Anne Hidalgo details the “Paris of deconfinement” by teleconference from her City Hall office, where she goes every day despite the confinement.
The complexity of a resumption of classes from May 11, the risks of a rebound of the epidemic within a population of more than 2 million inhabitants with which mingle millions of workers, the mayor of the capital measure them with all the more “stress and anguish” because she knows that Paris can only be revived and reinvented if economic activity starts up again. No question for her, therefore, of contravening government directives. And it is with the prefect, the rector, the mayors of boroughs that the candidate for her own succession - who hopes that the second round of the municipal elections will be held well in June - seeks to put the city back in working order.
Anne Hidalgo thus reveals to the "Parisian" her traffic and travel plan by car and bicycle, operational from next week. It details under what conditions schools and nurseries will reopen, what aid SMEs, cafes and restaurants will benefit at least until next September. And finally, for Paris to regain its cultural vigor, it announces that Paris Plage and Nuit Blanche will indeed take place this year.
For Anne Hidalgo, this crisis not only legitimizes its program for 2020, it also shows the need for a fundamental change of model ... For a horizon 2022?
SCHOOLS
You co-signed the letter from the mayors of Ile-de-France to Emmanuel Macron requesting the postponement of the start of the school year in September. Do you refuse to open schools on May 11?
We have not yet had a response to this initiative, which I declared myself in solidarity with, even if the situation in Paris is different from that experienced by many of my colleagues. The question of responsibilities for implementing health protocols is extremely difficult and mayors must be able to meet their obligations. However, our role, if the National Education decides to open schools in May, is to make sure that the schools are ready to welcome children. The mayor of Paris that I follow is not in an attitude of blockage, but on the contrary of dialogue.
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So will you be opening schools on May 11?
With the rector, with whom we work closely, we are rather on the idea of welcoming on May 11 all those whom we have already welcomed since the beginning of confinement, namely the children of health personnel, firefighters, personnel municipal, food and funeral workers. From May 14, we are working on a system that will broaden these priority audiences to the children of RATP staff, children with disabilities or those who have dropped out during confinement. Priority will also be given to the large sections of kindergarten, CP, and CM2.
What will be the tonnage per class?
What is still to be worked on with school directors and borough mayors are the measures of physical distance. Again with the rector we agree not to retain the gauge of 15 students per class, but rather to lower it around 10, or even a little less for kindergartens, in order to scrupulously respect health recommendations. It is estimated that roughly no more than 15% of Parisian students will be accommodated on May 14. It will obviously be progressive.
Who will make the "selection" of the students?
This is the role of National Education. School principals have started surveying parents to find out who will deliver their child, who has an absolute obligation to work. The returns to the rectorate are scheduled for May 7.
Have you planned any special precautionary measures?
For staff working in schools, we are going to offer, along with internal occupational medicine in the city, PCR tests on a voluntary basis. The idea is to be able to stop any outbreak of an epidemic that develops. I want to go further by proposing to parents who would like it, that their children can also benefit from PCR tests. This mission will be entrusted to school medicine. This could represent around 17,000 to 18,000 tests per day.
Will the canteens reopen?
Of course, the children will have to be fed. This will be the responsibility directly of the borough mayors since they preside over the school coffers. The unresolved question is: "Will the children eat in the canteen or in the classrooms". One of the recommendations is to set up a portage of meals in the classes. Some borough mayors find it complicated. They can offer different solutions, such as tables under the yards. As long as the health rules are respected, the formulas may be different from one school to another.
What have you planned for the nurseries?
200 municipal crèches will be open, i.e. around 4,400 places out of the 40,000 offered by the City, from May 12. This will also be progressive, with a reduction in the number of children per section, around 5.
TRANSPORT
On May 11, Parisians will be able to circulate again. You were firm during the last Paris Council: no question of letting cars surge in the capital. What do you recommend?
There is no question of leaving Paris invaded by vehicles. We will double the number of spaces in relay parking lots and in our parking lots at the gates of Paris, which will be three times more numerous. These 2,000 places in 30 parks will be free for Navigo pass holders. Discussions are underway with Viparis to open part of the exhibition center at Porte de Versailles, which would bring the number of available places to 3000.
What facilities are provided for cycling and pedestrians?
We are building alternative solutions with our neighbors in the small and large crown, to connect our tracks to the bicycle routes that will come from the A86. In Paris, temporary cycle paths will be laid out along the busiest metro lines: 1, 4 and 13. In total, 50 km of lanes usually reserved for cars will be devoted to bicycles. For example, on emblematic sections such as rue de Rivoli, porte d'Orléans, boulevard Saint-Michel, the Etoile tunnel and the Porte Maillot… In addition, we are going to pedestrianize the approaches to stations and major hubs such as Les Halles for avoid bottlenecks. Thirty new streets will also be pedestrianized, especially around schools, to avoid regrouping.
Do you plan to perpetuate these arrangements once the deconfinement has passed?
If certain adjustments prove to be relevant, there is no reason why they should be withdrawn. But it's too early to say which ones.
PARKS AND GARDENS
Will parks and gardens reopen on May 11?
Although we are in the red zone, I hope that the parks and gardens, as well as the woods, can be places for walking and breathing. I made a proposal for them to reopen, with a counting system, this is under discussion. Of course, there is no question of authorizing picnics or group sports. And, initially, the play areas would remain closed.
MASKS AND GEL
You are going to distribute 2 million cloth masks to Parisians. How? 'Or' What ?
I wanted to provide a free cloth mask to Parisians, 2.2 million made by French companies. As of May 11, 259,000 cloth masks will be available for those over 70 years of age. This delivery will start via the district town halls. The right way to proceed with distribution to all other Parisians will be through pharmacies: deliveries will follow each other until June 8 in pharmacies. I would also like to thank the Parisian pharmacists for their tremendous mobilization since the start of this crisis. You will have to register on the city website to obtain a countermark before going to remove your mask.
What about hydroalcoholic gel?
We are in the process of setting up hydroalcoholic gel in front of all municipal facilities. But we have also worked with SNCF, RATP and Vélib 'to install distributors in the stations and with JC Decaux for bus shelters.
Do you recommend wearing a mask on the street?
The mask, contrary to what has been said, is a measure of protection of self and others. I have no legal means to make it compulsory to wear it, but I invite all Parisians to wear one in the street. It is also a very important barrier measure.
COMPANIES
Will you reinforce your aid for SMEs, businesses, artisans?
As early as March 12, even before the confinement, I announced an aid plan of 100 million euros. We should decide at the Paris Council on May 18 that most of this aid will be extended until September. Half of this fund is intended to support the most vulnerable actors. For them, it will be “Zero euro rent” for trade. We should also set up a “Zero tax” system, in particular for bars and restaurants which will be exempt from road rights, taxes on displays or terraces (ie aid equivalent to more than 10 million euros ). Street vendors will also be exempt from fees (6 million euros) as will 13,000 taxis (750,000 euros). The special fee for non-household waste (5 million euros) will also be abolished.
After confinement, what do you plan for cafes and restaurants?
We will make sure that they can expand into the public space so that they can work in satisfactory sanitary conditions. And this, until September. Entire streets could be reserved for them free of charge. For those who would like to occupy parking spaces, a system of declarative formalities with free authorization to the key will be implemented.
The entire cultural sector is at a standstill. Do you plan to help him?
We have an exceptional aid fund of 15 million euros for culture. It will be triggered at the end of confinement. We are also going to work with professionals on a "cultural summer". It will allow live performance companies, which will not yet have the right to play, to find residence in Parisian theaters, private or public. To support the sector, we are considering giving the possibility to dance, theater and music troupes to perform in all the open spaces of the capital. We are also working on a Nuit Blanche, the form of which would be adapted to the health context. We will also keep Paris Plage in a lean form. On the other hand, I don't think that the Fête de la musique can take place.
Do you keep your promise not to raise taxes this year?
There will be no tax increase in 2020. We do not have to make Parisians pay for an exceptional situation.
POLITICS
The date of the second round of the municipal elections should be held according to you?
If the deconfinement, at the beginning of June, goes well, that the restaurants can reopen, I do not see why the last thing which would be deconfined would be democracy. Then, if the health situation is not satisfactory, it could be postponed until the beginning of September. End of September, as seems to be an option considered, would be too late with regard to the possible return of seasonal epidemics.
How do you personally experience containment?
It is a period of terrible stress and anxiety in the face of a totally new situation. But it is also an incredible period of solidarity! And that gives confidence. This crisis is also the capacity of a city to show resilience and to question itself. It is indeed an awareness of the need to change models.
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