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Well the delays in the construction of the MOSE project or whatever they call it to protect against rising sea levels is way past original schedule and I saw a reference that corruption probably is at least partly responsible for the state of the project.>>
Yes, it is the MOSE and yes there probably has been corruption as well as incompetence and inexcusable delay. |
MOSE was initiated in 2003, was supposed to be completed in 2011. According to many, corruption in the previous mayor of Venice's office contributed to its delay, if not caused it. The current mayor seems to be trying to make things right, but is probably facing some corruption himself and will have a hard time of it, I fear. It's all been a bit of a disaster, and Venice will suffer.
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Originally Posted by annhig
(Post 17018204)
Well the delays in the construction of the MOSE project or whatever they call it to protect against rising sea levels is way past original schedule and I saw a reference that corruption probably is at least partly responsible for the state of the project.>>
Yes, it is the MOSE and yes there probably has been corruption as well as incompetence and inexcusable delay. The North is suppose to have its act together. |
As "together" as any place in Italy can be...
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"Yes, it is the MOSE and yes there probably has been corruption as well as incompetence and inexcusable delay."
They should have hired the Chinese to build it. Not without corruption, but it would be ready by now. |
"Yeah but the Northern Italians would have you believe that corruption is only in the South, where the workers are also lazy too."
They never mention of course that it was those "lazy" workers from the Mezzogiorno who toiled in their factories in the North to contribute to the Italian economic miracle(sigh, that was a long time ago). |
Yeah but the Northern Italians would have you believe that corruption is only in the South, where the workers are also lazy too.>>
Not my experience. They are only too well aware that corruption permeates all parts of Italian political and economic life. . How could they be unaware having had Berlusconi as Prime Minister? |
Long article about problems in Venice,, including attempts to restructure the commune, more blaming of Airbnb and various proposals to re-route cruise ships from the center.
I didn't realize the scenic route that cruise ships took. Some groups are blaming them for causing erosion, exacerbating the acqua alta. Currently, ships enter the port -- which is on the western edge of Venice, across a canal from the Santa Croce district -- via the scenic route. They enter the lagoon at the northern edge of the Lido -- the long, sandbank-like island facing Venice "proper" -- and pass the gardens of the Biennale and the famous Riva degli Schiavoni waterfront, before sailing past St Mark's Square and up the Giudecca Canal, passing narrowly between the island of Giudecca and the central district of Dorsoduro. All, apparently, so that cruise passengers can get that perfect shot of Venice. Locals have long claimed that the cruise issue goes beyond the number of visitors disgorged by the boats. They say that the "grandi navi" (big ships) hurt the fragile ecosystem of the lagoon, damaging the city's foundations with the displacement of water and stirring up the seabed, effectively creating deeper channels and allowing more seawater into the lagoon. The worsening flooding of the last few years, they say, is not only because of climate change; it's also down to this erosion. And with every year, the cruise industry produces ever-bigger ships. There's deep skepticism that MOSE will do anything to stave off acqua alta. Meanwhile, Venice will find new ways to raise income: The much-vaunted "contributo di accesso," or access fee for day-trippers -- which will cost up to €8 ($9) per person in peak season -- is set to launch in July. Zuin says that the money will go towards public services impacted by tourism, like trash collection and street maintenance. Locals will see their taxes reduced as a result. |
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