For «party blinkers», which aim to degradation of the ecological character of the regeneration of the Faliriko Ormos, in order not to be credited to the former Regional Authority - which completed the first phase of the project - , says in a statement, the former Regional Governor of Attica, Rena Dourou.
Ms Dourou, however, goes one step further, claiming that it is precisely this ecological direction of the project, which will improve the quality of life of the residents of entire regions, that the current Regional Authority is now trying to cancel and replace with «real estate inspired Shopping Park».
In conclusion, Mrs Dourou announces that the Regional Party «Power of Life» will bring to the Regional Council on Wednesday, 13/01/21, for adoption, a unanimous resolution of the municipalities Kallithea, Moschatos and Tavros «in favour of the immediate commencement of Phase B and the completion of the project.»
Read the full announcement of Ms Dourou, as she posted it on her personal profile on Facebook:
It was April 2019, when the Management of Dynamis Zoi was giving the new Poseidon Avenue, with three lanes of safe and fast traffic in each direction, as part of the major project of the redevelopment of the Falirikos bay. An important event for commuters, for all citizens, who were forced to lose many hours in traffic jams every day. A positive news for our daily life. And yet. Oh of a miracle!
This good development, which had nothing to do with a person or a party, had to be... downgraded, devalued, discredited, undermined in every way. Why? But so that it would not be credited to a local government party! So that some people are not forced to put in a good word for the Power of Life and Douros. What if the drivers who, during that visit, waved at us, honking their horns, what if the citizens thanked us for the obvious, but which took decades to become a reality - a modern, safe and modern road? None of this was “seen” by those wearing party blinders.
In the following days we read and were surprised to see “reports” that focused on... “delays, traffic jams, the inconvenience of drivers due to the works of the Region and Douros”, etc. What if the reality was there, lived daily by those who lived there? It had to be distorted. But it was (and is) the truth, that some (elected and not only) don't let spoil their nice story. A history of lying and distorting a great cause, such as the right of citizens to safe travel, on modern road infrastructure.
Why am I doing this throw back today? The occasion is today's Regional Council meeting on the Faliriko. But the bottom line is the future of the iconic Faliriko redevelopment project. A project that makes the Attica Riviera, envisioned by Constantine Karamanlis more than half a century ago, a reality!
We are discussing today at the Regional Council the future of the project that opens the road to the sea for thousands of our fellow citizens in the municipalities of Kallithea and Moschatos-Tavros. The project that creates a modern ecological park of 300 acres, a public, open space for wellness and culture.
We are at a critical phase as the current Administration of the Region is stalling, delaying the immediate tendering of the Phase 2 works of the project, citing flimsy excuses - lack of implementation study while our Administration has delivered a ready Study and the tender documents for Phase 2.
The Administration's aim is to cancel what marks a huge breath of fresh air for citizens at all levels (safety, flood protection infrastructure, greenery, road traffic), a project that concerns not only the southern front but the whole of Attica. And replace it with... real estate inspired heavy commercial uses that destroy, fragment, devalue the quality of life of the citizens. In simple words: the Ecological will be transformed into a Commercial Park. The mountains of dirt that currently stand on the beach will remain in place as long as Phase B does not proceed.
It is no coincidence that the joint reaction of the Municipal Councils of the municipalities of Kallithea and Moschatos - Tavros, which have issued a unanimous resolution in favour of the immediate start of Phase B and the completion of the project. It is precisely this resolution that the Life Force is bringing today to the Regional Council for adoption.
Because we must not allow it to go backwards and, ultimately, the project to be scrapped, as the current Regional Administration is attempting to do.
And this struggle should not be a partisan struggle because the lives of our fellow citizens are not blue, red, green or pink. It must be a common struggle of all MPs elected in the South Sector. Even, and especially, the government + MPs, Nikos Dendias, Konstantinos Kyranakis, Dionysis Hadjidakis, Harris Theocharis, Sofia Voultepsi, Anna Karamanlis, Bampi Papadimitriou, Yannis Kallianou, Vassilis Spanakis, even though it was the Southwest that led the campaign to diminish the work of the avenue and target me... So be it.
The avenue is enjoyed today by thousands of citizens every day. Just as they should enjoy the completion of the redevelopment of the Falirikos Ormos, the Attica Riviera. Not to please Dourou. But because we all owe it to the citizens of Attica.
I would like to thank Nikos Pappas, Theano Fotiou, Ioannis Mouzalas, Yannis Balafas, Ralia Christidou and Pavlos Polakis.
