It will be a 2023 of construction sites, in Cagliari. «We have awarded the works for the new via Roma: they will last 14 months starting from January. And also those of viale Trieste. There are interventions in progress in viale Buoncammino and in via Dante. Workers in the field also for the light rail. We will have interventions for 100 million. They mean inconvenience to the road system, and I ask everyone to be patient. But these works will make Cagliari more beautiful and bring many jobs».

Paolo Truzzu wishes his fellow citizens best wishes for the Christmas holidays. The occasion is good to take stock of three and a half years of city government and tell what will happen in the next.

On the agenda, in the works to be started, there are interventions in numerous areas: «They are road construction sites», explains the mayor, «which will inevitably have repercussions on traffic. We are studying solutions to reduce the impact as much as possible». But for Truzzu the game is worth the candle: Cagliari, he claims, will be even more beautiful in the end.

And the waste? The number one in Palazzo Bacaredda is sure: he campaigned on the issue and the situation, he claims, has improved. «Even if pockets of incivility remain: we can improve, of course. We can't say we are completely satisfied, but Cagliari is cleaner than I found it».

Then there is the catchphrase, for those who live in the neighborhoods of the historic center, of the malamovida. Is Cagliari insecure or not? “Statistics say no. The problem is more of a widespread rudeness, which turns into a perception of insecurity». Another aspect, then: «If a 15-year-old boy is out and about at five in the morning and his parents don't know where he is, well, in that case there is an educational problem».

A hot topic these days, especially now that the dream of Rossoblù fans, the return of Claudio Ranieri to the bench, has come true: is this new stadium being built or not? The company presented the new economic and financial plan, it will cost 157.4 million plus VAT, 60 of which to be paid by the public coffers: «The Municipality must vote again on the declaration of public interest», explains Truzzu, «but we cannot do it until we have the certainty of the entire coverage of the expenses".

And here it is, the crux: his administration ensures a contribution of 10 million. The other 50 are paid by the Region: «And there is a deadline, February 14th: if we want Cagliari to aspire to host the European Championships, everything must be defined by that date». In short: the Town Hall is waiting for a blow to be struck from Villa Devoto. Last time Truzzu heard from Christian Solinas? “A month ago, I think. But we didn't talk about the stadium."

Energy and expensive bills were on the agenda: those of the Municipality of Cagliari weigh in at ten million euros a year, more than doubled compared to 2021. If the trend were to be confirmed, there aren't many ways: « They are running costs. To address them we may have to raise taxes, and it is difficult, or we will be forced to cut essential services » . Truzzu spreads his arms: on point, there are no other alternatives. It is to be hoped that costs will not continue to rise in 2023.

Henry Fresu

© Riproduzione riservata