Dear Mayor Renzi,
I’m writing you with the purpose of highlighting the insufficient amount of greenery in the historic center of Florence, and in particular in its central squares. While the temperatures in summer are very high, and there are many people during the day touring in the city center, it would be useful to have some trees in order to create a little shade and reduce the temperatures.
Naturally, I consider that in such a historic city as Florence, there are limits to such urban interventions, but in this case some small changes could probably make a great difference.
Thank you in advance for your time.
Sincerely, Danai Roussi from Holargos, Greece. Lives in Florence, Italy
Dear Danai,
I agree that it is important to find a nice shady place to relax during the summer! I cannot agree, however, that Florence does not offer this to residents and tourists alike. The city boasts 376 gardens and 25 parks comprising over 3.5 million square-meters of public greenery. My administration has been committed to making these public spaces more beautiful and functional, by restoring public green areas and playgrounds for children.
We have reopened the Rose Garden and the Japanese Garden near Piazzale Michelangelo, where a new park dedicated to poet Mario Luzi will soon open. We are in the process of transforming the Cascine, a 400-hectare green space in the heart of the city, with 35 projects based on the model of Central Park in Manhattan.
My administration has approved a ‘zero volume’ urban planning initiative, which means we are committed to restructuring existing buildings only, without building new constructions, in the city, as well as having a park, garden or green space within 10 minutes’ walk from every home. Consult the online map, http://verdeonweb.comune.fi.it/, which plots all of the parks and gardens in Florence. I’m sure you will find a shady place even in the historic center!
Best, Matteo
Dear Mayor Renzi,
My partner and I are studying art in Florence and deeply appreciate the incomparable Renaissance history and art treasures. However, we live in via Pandolfini, a central street in town, and find the street noise from nightclubs or nearby schools during evenings to be extremely invasive.
We acknowledge the right of people to enjoy themselves, though the street noise continues until 4 or 5am. Surely, there must be some level of consideration for people living in the city. One evening, I was woken by a woman’s screams for help down in the street. She was being assaulted, and only through my intervention was she saved from the brutality of her attacker. Yet, we never see any attempt by police to patrol or curb unruly behaviour.
Apart from this problem, we love living in Florence and are very aware of the wonderful opportunity of being here.
Yours sincerely, Ron Baker
Dear Ron,
Thank you for your letter. Florence is a city that cannot close its doors at 9pm, nor do I wish to combat the problem of nighttime noise with an increased police presence in the streets. I remain convinced that the best way to deal with the problem of drunkenness and unruly behavior is by making sure we have a vibrant city with a healthy nightlife.
I have spoken directly to restaurant and bar owners, underscoring that, while it is not their job to patrol the streets, they are responsible for the spaces in front of their businesses. I have proposed to both residents and business owners a Patto di Civiltà, a civility pact, which has been signed by many of them.
My administration is committed to keeping a sharp eye on the nighttime situation and to making sure businesses adhere to the rules regarding the sale of alcohol. We have also made sure public bathrooms remain open from 8pm to 3am.
Florence by night must remain lively, clean and vibrant.
Best, Matteo
Those interested in writing the mayor can send messages and comments via email to redazione@theflorentine.net, stating ‘Write the Mayor’ in the subject line of the email. Emails must clearly state the author’s first name, surname, city and country of birth, and the city and country of residence.
