Lipscani Limbo: Seven months of izolare
By Trudy Boos
September 2005
It has been almost seven months since the authorities closed the historic city centre. All in the name of progress. The streets are empty; people who used to come for the ‘authentic atmosphere’ now stay away. Business is much reduced. Petty crime has grown, and there are more creeps around. Garbage is piling up. Is this a transition period before it gets better? If so, fine, if we know where we’re going and we’re convinced times will only get better.
Since March, not a lot of communication has taken place between the authorities and AICI, the Asocatia Investitorilor din Centrul Istoric Bucuresti. We had two meetings with the sector mayor, Liviu Negoita, and numerous ‘almost-meetings’ with Bucharest Mayor Adriean Videanu over the summer.
So it came as a surprise to learn that a delegation commpising Bucharest’s authorities and senior EU Commission people would visit the old centre to attend a meeting in Grand Café Amsterdam. The topic would be the renovation plan for the area. Videanu, Jonathan Scheele, head of the EU delegation, and Danuta Hubner, the EU commissioner for regional policy, would all be there.
To ensure this delegation wouldn’t miss our presence
I was eager to stick our poster inside every window, along the route they
would walk: ‘Da pentru Revitalizare centru istoric, Nu pentru Izolare’.
It was heartwarming (and sad as well) that shopkeepers and homeowners in the
area who had previously cast a sceptical eye over our campaign now asked for
posters for their front windows. By the time all the walls and windows were
black and yellow I had to hurry not to miss Videanu.
Just before entering the café, a man pushing a heaving barrowload of
rusty metal, came up to me and explained he had been a member of one of the
37 families that had been kicked out by the police, during a razie (eng: manhunt.)
I invited him to confront Adriean Videanu, and show the EU delegation the
reality. He decided against it, because, he said, he didn’t have any
trust in politics, the government or Videanu.
The presentation was more or less a general proposal for renovation and a wish list. During the presentation, a list with NGOs was shown that purported to say that these groups had been consulted by the city council. AICI was included in the list, and I started thinking, ‘I hope no one in the audience believes this nonsense!’ How politically correct to mention these organisations, and how untrue it all was. Videanu took the microphone and asked the EU delegation for money to realise his plans, ‘since we can’t pay for it all by ourselves’. Then Danuta Hubner started complimenting Videanu on his plan, his vision, his strategy. I didn’t understand what she meant. Danuta Hubner should have used her position to be critical instead of flattering him!
Everyone looked satisfied. I was the only one still feeling angry, so I couldn’t help myself. I spoke up. ‘What about the nationalised houses that are yet to be returned to their rightful owners? What about the people who don’t ‘belong here’ and are instead thrown out onto the streets? What about the infrastructure? There’s no lighting at night. The roads are a disaster. None of the houses have running water. What about the thefts?’ I asked. Videanu’s so-called plan hadn’t addressed any of these problems.
During my speech I was yelled at. ‘Make her stop!’ they screamed. Videanu took the microphone and smoothly invited me to his office to discuss the matter. After he had left for the walk, the people who had been shouting at me came over, pointing their fingers and saying I had ruined their meeting. ‘It had not been the time or place to speak to him like that,’ they said.
Needless to say, nothing has happened since the meeting. I don’t understand why Romanians don’t raise their voices, why they are so willing to accept being kicked around. Why aren’t they more demanding? Why do they accept all these empty words? Why be so passive?
I still regret that I didn’t go on, asking more questions. But I will be back.
