Early in the morning on Maundy Monday, teams from the Municipality of Athens began to remove palm trees from Panepistimiou Avenue in the city center, planted three years ago in large planters. We are talking about the same palm trees that were planted as part of the “Big Walk” program.
The ambitious program of Kostas Bakoyannis “The Big Walk”, which has become a kind of sad meme for the residents of the capital, cost the city budget, and, accordingly, taxpayers, more than 3.5 million euros. But today, there are practically no traces of her external signs, as the mayor himself said. Critics of the prime minister’s cousin, son of an influential MP and former minister, Dora Bakoyannis, argue that the contracts for these works and the further maintenance of expensive flowerpots with flowers and plants were transferred to companies that were selected through non-transparent competitions, which means that there were elements of corruption.
According to the mayor’s office, the cost of 22 palm trees was 2 million euros!!! The editors could not find similar trees for free sale, however, on the site horomidis.gr sell trees of similar size for about 2,000 euros.
A total of 22 palm trees are to be removed over the next three days and moved to a designated area in the Goudi area of Athens. The problematic trees, which were planted in huge flowerpots 3 years ago without water, will remain there for an unknown period of time, and then will be distributed and planted in various areas of the Greek capital.
Bakoyannis’ next beautification plan is to replace the palm trees on Panepistimiou Avenue 82 plane trees! Yes, these are the same trees that grow up to 50 meters in height, and with a crown of up to 18 meters in diameter, with roots that, as you know, literally “blow up” sidewalks. Not to mention the amount of water they need, especially considering that the mayor was desperately looking for sponsors to water some of the other plants in the same alley, and that watering was not included in the original plan.
While the mayor “cuts” municipal funds is busy beautifying the city, drivers passing through one of the busiest streets in the city curse every day they have to stand in traffic jams.
As you know, things are moving towards elections, where Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has a very slim chance of winning, and without the support of his brother, Kostas Bakoyannis will not be re-elected as mayor either. And, judging by the convulsive actions of the mayor’s office, its leadership is in a hurry to have time to master the money, while the position allows, and the prosecutor’s office turns a blind eye…
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