion that expresses a negative judgment on the administration's work, in particular on the mayor's summer ordinances, deemed ineffective. "The mayor has already expressed his willingness to review and strengthen those tools. The administration has put its face to it. Now we need political convergence, which I hope can also come about thanks to a majority motion on the same issue".

The president hopes that "the council will not become just an arena of conflict, but a space to build solutions. We have the tools: an agenda, if shared, can guide the council's choices and stimulate effective actions". Looking at the functioning of the assembly itself, De Luca claims some improvements introduced during his mandate. "We have updated the regulation to allow remote participation in council meetings, so as to facilitate those who have work or study commitments. It is an important sign of openness and inclusiveness. The next step will be to strengthen the council committees. Often, people arrive in the chamber after having done the committees, but we need to improve the technical documentation that the offices provide, to ensure greater transparency and allow councilors to vote with full awareness. The council must become an increasingly qualified space for discussion and decision-making".

De Luca appears "aware" of the tensions of the moment, but confident that the institutional debate can offer real answers. "There are critical issues, no one denies it. But it is precisely in difficult moments that politics must demonstrate maturity, speaking with one voice and making a synthesis for the good of the community".

Lorenzo Privato