Junkies attack parks, tent towns are emerging! We asked the representatives of Prague
Bella: I don’t want such a Prague!
As part of the series, we also visited Žižkov, specifically a tent town under the train bridge near the main railway station. A prominent figure in Žižkov is the former mayor Alexander Bella (ODS), who became famous, for example, for his struggle with the inhabitants of the Autonomous Social Center Klinika.
Do you perceive the growing number of drug addicts on the streets of Prague, on which many Praguers complain?
Bella: Yes, the growing problem of drug addicts is one of the fundamental problems of Prague. The current leadership of the City Hall does not solve the problem and leaves the city districts in the lurch. At the same time, all actors must be involved in security issues. Nobody really wants to live in a city where you can’t sit on a bench because drug addicts whipping drugs on it.
What do you say to the fact that basically no-go zones are being formed in Prague? For example, a tent town in Žižkov, where syringes are lying.
I don’t want to live in such a city. I refuse to make parts of Prague become dens of adaptables. If someone decides to live on the margins of society, it is their choice, but we certainly cannot tolerate their aggression and the annoyance of those living.
How do you think addressing homelessness and the presence of drug addicts on the streets?
There are several ways to deal with the situation. It is possible to carry out police patrols in problematic localities or to carry out enlightenment and direct drug addicts to solve their dismal situation. Jana Černochová and I also promoted the proposal 3 times and enough, when after committing 3 serious offenses, the municipality can temporarily expel the person in question from its territory. In practice, this has already been shown in the past.
This is what it looks like in a tent town in Žižkov. Syringes are thrown around.
Is the Municipality doing enough to solve this problem?