“The whole city is one voice for the satisfaction of our needs” (VIDEO – PHOTOS)

The main speech of the gathering was made by the mayor Michalis Selekos, elected with the “Popular Rally”. M. Selekos emphasized at the beginning that the mobilization, which included gathering outside the City Hall and march in Heroes’ Square, was the result of a collective process of popular assemblies and creative contact with the residents and mass organizations of the city where opinions and requests were recorded. He then referred to the government policy which has as a consequence the precision that “evaporates” the income of ordinary families in the middle of the month, the exorbitant increases in energy tariffs, unemployment, poverty, housing auctions, Health which is a right very expensive item. He also referred to the understaffing of the “Attikon” Hospital, to the small and large problems that afflict the city’s residents, such as the impassable and dangerous sidewalks, the pollution of the environment, the flooding phenomena, the traffic, the lack of frequent transportation, the need green care etc.

He also referred to the underfunding of the Municipality of Haidari, underlining that the government “he refuses to finance our municipality, like all municipalities, even with the statutory resources. Instead of 14.2 million euros per year that should be given, they give only 5.8 million, an amount that is not even enough for the staff’s salary. We have a 65% cut. Instead of 100, we get 35, that is, 1/3. Normal theft of money.’ At the time, which, as he said, based “the already missing organizational chart is currently missing more than 156 permanent employees, with the result that there is not enough staff in the municipality’s basic services”. Besides, as he pointed out, the government imposes “new fees, such as the “burial fee” which each year burdens the municipality with 500,000 euros, while the funding for self-management projects, such as sidewalks, asphalt pavements, small projects in the neighborhoods, for schools, culture, social policy, fire safety , the protection of greenery etc. they are almost non-existent. All this is the result of the policy of all governments and is intended to force the municipalities to tax the citizens even more through the increase of municipal fees, kindergarten fees, subscriptions for Culture and Sports and, in general, to further reduce the popular income through local fees and taxes”, as he mentioned. He added that many municipalities have already implemented this direction, but “We do not agree with this logic. We refuse to transfer new burdens on the backs of the popular layers who constantly pay the “broken”. That is why we had reduced the municipal fees for many categories of our fellow citizens”.

Ending up invited the residents to claim, among other things, together with the municipal authority:

– To attribute to the Municipality of Chaidari in their entirety the institutionalized financial resources provided for by the relevant legislation.

– To increase funding to cover the needs of school units as they need maintenance, repairs, anti-seismic checks, coverage with additional cleaners, security guards to open in the afternoons, staff for creative employment. State funding of School Boards is only sufficient for basic operating costs.

– To provide funding for children’s cultural and sports activities, but also for those who want to find a creative outlet. Increase in funds from the state budget for the maintenance of municipal infrastructure used by thousands of our fellow citizens.

– There should be recruitment of permanent staff with a corresponding increase in funding, which will cover the many vacant organizational positions and will allow a much better provision of services to the citizens.

– Immediately start the anti-flooding works (central conduit on Athinon Avenue – Dasos – Afaia – Stratopedo).

– To grant the municipality the 220 acres in Skaramangas, the 66 acres in Stratopedo, the former Wine Festival and the Youth Park (Theathinai) to function as free spaces for rest, recreation and mild uses of Culture and Sports. Don’t even think that an LNG plant can be installed in Skaramangas.

– Funding should be provided for the utilization of municipal property (old Town Hall, preserved street of Cyprus, etc.).

– Immediate measures should be taken by the government and the Region to deal with the huge traffic load that our city receives every day and to plan and implement the creation of a Metro station in Chaidari as well as the undergrounding of Athens Avenue, which crosses and divides the city us, with serious risks for citizens.

– To take immediate measures to protect the mountainous areas (Mount Aigaleo, Mount Poikilo, Schistos) from trespassers and to put an obstacle in any kind of plans for “investments” by business groups.

They participated in the mobilization the Employees’ Union of the Municipality of Chaidari, the Employees’ Union of “Attiko” Hospital, the Union of Employees of the Psna “Dafni”, the Association of Psna Employees “Dromakaiteio”, the Branch of Haidari – Egaleo – Ag. Varvaras of the Builders’ Union, the Branches of Chaidari – Egaleo – Ag. Varvaras of the IKA-EFKA and OAEE Retired Associations, the Association of Parents and Guardians Associations of Chaidari, the Parents’ Associations of 1st, 4th, 7th, 9th, 14th, Primary Schools, 3rd High School, 2nd High School, the Progressive Women’s Association of Chaidari (member of OGE), the Association of Parents of Childcare Centers of Chaidari. Finally, representatives of the Beautician Associations of Ano Afaia and Kato Afaia, “OIKOPOLIS”, the Association of Epirot Haidari, the Associations of Thessalon, Daphni, Pyrgous and AS Achilleas Haidari attended.