At a time when city services are examining the first ideas launched as part of participatory budget (Bupa) No. 2, this is a debate that some in the city council will not soon forget. Between ironies, misunderstandings or even questions.
Starting point for this somewhat surreal moment, the intervention of elected official Laurence Croizier (Right, Center and Independents group) about the finances necessary for these projects with a budget that is “exploding”. It’s “open bar”, she says, referring to the Bupa 2. And among these expenses, there is one that is very difficult to spend.
“Take into account the interests of non-human living things”
This is “training in consultation with the living”, which the City of Lyon services offer to those responsible for district participatory budgets. And the elected official cites without inventing anything, she specifies, what seems to be the objective of said training: “Take into account the interests of non-human living things, guide political decisions around local development based on of a temporary assembly of human and non-human stakeholders. »
And it is the members of this association responsible for training who, she adds with a touch of derision, are calling out:
“The first member is a weeping birch which is part of the association because its last pruning was brutal and since then, birch has been even more weeping.” Smiles on the opposition side. When on the side of the majority, through the voice of the deputy in charge of local democracy, Chloé Vidal, we do not understand this incomprehension: “I am sorry that you do not appreciate the quality of this training. »
Cost of training, €3,000
“Pinch me, I’m dreaming,” says Laurence Croizier, finally addressing the mayor of Lyon, “under the pretext that you believe that the city has no money problem for Bupa, you spend lavishly. This is clearly not possible. »
The subject is controversial. It’s not the first. Some on the social network
The mayor (LR) of 2e district, Pierre Oliver finds the idea “simply ridiculous” and in turn evokes the “waste of public money”.
For the deputy mayor, Gautier Chapuis, it is about “learning to consider all the different points of view”. And to mention the cost of this training, 3,000 euros.
Not enough to calm the questions. “€3,000 spent to make us talk to poppies” we note from the FO Municipal Police office. And this, at a time when the increase in salaries is being discussed, “we are told that the budget is constrained”, the union gets annoyed…
