All mayor candidates in Rome often talk about potholes on the roads. As I was fascinated, I typed «potholes in Rome» on Google and found out some amazing things. For example, on the City institutional website there is a section dedicated precisely to road failures, which seem to be tens of thousands, with instructions for those who want to claim damages. Therefore, those who feel damaged by a motorcycle or scooter fall, means widely used in the capital, or for other causes (a tumble, a car accident), can download a form, fill it out, attach any medical certificates and bills of the body shop mechanic and claim a reimbursement of up to 12,911 euro and 42 cents. Not a penny more, otherwise the «conciliation procedure» is not allowed, a lawyer is needed. There is also a website (bucheinstrada.blogspot.it) that urges the Romans to report with pictures the most dangerous potholes, so that the municipality makes them over. Unfortunately, this happens very rarely. The Capitol is in the red (a 12 billion debt) and the funds for road maintenance have been the first to be cut in recent years. Also commissioner Francesco Paolo Tronca admitted it, announcing a few days ago, with the air of someone who had won the lottery, that he found 25 million euros in the budget to repair the most failed roads, while – according to him – at least 250 are needed. The many mayor candidates immediately rode the wave. Codacons’ lawyer Carlo Rienzi, mayor candidate with his own list, announced a class action reserved for motorcyclists to force the municipality to patch up the roads within 90 days. A titanic effort since we learned from the municipal offices that 20,000 new potholes are dug for road works each year, often not properly repaired, in addition to those produced by bad weather on road surfaces laid carelessly, because of bribes. Prosecutors have just arrested seven municipal officials who, in exchange for 650 thousand euros, had blinked at 33 contracts executed with road surfaces of only ten centimeters, instead of the 20 provided for. Roads full of potholes, rotten Capitol. © Riproduzione riservata traduzione di Silvia De Prisco.
 
 

Sezioni:
• Rassegna Stampa

Aree Tematiche:
• VARIE