Most concessions for common space concern political and cultural events, sports events of associations, clubs and also of the municipality of Thessaloniki itself.
“I want to use him public area of the municipality of Thessaloniki. Where do I have to go to get the necessary permit?“, the interested parties initially wonder. And after being informed about it, the offices of the Vice-Mayor of Finance receive a bunch of requests from citizens or organizations asking for the use of outdoor areas of the city for the organization of numerous events.
Among these hundreds of requests and quite where the response of the authorities is “no no no!” as they are beyond imagination. For example, a citizen asked to set up reptile exhibition and in particular of snakes in Aristotelous Square, another to use Tsimiski Street for photographing models on Arabian horses and a third party to be granted a part of the HANTH park for shooting a sensual film a whole weekend!
“As a procedure, the allocation of common space is provided for by the regulatory decision of the Municipality of Thessaloniki. However, it is often an area of controversy. Sometimes, though, laughter. I freaked out a lot and in some cases so extreme that even I thought it was a prank“, the deputy mayor of Finance of the municipality of Thessaloniki, tells the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency, Michalis Kupkaswhose office received a total of 487 requests over a period of three years and despite the restrictions of the pandemic and quarantines.
“Sir, he introduced himself to me as a producer of sensual films asking for a part of the HANTH park to shoot a sensual film for a whole weekend. When I explained to him that this was unacceptable, he very politely thanked me and hung up“, Mr. Kupkas remembers.
According to the responsible deputy mayor, the area that is requested more than any other is the Aristotelous Square. “This particular square has been requested for an exhibition of snakes, for setting up an outdoor market of products, for an amusement park. In another case, on Tsimiski street and during market hours, a sidewalk concession was requested by a company that wanted to photograph models on Arabian horses. Imagine what would happen to the horses in Tsimiski with the honking, motorbikes and pedestrians…“, he characteristically emphasizes.
The municipality’s response to the request for the rites with exorcisms, which, however, were performed by the members of the sect in the Square of Courts, behind the statue of Venizelos. “In the subject of exorcisms, which took on a very large dimension, it is clear that permission from the municipality of Thessaloniki was never given. On the other hand, I made it clear to the representative of the religious organization that the city squares are not going to become places of worship and religious rituals and therefore no permission will be granted. Illegally they decided to carry out their events with the well-known results. I am glad that this particular case took the path of justice“, repeated the responsible deputy mayor.
It is noted that most concessions for public space concern political and cultural events, sports events of associations, clubs and also of the municipality of Thessaloniki itself.
“Private companies can rent public space for the commercial display and promotion of their products for a fee of 150 euros per square meter per day and this is an important income for the municipality. It is strictly forbidden to sell products and services in the public space unless a decision of the municipal council stipulates otherwise or an auction procedure has preceded“, adds Mr. Kupkas.
The responsible deputy mayor concludes that the public space is a valuable public good that must be protected from abusive uses and practices and that his and his partners’ goal is “to always serve within reasonable frameworks that will not endanger anyone and will not offend the public image, but also the image of European Thessaloniki».
“I am often the target of criticism for bench seats that in some cases exceed the limits of the license granted to the point where they burden the movement of citizens and degrade our quality of life. However, despite our limited strength in employees, a very great effort is being made by both the Auditors Department and the Municipal Police to limit the phenomenon. We do not want to impose sanctions on anyone, nor do we have a fine collection logic. Success for me will be achieving a compliance rate of over 90%“, he adds.
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