The candidates for mayor of Elmas met in the central editorial office of L'Unione Sarda, answering journalists' questions. Outgoing mayor Maria Laura Orrù, 42, an engineer and architect, supported by the "Elmas Common Vision" list, and Giovanni Maria Fois, 70, former head of the 118 emergency service in Southern Sardinia, representing the "Elmas Restart" list, met in person. During the meeting, the issues stirring the election campaign were addressed: traffic, trade, and the relationship with Sogaer, the airport's management company.

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In Elmas, the center-right has no candidate for the elections: why is the center-left divided?

Maria Laura Orrù: "I still haven't fully understood the reasons behind the split. The core values underlying the center-left remain strong, but there's clearly a difference of opinion on how to govern. I had the numbers to govern, but they were limited. The local Democratic Party's distrust of me pushed me to give the citizens the floor."

Giovanni Maria Fois: "I didn't participate in this division within the outgoing City Council: until March 30th, I was involved in something completely different. I was implicated by a segment of the public due to the discontent generated by some of the Administration's decisions. I had no intention of running; I chose to participate after listening to the reasons of those who asked me for direct involvement."

The first choices after the (possible) electoral victory?

Fois: "Most of the people I've met with in Elmas this month have complained about the state of the roads and the neglected public parks. Many criticize the mayor for resigning: it would have been better to try to resolve the problems. There are other areas that need addressing: the difficulty in accessing public offices, perhaps caused by a staff shortage, is a priority. Then there's the management of the roads into and out of Elmas, landscaping, and the many areas overrun with garbage, partly due to a widespread practice: throwing bags out of windows. This issue brings us back to the management of the recycling center, which certainly needs improvement. Another issue is the relationship with Sogaer for the Santa Caterina area, the revitalization of commercial businesses that are suffering most from the new former FAS shopping center, new homes for young couples, and the lack of drinking water in some areas."

Orrù: "In recent years, we've received over €30 million in addition to our regular funding. This money has funded important projects, including the Giliacquas lagoon front, the new library, the expansion of the school on Via Temo, the Via dei Monaci Vittorini, and the restoration of the historic Santa Caterina site. In short, we must complete the major work of recent years. The Carabinieri barracks need to be built; discussions with the force are ongoing. The CACIP energy community is a great opportunity for us, and we're moving forward with the redevelopment of the sports facilities. The urban decor plan has already been funded, and the traffic plan drafted by the University of Cagliari is ready; we need to implement it. We must continue to promote cultural events, making them increasingly attractive, as happened with the Marina Café Noir festival, which moved from Cagliari to Elmas. A review of the urban planning plan is essential, with a boost to redevelopment plans, while continuing to support the most vulnerable so as not to leave anyone behind."

How can we eliminate the dangerous line of cars constantly waiting outside the airport?

Orrù: "The issue was also addressed in technical discussions with the Prefect. Many citizens don't know that the free parking time is half an hour, so they remain outside waiting for arriving passengers. In my opinion, the barrier at the entrance could be eliminated, but Sogaer is having trouble adopting this solution."

Fois: "This is a problem felt by citizens, but it will have to be resolved by Sogaer."

Could the amount of traffic associated with the new shopping center next to the airport create dangers?

Orrù: "No, the traffic plan was a key document in the project's authorization process. With the opening of the first part of the sales facility, no particular critical issues were encountered. Once drivers on those roads understand how to navigate, the issue will be definitively resolved. It's clear that detailed emergency plans exist and are the responsibility of the airport."

Fois: "If we simply consider the traffic generated by the shopping center, that's true. But I'd like to bring the attention back to State Road 130: a few days ago, a simple accident was enough to paralyze the entire area. Cars were jammed up all the way to Provincial Road 2, and there wasn't even a traffic policeman to give directions. It was clear proof that there's no effective emergency plan, beyond what's written on the paperwork. The situation could obviously have repercussions on a potential emergency at the airport."

Objections to the project for the new State Road 130 and the timescales for its completion?

Orrù: "The only objection is that from Via Sestu you can only go towards Cagliari. We're asking for an exit towards Assemini as well. The regional councilor, who is also the commissioner for the project, is willing to help. He mentioned a strict timetable, but knowing the bureaucratic process, I hope work can begin within a year and a half to two."

Fois: "I also believe that the Via Sestu exit should be maintained so as not to redirect all traffic onto Via Del Pino. I think the planned overpass for the entrance from Highway 130 onto Via Cagliari should be designed for two-way traffic, allowing exiting cars to turn toward Assemini. An updated environmental impact assessment would not be necessary and would provide enormous benefits for motorists. I can't say when the work will begin."

The future of Santa Caterina?

Fois: "It's one of the most deeply felt and lived-in sites in the city, and the surrounding private land is covered in garbage. That area should be acquired by Sogaer as a municipal property to make it truly accessible. I imagine a huge park crossed by the future cycle/pedestrian path that would connect to the lagoon front, making it possible to reach Cagliari by bike or simply on foot."

Orrù: "The land is subject to a building ban, and a park is planned. There's €4.5 million in funding for the complex and another €1 million for the Tanca 'e Linarbus park. This will allow us to restore the identity of a festival, that of Santa Caterina, which is deeply felt by residents. Then there's the issue of the unfinished section of the regional cycle path; the project is being handled by ARST, which we hope will accelerate the process. RFI will also build the pedestrian and cycle overpass there."

Are you betting on the Santa Gilla lagoon?

Orrù: "Yes, without hesitation. We've made a significant investment, still ongoing, in the redevelopment, which has also included demolishing the illegal shacks in Giliaquas, redressing the fishermen's rights. It's important to go beyond the lagoon contract and create a park: if for governance reasons we want to establish a single management with Molentargius, that's fine, even if the experts recommend two separate managements. In this context, we need to push the waterways."

Fois: "I say yes to the Santa Gilla park; even a single management is fine. And we're focusing on the waterways, with a connection to San Pietro, the port of Cagliari, and the lagoon churches. It could be part of the tourism development."

Paul Carta

Paul Paolini

Piera Serusi

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