Life in the city

When you walk in the city, do you imagine what it could be, in addition to seeing what it is?  I do.

We live like many Parisians, working at our computers much of the day (writers in Paris, you know), and then going out in the late afternoon and evening to do errands and to walk.  This year especially, we have much to do because Tom is working on two books (a textbook and a critical edition of Huck Finn) instead of just one.  I'm the editor and IT person (and blogger).  It works.

Looking toward the 16th from the 15th, by the Pont de Grenelle.

So this year is one of those years that I won't be writing about museums and other attractions so much, at least not until August or September, when a couple of deadlines have passed.

At home in Florida, I get caught up in issues affecting the environment that we live in; here, I am grateful to Parisians who do that for Paris.  Although I cannot do what they do here, I am attuned to it.  So when I saw the free magazine from the 15th arrondissement's town hall in the porte cochère of our building, I snapped it up.

The first article in the mag is, of course, an introduction by the longtime mayor of the 15th arrondissement, Philippe Goujon.  He is a moderate conservative.  Ann Hildago, the current mayor of Paris, used to serve in the local government of the 15th.  But she is of a different political persuasion from Goujon.  She is a moderate liberal.

In his commentary, Philippe proudly tells us that he and 20-some of his colleagues from various arrondissements have formed a coalition called 100% Paris.  The purpose of the group is to advance projects for which there is local political consensus, regardless of partisan political persuasion.

Looking toward La Place des Martyrs Juifs (Place of the Jewish Martyrs),
along the Seine in the 15th arrondissement near the Pont de Bir Hakeim.

He correctly points out that the partisan divisions that are impairing progress are really at the national level; locally, people of different political affiliations have less trouble agreeing on local issues.

Philippe goes on to list the kinds of problems that can be can be addressed locally by people working together:  the environmental emergencies, technological deficiencies, lack of affordable housing, the need for a real municipal police force.  Projects can be undertaken to aid in the de-densification of Paris, the improvement of public spaces, the lowering of local taxes, rejuvenation of the local economy, helping small businesses, lowering unemployment, improving access to health care, and so on -- all with the sole objective of improving the lives of Parisians.

Philippe assures that as he has been working away at 100%, he has had numerous occasions to interact with residents of the 15th and that he's always found those exchanges to be necessary and useful.  The arrondissement is working toward accomplishing goals identified in a program that took place in 2014.  He admits that there is still a lot to do in the 15th arrondissement, but that "like you, I am so dedicated and it is with you that I want to build up" the arrondissement.

A partly vegetated wall in the 15th, on the Rue Blomet.

That all sounds very good, but unfortunately Philippe ended his commentary with a partisan swipe, blaming problems on the municipal team at the City of Paris that has been in place for the past 20 years -- that would be the team of mayors Delanoe, and now Hildago -- those on the other side of the aisle from Philippe Goujon.

He just couldn't rise above it after all.

Still, I have hope that Parisians will work together to address the problems of daily life here.  They're doing pretty well so far, and I wish them all the best.

The magazine points out some issues that I did not know existed in the 15th.  For example, access to health care is degrading.  More Maisons de Santé (local medical clinics) need to be opened.

Paris is still working on getting defibrillators installed in public places.

The biggest outpatient psychiatric clinic in the entire city just opened, here in the middle of the 15th arrondissement, on the Rue Eugène Millon.  It will also include services for those who have profound hearing loss.

For the second time, the town hall of the 15th is hosting a Summer Coding Camp for young people from 16 to 24 years old.  The camp is for two weeks, and it is free.  Co-sponsors are companies like Microsoft, Orange/France Telecom, and SoftBank Robotics.  The kids learn coding and robotics programming during this camp.

Now that Parisians have almost eliminated the problem of dog poop on the sidewalks, they're working on eliminating discarded cigarette butts from the public ways.  One of the things the city is doing is distributing "pocket ashtrays."  I never heard of these before, but sure enough, I see that they exist.  Amazon.fr sells one for a mere €1.69.  This would be a good project for coastal Florida.  Cigarette butts are disgusting, and dangerous for wildlife.

Following the example of the Senate's Luxembourg Gardens, the 15th arrondissement has now banned smoking from ten of its parks.

In time for summer, the town hall of the 15th has published a little cookbook for kids, featuring their favorite recipes from the school cafeterias (really!) and workshops.

Perhaps the ugliest building in the 15th arrondissement is the huge Montparnasse skyscraper.  Now there is an effort to re-design that whole area, including a re-do of the skyscraper itself.  First, according to the magazine, the building will be "de-boned," then it will be rehabilitated.  I can't imagine how that works.  We shall see!