Associations advocate for a return of public services to priority neighborhoods

Gathered at the Hôtel de Roquelaure for the first of three days of consultation organized by the Minister Delegate for Urban Affairs, Juliette Méadel, the community stakeholders drew up a mixed assessment of the last CIV of October 2023, while welcoming the results of certain measures such as the "educational cities".

Education, health, employment, economic development, and funding for associations: the workshops covered many aspects of urban policy, and many stakeholders called for strengthening services in neighborhoods, whether public or private.

"The State has a responsibility for sovereign policies, because we see that in matters of justice, policing, and national education, there is a dramatic inequality of treatment between territories," emphasized Bénédicte Madelin, president of the Federation of Social and Cultural Mediation Associations.

Some associations have suggested requiring local authorities to reserve land for associations and commercial activities in priority neighborhoods (QPV).

"My role is to define priorities with you and have them carried by the Prime Minister (...) The purpose of the CIV is to mobilize common law (...) that is to say, public service," declared the minister, saying she wanted "no more than three priorities and ten objectives."

On the associations' side, the reactions were rather positive, despite invitations sometimes being sent at the last minute.

"We expect a lot from this CIV and it is important that it arrives now given the national and international situation," said Abdelaali El Badaoui, founding president of the Banlieues Santé association.

"In the neighborhoods, there is a lot of non-use or delayed use of health care. So, it's important that we put health care back where it's most needed," he added, calling for the development of participatory health centers.

"Whatever we do, if we don't take action on discrimination, we won't succeed," said Claudia Ruzza, executive director of the Positiv association, which supports people who are excluded from employment.

A second meeting is planned for March 28 with representatives of the business world and social landlords, and a third for April 3 with elected officials' associations.