Social housing: the communication operation of the Minister of the City – The Point

“concedes” a “media tour” but hoping to “create a shock”. The Minister of Town Patrick Kanner was confronted Friday, facing the cameras, the mayor Republicans of Ormesson-sur-Marne (Val-de-Marne), just 1.7% of social housing, to remind Mayors their obligations in the matter. “Everyone must take his share. I hope to convince force before,” said the minister when he arrived in the small town of 10,000 inhabitants, which has 4000 houses, but not more than 80 housing, one of The lowest rates of France.

He announced his intention to quickly build 500 homes, including 200 social housing in the municipality. “A conviction operation” as he called it, it imposes on the municipality, but without “preemption,” the already owned the land in question for a large majority in the state.

The Law SRU (solidarity and urban renewal) requires municipalities with over 3500 inhabitants (and 1500 in Ile-de-France) have at least 25% of social housing in their territory.

A “pre-emptive policy” land “will be undertaken” in municipalities that do not meet this obligation, François Hollande had announced Thursday. The state “issue itself building permits and carry out the necessary housing,” he added.

450 000 euro penalty

Faced with Patrick Kanner, the mayor Marie-Christine Segui was “surprised” that his city was chosen for the trip. “I do not think this is a good example. I’m not a communication operation, the State may,” she said, referring to a “punitive expedition”.

Elected in 2014, she says she “inherited” the situation and ensures involvement in “over 20 meetings” with the authorities to work things out. “I’m not refractory. I volunteer for social housing, but for my people,” she said, adding she had not the means to “build schools or nurseries” for new arrivals. “We will help you go faster, you’ll see,” quipped the Minister during their bittersweet exchanges. He said qu’Ormesson-sur-Marne is not the only city targeted by his ministry: “I assure you, there will be others.” Failure of the SRU law will cost the city 450,000 euros in 2015 on a budget of € 12 million, said its director general told AFP. The amount of penalties could amount to 900,000 euros, but these have been renegotiated, the mayor argued that “good will”.