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Montebello will return to the vote tomorrow and Monday for the renewal of the city council. Two lists in the running after the exclusion of Loris Nisi. Maria Foti will challenge Leonardo Suraci. It was an electoral campaign with overall calm tones, even if there was no shortage of controversy and long-distance barbs. A challenge that, in many cases, also affects family and personal relationships. In fact, in the two civic coalitions there is no shortage of brothers lined up on opposite sides, cousins running on rival lists and even a brother-in-law running against the outgoing mayor. Relationships that have inevitably sparked discussions even within families. Two debates were organized between the candidates for mayor, which attracted widespread public participation. To these was also added the television debate.
In the past weeks, the role played by the associations which, in view of the vote, chose to stay out of the game, not presenting any representative on either of the two lists, was also appreciable. A decision which, however, made them miss the opportunity to bring their requests to the civic assembly. Basically, they decided not to decide. In this administrative round, outgoing municipal councilors who, in the last three years, have deserted several council sessions, in a context of often precarious political balance, appear and were also present in the rejected list. Don Giovanni Zampaglione, priest of the parishes of Masella and Montebello, has, in the meantime, sent a message to Foti and Suraci: “Both will not be able to ignore the voice of the citizens. The new administration will have to take charge of the problems that afflict the territory”.
Since there are no polls, uncertainty remains as to who will lead Montebello in the next five years. The absence of the list led by Loris Nisi could however affect the balance of the competition. According to some rumours, the former mayor could have intercepted a significant share of the opinion vote, across traditional lines. Part of this consensus, now without direct reference, could be directed towards Leonardo Suraci’s political proposal, without excluding a portion of Maria Foti’s electorate.
Montebello arrives at the electoral appointment with numerous questions still open. From the relaunch of the abandoned industrial areas of the Ogr and the former Liquichimica, for years unfinished symbols of failed development, up to the need for interventions on the port, grappling with the problem of siltation. Also on the priority table is the safety of the Sant’Elia-Fossato provincial road, which has repeatedly been at the center of reports and protests from residents. A vast and complex territory, which extends from the seaside hamlets to the hilly and mountainous areas, and which requires answers on services, roads, urban decoration and growth opportunities. Themes that have accompanied the last weeks of the electoral campaign and which now pass to the voters’ judgment.
“We have administered – declares Maria Foti, leader of the ‘Diamoci Ancora Una Mano’ team – with seriousness, listening and a sense of responsibility, always putting the needs of the community at the center and working daily to give concrete answers to citizens. We want to be close to those who work in agriculture, in particular in the oil and citrus fruit sector. The valorisation of the natural and architectural heritage also represents another pillar of my re-nomination. The objective is to include local geosites, such as caves della Lamia and Prastarà, in the official circuits of the Aspromonte National Park and the Touring Club”.
“We are aware – underlines, however, Leonardo Suraci, head of the ‘Project in Municipality for Montebello’ coalition – of the task that awaits us. One of our priorities will be the valorisation of the villages, taking into account the population who lives there and lives there on a daily basis. We will also focus on the integrated water service, on urban hygiene and on environmental protection, as well as on social policies, on the valorisation of sport and culture and on the maintenance of the road network and public green areas. Finally, we will try to give impetus to the beach plan, connected to the waterfront”.