Category: Uncategorized

Venice invaded by fake Christmas door hangings: flyers are actually an invitation to sell your home to a foreign company.

December 19, 2017

“…if you’re considering selling your home, we’ll consider it!” Venetians across the city found the front of their homes, doorknobs, etc. festooned with these cards from the Real Estate company Engel and Volkers Venezia. On the front the cards have a nice Christmas scene. Happy Holidays and buone feste, we want your home for someone … More Venice invaded by fake Christmas door hangings: flyers are actually an invitation to sell your home to a foreign company.

“What is happening in Venice?” Ex-City Managers denounce the politicization of public management in Venice

December 8, 2017

“…Venice was for over thirty years a national example for the number and quality of services offered to the citizens and for the impartiality and the respect for law based on best practices of accountability and transparency.” “What is happening in Venice?” In the City of Venice the relationship between administrators and personnel (managers, officials, … More “What is happening in Venice?” Ex-City Managers denounce the politicization of public management in Venice

An appeal to the City Council as they vote on the sale of public properties in Venice.

November 30, 2017

As I write the City Council of Venice is debating the sale of an alarming range of public buildings, including some like Palazzo Papadopoli (above) have somehow already managed to be sold – schools being sold of to become hotels is the City’s plan. Veneziamiofuturo/Venicemyfuture is there now and they brought with them the following … More An appeal to the City Council as they vote on the sale of public properties in Venice.

Sending out an SOS: Gruppo25Aprile stages protest at La Fenice season opening

November 24, 2017

(Photo: Julia Nikitina) Today’s Big Story: “Noisy protest at the opening of Teatro La Fenice’s season. Some of the audience, members of “Gruppo 25 Aprile” threw a thousand green, white and red leaflets upon which was written “Venice wants to live. Enough hotels”. There was applause among the audience members.” RAI – TGR Veneto – … More Sending out an SOS: Gruppo25Aprile stages protest at La Fenice season opening

The unusual sale of Palazzo Poerio Papadopoli

November 20, 2017

The public hearing yesterday revealed a surprise: the irrevocable offer to buy “for a person to be named” by a mysterious buyer who on 23 October had already “guessed” the new property value, which was revised downward by Resolution 261, dated 8 November, negatively impacting the city budget with a loss of several million Euro. … More The unusual sale of Palazzo Poerio Papadopoli

The Foscolo School of Murano is for sale, what is the Mayor’s plan?

November 17, 2017

A cry of alarm from the Municipality of Venice The Ugo Foscolo School of Murano is for sale: who benefits from this? It is quite difficult to understand what the goal is. It is even more difficult to understand the reasons why. In fact there is no need in the budget to justify selling public … More The Foscolo School of Murano is for sale, what is the Mayor’s plan?

Another public property in Venice is sold off to become a hotel. Citizens will march in protest again, on 21 November.

November 16, 2017

“What we are witnessing is the selloff of the family jewels” – Marco Gasparinetti What follows is a message from Gruppo 25 Aprile following the approval the sale of Palazzo Poerio Papadopoli, once an important school in Venice, to become yet another hotel. From Santa Fosca to the Papadopoli, the City is not a Monopoly … More Another public property in Venice is sold off to become a hotel. Citizens will march in protest again, on 21 November.

Venice, UNESCO and tourists: after two years, how to count the tourists remains unknown.

October 20, 2017

Only a partnership between the City, UNESCO and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage can guarantee a check and supervision over the sustainability of the tourist presence in the City, but for now it is not possible to know the necessary data for examining the situation, which has been analyzed by the responsible commission, led by … More Venice, UNESCO and tourists: after two years, how to count the tourists remains unknown.

The Ancient Palazzi are becoming resorts; Venice is selling off its historic jewels.

October 15, 2017

Residents are in revolt: “Even the Church is conceding its property to build hotels” By Lorenzo Padovan VENICE No one, really, has missed the call. The City, the Region, Government Offices, the Italian Post, the Military. And now even the Patriarchy. All of them share the same strategy: give up their real estate in Venice … More The Ancient Palazzi are becoming resorts; Venice is selling off its historic jewels.

MOSE, the History of a Failure: “an anthology of horrors”

October 11, 2017

(Editor’s Note: This is a story I wish I didn’t have to post. While Venice is full of painful examples of the misuse of public resources, no one project stands out as so completely egregious as MOSE. The last story I published on this subject had the date of completion projected at 2018. That was … More MOSE, the History of a Failure: “an anthology of horrors”