controversy surrounding the closure of water fountains used by the homeless

In the middle of July, did the City of Nice cut off the fountains not to "attract the homeless"? The case, revealed by Nice Matin, is controversial on the Côte d'Azur. A shopkeeper in the Vieux Port district told the local daily newspaper that she had received a homeless person who was trying to fill his water bottle: no drop now comes out of the free drinking water tap at Place des Pins.

The decision was made, according to the newspaper, at a neighborhood meeting, to "move the homeless." "The vision of homelessness can reduce some people's clientele and, consequently, alter their turnover," explains Gilda Armi, the president of the neighborhood merchants badociation. "They are in the neighborhood constantly, they wash their clothes, wash their clothes," continues Nice Matin a local resident. Merchants in the wealthy district of Garbaldi have also launched a petition against the homeless that would have collected between 30 and 40 signatures.

Town hall denies

While many other water points are closing in the city center, the town hall categorically denies any decision made against homeless people. In a statement that the Figaro was able to consult, the city of Nice strongly denounced an "unworthy controversy that has no place". It justifies the closing of fountains "due to inappropriate use that generated nuisance and incivility", caused "including by people with housing." For example, animals bathing in the fountain, children wasting water or people cleaning their clothes. The city also promises to focus on the installation of a fountain strictly reserved for hydration.

Not enough to extinguish the controversy. "Especially during the summer months, people who are homeless use this fountain to cool off or do a rough wash. The weather announcing a very hot summer, a city like ours must be concerned about the public health of all its citizens in such a context ", is indignant on Facebook the opposition municipal councilor Patrick Allemand, who calls for a gathering on the square Saturday afternoon. "Indigne", comments a resident on social networks. An online petition is launched: "Water is a source of life. Water is essential to all living bodies, animals and plants. Like the big Mediterranean cities, Nice must offer to its population but also to the tourists, the possibility of cooling off ".