Nimes (AFP)
Meeting young people, police officers and actors in city politics, Prime Minister Jean Castex took the pulse on Saturday in the Gard of a republican reconquest district (QRR) two months after the release of new aid.
"I came to Nîmes to see how measures taken in Paris are applied on the ground. Are we on the right target, are it working, are people taking ownership? all this and what can we still improve? ", explained the head of government.
Two months ago, Jean Castex announced the release of 3.3 billion euros for city policy, including 2 billion to strengthen the ANRU, one billion in the recovery plan and 300 million for measures to support: mediators, video protection, learning holidays ...
Accompanied by the Minister of Citizenship Marlène Schiappa, the Minister for Housing Emmanuel Wargon and the Minister for Territorial Cohesion Nadia Hai, Jean Castex visited a media library in Alès financed with credits from the urban renewal plan and the "educational city" of a sensitive district of Nîmes.
"There are two priorities for the government, education and security, without these two bases nothing is possible", explained the Prime Minister who spoke with five teenagers, ambassadors of citizenship, engaged in a program of "educational city" which takes care of children from 3 years old and young people up to 25 years old, before, during and around the school environment.
"The future of neighborhoods is not trafficking, drugs, violence. The Republic will be uncompromising with that. We have perhaps left these subjects abandoned for too long and some have taken advantage of this decline to convey separatist values, "he lamented.
The 80 "educational cities" currently in place "will increase to 126 in a few weeks before reaching the number of 200", indicated the Minister of Territorial Cohesion.
During a meeting with stakeholders in urban renewal, the Prime Minister pledged to provide state support for a renovation project for degraded private condominiums in Nîmes, in addition to the action of the ANRU for the renovation of the public park, a first in the region.
At the end of the journey, the head of government listened to the grievances of the police officers who told him about their daily life in a city where drug trafficking generates 25,000 euros in earnings per day and where the settling of scores is done with Kalashnikovs.
"We will try to strengthen your means," he promised.
© 2021 AFP