Desenzano Parking Tolls Spark Student Protests and Political Debate
Disputes and protests continue in Desenzano following the decision of the municipal administration to introduce tolls for parking along the lakeside and the Maratona. After the city council meeting on Monday, during which a popular petition was presented asking for the revocation of the measure, students from «Bagatta» High School, «Bazoli» Technical Commercial Institute, «Marco Polo» Vocational Institute for Commercial and Tourist Services, and the Hotel School, essentially representing all upper secondary schools in the Municipality, organized a demonstration for today demanding the abolition of the parking fee.
The parking fee is viewed as “merely a funding source for a horrible fountain, an ornament for an equally horrible lakeside,” as stated in the flyer distributed in front of school offices yesterday morning. Students consider the implementation of the “toll” in parking areas “an unjust decision by the Council that inconveniences residents, workers, students, teachers, and generally anyone who needs to go to the city center.”
Reactions from students and authorities
In short, for the youth, this is “a decision against those who live in Desenzano, while it favors those who speculate on it.” The gathering of students this morning is scheduled for 8 a.m. at the train station square. From there, a procession will march and conclude in the central Malvezzi square.
The core issue for high school students is clear: in the resolution that introduces benefits for commercial categories and residents, they are practically excluded. Yet, nowadays, many students in the last years choose to drive rather than take the bus. We asked Achille Benedetti (An), delegate councilor for the Municipal Police and Traffic Management, for his opinion.
“No previous Council, to my knowledge, has granted parking benefits to students, nor am I aware that other cities’ municipal administrations have adopted similar measures. Moreover,” Benedetti notes, “we have left free of charge 120 parking spaces in the lot at the former Acli football field in via Gramsci, so high school students in Desenzano could easily walk 700-800 meters to reach the center and schools.”
He also added, “Furthermore, I would like to remind that the parking lot at the former Acli remains open from 7 a.m. to midnight — what more do they want?” Benedetti also claimed that “some teachers with clear political interests might be fueling these student protests.”
The controversies over parking and political reactions
The decision to install parking meters in the historic city center, where until now merchants, tourists, and residents could leave their cars without paying any fee, has sparked a storm of criticism. For this reason, as extensively reported in Wednesday’s edition, opposition groups left the city council chamber as a sign of protest against the majority, although the initial cause was the project to reorganize the lakeside area.