There are about 3 thousand municipalities that this evening will join the symbolic initiative against the expensive bills which consists in turning off the lights of buildings or monuments representative of the cities for half an hour.
This is the estimate made by the Anci, which promoted the initiative to raise the government's awareness of the effects that the expensive bills will soon have on the budgets of the administrations.
Dark - therefore - tonight from 20 and for half an hour, an hour or a few minutes, on the main monuments of cities and even small urban centers: it is the protest of the mayors, organized by the Anci, to raise awareness of the effects of the government that the expensive bills will soon have on the budgets of the administrations with the risk of cutting wellfare and services for citizens.
"Tonight we will turn off the tricolor that generally illuminates the 'belvedere' of Palazzo Lombardia and Palazzo Pirelli".
This was announced in a note by the president of the Lombardy Region, Attilio Fontana, explaining that the decision is "a symbolic gesture to join the initiative of the many Italian mayors who have decided to turn off the lights of some symbolic places of their cities as a sign of protest to the 'expensive-bill' ".
According to an estimate made by the Region, the 'high bill' - only for the public health system - will result in an increase in costs of over 140 million euros in 2022, about 45% more than last year.
"We have been the first and for some time now to urge Europe and our Government to take strong and decisive actions to counter this emergency",
At 7 pm the lights of the Maschio Angioino in Naples went out for half an hour.
Thus the Municipality has joined the initiative promoted by the Anci against the expensive bills that affects not only families and businesses but also local authorities.
The mayor, Gaetano Manfredi, also took part in the shutdown of the castle, one of the main symbols of the Campania capital.
'' There is an increase in the cost of energy especially for public lighting - said the mayor - This is a burden that we have already felt for 2021 and we are very worried about 2022 because there will be a significant increase in cost. of energy and for this reason the Anci has asked the Government for an extraordinary intervention to support the Municipalities,
otherwise the additional costs will fall further on the shoulders of the citizens ''.
Manfredi expressed the hope that the dialogue between Anci and the Government will bring '' attention also to local authorities that suffer from the increase in costs' 'and stressed that it is necessary that the objectives of environmental sustainability are pursued' '' being careful not to make families pay the price because there is a risk that in the face of an increase in energy costs, the environment is seen as an enemy of the citizens and therefore support social policies are needed, especially with respect to energy policies which are fundamental for an ecological transition that is sustainable but above all fair ''.
The calculations estimate the spending surplus at 550 million euros.
The first citizens do not ask for the authorization for the budget variance but they want a fund, explained the mayor of Bologna Matteo Lepore.
"We are not asking for extra deficits - said the exponent dem who leads the Emilian capital yesterday in an interview with Repubblica -, but that both economic measures and reduction of bills be devised, putting our hands on energy and supply policies".
"The increase in bills weighs on and puts families and institutions in serious difficulty, from small to large municipalities, especially in this moment that already sees us in difficulty due to the pandemic. It is a problem that must be addressed and I am sure that the Government he will listen to the cry of alarm of citizens and mayors ", said the mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri.
In Florence the mayor Dario Nardella turns off Palazzo Vecchio.
"It is a striking gesture", says the mayor, "for the Municipality of Florence we are estimating a shortfall of more than 10 million euros, it is all money that if it is lacking - underlines Nardella - risks forcing the municipality to cut the services".
In the dark also the Mole Antonelliana in Turin, for an hour.
"We need a decisive and timely intervention by the government. Expensive energy - continues Mayor Stefano Lo Russo - risks creating problems in municipal budgets, with serious consequences on the provision of services offered to citizens. We cannot afford - he concludes - to frustrate the great efforts are being made to relaunch the economy, the Government should intervene ".
Dark for an hour, from 8 pm to 9 pm, along the Venetian walls of Bergamo, and in Treviglio, the second largest municipality in the Bergamo area.
From Abruzzo over 20 municipalities join the protest, and the Province of Chieti.
Also on a war footing is the mayor of Gorizia Rodolfo Ziberna who, to sensitize the government, has already turned off the internal night lights of the castle and the municipal buildings.
Full adhesion by the Municipalities of Anci Sicilia mobilized by President Leoluca Orlando who also raised the alarm for the effects that the increases will also produce on investee companies.
Appeals to shut down come from the Anci of Puglia, Piedmont, Liguria, Veneto, Lazio and Calabria.