Gornate Olona - Gornate Civica attacks: "Few new services and costs are borne by citizens" - Varese News

The minority group Gornate Civica has made its voice heard again with a lengthy speech criticizing the majority , touching on various hot topics in Gornate's administrative life: from public works in Piazza Grigioni to the management of events in the park, including the Civil Protection project and the motion against gambling.

Grigioni Square: Work completed, but still a major disruption

The recently begun work on Piazza Grigioni is now almost complete for the first phase. However, this is a project inherited from the previous administration. The opposition group is criticizing the management of communications with residents and the lack of clarity: "The disruption is evident, especially in view of the reopening of the nursery, preschool, and elementary school," Gornate Civica emphasizes. "The situation will remain difficult at least until the completion of the second phase, scheduled for 2025."

Even the cemetery renovations, which are about to begin, are part of previously planned projects, which are being carried out "thanks to the diligence of municipal employees." The opposition's appeal is clear: "We would like to see something new, especially for the few services that citizens risk losing."

Park events: "Costs borne by citizens"

Another critical issue concerns the change in the municipal regulations for granting patronage to events: "Until August 23rd, the regulations stipulated that patronage did not entail financial benefits and was valid only once a year. But a recent resolution has changed the rules of the game: now patronage also becomes the basis for obtaining grants, discounts, and free use of facilities and services (such as kitchen, electricity, gas, and water), with no longer any time limits."

According to Gornate Civica, the Municipality will thus lose approximately €4,000 in revenue per year: "The Mayor has stated that these expenses will be borne by the Municipality, and therefore by the citizens," the press release states. "At least a token contribution could have been requested from the associations that frequently use the park and its facilities."

The group also complains about the exclusion from recent meetings between the administration, the associations and the traders: «A management that does not favor democratic dialogue».

Civil Protection: "The project is unrealistic with €1,000."

Gornate Civica also reiterates the proposal to establish a municipal Civil Protection team, for which a €1,000 fund was initially allocated. According to the opposition, this is a paltry sum: "Just to get started, we would need at least €70,000. We tried to make this clear, also to avoid disproportionate costs for citizens."

The group also reports that other municipalities are reviewing their participation in the Homogeneous Area 3 agreement – ​​which unites municipalities under the same Civil Protection group – following cost-benefit assessments.

Gambling: Minority motion approved

Finally, thanks to the majority for accepting the motion presented by Gornate Civica to stigmatize gambling, a phenomenon that—as the statement reads—"causes economic and social hardship for many families, similar to that of substance addiction."

The group hopes that in the future, if abandoned areas are redeveloped, they will be used for sports, cultural, or recreational activities, but not for gaming halls.

Continuous surveillance

"We will continue to carry out our opposition role seriously," the statement concludes, "monitoring and asking questions whenever we detect critical issues or a lack of transparency."