Marble and renovation
By Trudy Boos
November 2005
What a coincidence! There was Aici’s architect in Italy attending a fair on construction materials, and whom should he almost literally and physically bump in to, but the good mayor of Bucharest, Adriean Videanu! Since February, when the 57 streets surrounding Lipscani had been completely cleared of cars and businesses in the area had suffered an alarming falloff in sales, we had been trying to meet Mayor Videanu for months, without success.
It was difficult to say who was the more surprised to encounter the other, suffice to say that the situation was unavoidable for both parties. Both men were visiting Italy for business reasons, although Mr Videanu might have said that he was a simple onlooker at the fair – having handed the responsibility of running his company Titanmar to his wife - since, as we all know, politics and business do not mix.
They had a chat and set a date for a meeting at the city council in Bucharest. The day of the meeting was a glorious day. Mr Videanu showed that he understood the importance of lifelines in the area. Probably he had visited the old centre and experienced the spooky atmosphere. He had definitely thought about it because he announced that taxis would be allowed again in Lipscani; a modest victory for the people of Bucharest. Once again it would be possible to take a cab, go shopping, have a drink or dinner, or go for a stroll. Another positive effect would be a decrease in crime. The fourth robbery of my colleagues since March, would be, hopefully, the last one! But this was not all; a regulated parking area might be organised in Strada Francesca as well.
But in Romania disappointment often follows euphoria. Since the meeting, has anyone seen a taxi dropping clients in Strs Covaci or Sepcari, or parked their car in Francesca? Am I naive to trust the mayor? For now, the ghetto remains.
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