H2O RADIO – ANNECY | “To reduce political life to a small sentence is to lack height” for François Astorg
Annecy
The 10/10/2021 – 226 views
By Auriana Castro & Mathieu Hutin
François Astorg, mayor of Annecy and vice-president of infrastructures and public transport at the agglomeration of Grand Annecy was “The guest H2O” of this Sunday, October 10, 2021. of mandates and the news of Grand Annecy.
Asked about the state of the city’s sports infrastructure (Annecy Sports Park, Jean-Régis Ice Rink, etc.), François Astorg admitted that these latest events raise questions: “This raises the question of the state of our heritage. We inherit a very old heritage, we must renovate what must be for the safety of all. ”
The mayor of Annecy also talks about the new formula for the Christmas market: “The wait is different, but I am convinced that the inhabitants of Seynod, Cran-Gevrier and Pringy are happy to have their Christmas market. We were elected on the idea that we had to make this new commune. We have to get out of the centralism of old Annecy. We must not fall into a “suburb” if I can put it that way. ” As for the dispute, opposing the town to the former delegate of the Christmas market, François Astorg says he is confident and awaits the court’s decision, explaining in passing that he cannot express himself on an ongoing procedure and does not confirm that a first procedure had been won.
It is also an opportunity for the mayor to come back to the participatory budget, the first for the city of Annecy. François Astorg defends this policy: “We see that the participation in the elections is low. I think there is a disconnect of citizens from politics. They do not feel that by voting they are participating in their future. By offering approaches like these, that’s what we’re trying to revive. “ The vote will give an order of priority between the different projects: the goal being to achieve a maximum according to the budget allocated, that is to say one million euros.
Another challenge for the city is the real estate project on the NTN-SNR site. The site being the equivalent of the old town, the stake in terms of town planning is important: “We have been discussing the subject concerning 670 housing units for almost a year, and we are part of the project. We reviewed it together to reduce the number of homes and allow a more airy layout. We are working to improve this project even if we have little room for maneuver. “ The mayor also made it clear that a citizen consultation is organized with Cogedim (the promoter who is developing the NDLR project), on October 14, at the initiative of the city.
Vice-president infrastructure and public transport, François Astorg takes stock of the latest mobility policies, which he describes as real successes: “Purchasing aid for bicycles, for example, has been a victim of their success. We added an envelope of 50,000 euros to block the end of requests and we put 10,000 euros for bicycles adapted to handicaps. “ In all, 300,000 euros were thus devoted to this aid. “300,000 euros is not a policy at all costs. There are important climate issues, we must play on the shock of supply to have a peaceful territory. We no longer have the time for a bicycle-car opposition to climate change. ” The elected representative thus advocates a multi-transport approach.
And with regard to public transport on its own site in Annecy and on the west bank, the vice-president of infrastructure and public transport defends the tram. If for, the High Service Level Bus (BHNS) and the tram are not two extremes, he favors the second but wants a big debate: “It is necessary to have a consultation with the citizens to choose between the Tram and the bus. If there is a debate, that is fine, we have to have one, and go into the era of time. ”
Asked also about the progress of the last community council of Grand Annecy, he said he was disappointed with the behavior of some: “I find that sometimes the interventions are too violent, I do not designate anyone but it sometimes looks like a show. You have to like, react on social networks, so we put out little sentences… I find that reducing political life to a short sentence is a lack of height. ”
As for the statements of the opposition of an internal war in the ranks of the majority, the mayor of Annecy refutes them: “It’s not war. There is no war between us, I will have no problem getting the majority to vote. It is the opposition’s game to say “They are fighting”. Me, I say on work. ”
Here is the podcast “The guest with François Astorg” to listen to or listen to again: