Commission of National Heritage a disgrace: Latest episode in the battle to save Aviatorilor/Kiseleff

(Photo source) The alarm has sounded once again in the latest episode of the epic battle to save Bulevard Aviatorilor and Soseaua Kiseleff. On 30th November, the National Commission for Historic Monuments had to decide, I'm told, whether:

1. to list the boulevard-system: Aviatorilor/Kiseleff/Prezan on the list of historic monuments as heritage of major cultural, architectural and urban importance to Bucharest 

and

2. to approve or reject the two auto-underpasses which, if built, would radically modify and worsen the character of the two arteries.

Perhaps a little bit of background is required here:

Back in June-July, explains a friend of mine, the Order of Architects realised that under Oprescu's mandate the boulevards would not be safe, so they introduced a request to the Minister of Culture to list Aviatorilor-Kiseleff-Prezan. After the local Commission for Historic Monuments had unanimously approved historic monument status and the Ministry of Culture had issued an order to this effect, the next step was for the CNMI (national commission) to confirm it. Usually, the national commission rubberstamps the decision of the local commission, since they have more information on local heritage. However, Mr. Oprescu's tentacles were far-reaching, stretching as far as the 5 members who voted against and two who simply 'disappeared' in the second round of voting. These afore-mentioned tentacles also tickled the professional conscience (or lack of it) of the President of the Commission (whose name I have been asked not to print, but please go google and fill in the blanks).

Whatever happened? To start with, I'm told, the agenda was loaded in favour of Oprescu, financial private interests (the building companies that have City Hall budget at their disposal) + City Hall mafia, namely the directors of Directia de Infrastructura (Hreapca), Trafic (Dedu) and Chief Architect Patrascu - the
discussion regarding the projects was scheduled to arise before addressing the listing of the boulevards! That just about says it all, really... a bit like discussing a plaster cast before the leg is even broken. Eventually, the President of the Commission had to agree to discuss the listing first.

The first vote resulted in 6 in favour of the listing, 5 against and 3 abstentions, one of which was technical - the author of the historic study recommending the listing was obliged to abstain.

Since the vote was not what City Hall (Oprescu-Patrascu) either expected or wanted, it was repeated. The second time as mentioned above, two members vanished (nobody knows who and why nor where they went). Thus the second vote resulted in 6 for the historic listing, 5 against and one abstention - that of the creator of the study, as previously explained, who would have voted in favour of the listing since he recommended it. Patrascu, the lowest of the low and unarguably the worst Chief Architect that Bucharest has ever had, said that the vote meant there was no majority. He counted the abstention as a NO, despite the fact that the one obligatory abstention was from the very person who proposed the listing in the first place, and was thus unable to vote his 'for'. When a complaint was filed, the President of the Commission said that the Minister should decide because he would not recommend the listing. And this is the guy you pay to protect your heritage.....! For shame.

When it came to voting for or against the underpass projects, it is assumed that the two who disappeared in the second round of voting for the listing, reappeared and voted in favour. The President of the Commission said that the majority voted in favour but since the vote is secret, the President can basically do and say whatever he likes. This is the level of transparency within Romania's 'democracy' today...

At the beginning of this year, civil society officially asked the Minister of Culture to make deliberations made at the National Commission of Monuments transparent, just as they were before 2008 when Minister Iorgulescu issued a ministerial order to make them secret. Apparently, this was supposed to have put pressure on the integrity of the members. In this way, uniquely those with power and money (as always), can 'put pressure on the integrity' of members while civil society can only demonstrate in front of the Ministry to make its opinion known - and at that, only at particular times of the day and with the approval of the PMB... so much for democracy. They can of course also write letters and send petitions. Very useful I'm sure. In some cases, indeed, they may be effective. In most cases, however, they take far too long and I am not at all sure that they are ever even read. There have been many useless Culture Ministers in Romania - Iorgulescu, I am told, was one of the worst. How does Hunor measure up in comparison? Not much better, I'm sure. It is now up to him to approve or disapprove the listing and projects.

One can imagine the kind of behind-doors horse-trading taking place to make Oprescu's son rich (apparently the construction companies that will make millions out of these projects are closely linked to Oprescu's son) and obtain funds for Oprescu's re-election and PSD+PNL election campaign... All the more reason to fight ever harder that he NOT be re-elected as Mayor of Bucharest.

All the above is hearsay since no one wants to be quoted. I cannot prove any of it and cannot link to other sources because there aren't any. Neither can I name names right now, so please do fill in the blanks yourselves and should you comment below, I would be grateful if you would add them to your text... But it is all too true, I'm afraid. I know that you know it, too. The Commission of National Heritage is a disgrace, despite the presence of many decent and worthy professionals. The fact that the whole democratic process can be so easily scuppered at the behest of the construction mafia is shameful. 

Huh... and people are still asking why Nicusor Dan would be such a change, such a good choice - no money and little experience in politics. Isn't the above reason enough as pure case in point??? If one doesn't know such things are happening, one cannot react to it. So, here it is. In black and white. This must STOP. A city is not a space to be knifed, split and shared between elite mafia members. It is YOUR patrimony. YOUR history. YOUR home. And ultimately, it's up to you to do something about it.

Comments

[timpit!]

no its not unless you know the situation... the average Bucharestean doesnt know who he is any more than they know the name of Nicusor. The population of the city of Bucharest spend their lives fast asleep for the vast majority. Very convenient for people like Oprescu who will profit and benefit from the ignorance, lack of education and (in a lot of cases) stupidity of the people by campaigning with lies and feeding false info that these fools believe.

[sairj]

Thanks Valentin. I was dearly hoping you would say that. Is it also public info that he's such a ratbag? It certainly should be...

[valentin]

Arh. Virgiliu POLIZU is the President of the Commission of National Heritage. Phone 0721/370270; 2726/148748; 021/4097788
e-mail: pol_arh@yahoo.com in case you want to contact him.Its public information I am not invading his privacy.
Pity he does not respect his name and thing that money don't smell

[Mihaela]

"...and people are still asking why Nicusor Dan would be such a change, such a good choice - no money and little experience in politics. Isn't the above reason enough as pure case in point??? If one doesn't know such things are happening, one cannot react to it. So, here it is. In black and white. This must STOP. A city is not a space to be knifed, split and shared between elite mafia members. It is YOUR patrimony. YOUR history. YOUR home. And ultimately, it's up to you to do something about it."

Ce alte comentarii?... That says it all.