Rome, May 26 – Residents of Rome are increasingly vocal about the deteriorating situation in popular nightlife areas, with calls for more robust intervention from authorities to combat brawls and public drunkenness. The “malamovida” (bad nightlife) phenomenon is intensifying, prompting community leaders to demand a stronger police presence.
Trastevere Residents Discover Chained Bats, Highlighting Escalating Tensions
The severity of the issue was underscored by a disturbing discovery in Trastevere, where Simonetta Marcellini of the Trastevere Emergency Committee reported finding chained bats hidden under the Scalea del Tamburino. This location, dedicated to the memory of 16-year-old Domenico Subiaco, has become a recurring site for nighttime clashes and brawls among young people.
Marcellini, who reported the finding to the Carabinieri, stated, “They prepare them for night clashes. Youngsters meet and fight. The situation hasn’t changed… it’s a problem in winter, imagine now.” This scenario, she notes, repeats year after year, despite the city’s announced “Night Plan” by the Municipality and Prefecture, set to activate in July.
Rome’s “Night Plan” Under Scrutiny
The “Night Plan” is designed to address these issues, with key initiatives including the deployment of at least 150 “tutors” or stewards. These individuals, hired after a Capitol Hill tender, are intended to assist nightlife patrons and report dangerous or incorrect behavior to law enforcement. However, their exact roles and engagement rules in the unpredictable nighttime environment, fraught with physical risks, are still being defined.
The plan also includes establishing “hubs” – designated locations where groups of stewards and Civil Protection volunteers will maintain a visible presence until dawn, offering services like phone charging, two-way radios, and water bottles.
Residents Skeptical, Demand More Police
Despite these efforts, residents’ committees, including those from Esquilino, have expressed skepticism, advocating instead for more patrols and increased vigilance from law enforcement. The plan does allocate an additional 20 municipal police cars for weekends, augmenting the current 25-30, but many believe this will be insufficient.
Marcellini sharply criticized the tutor initiative, stating, “These tutors are nothing. They will have no power to stop people and sanction them. Perhaps they don’t realize who is out at night causing chaos. More law enforcement is needed, period.” She also challenged Mayor Gualtieri’s stance against penalizing nightlife, particularly his refusal to anticipate the halt of alcohol sales, arguing that he is out of touch with the reality on the ground.
Alcohol Sales and Public Drunkenness: A Core Issue
Mayor Gualtieri, during the plan’s presentation at Capitol Hill, affirmed, “We will not prohibit the administration of alcohol after midnight.” However, residents’ committees from Trastevere to San Lorenzo contend that the primary cause of the “malamovida” is precisely the presence of intoxicated young people on the streets late into the night.
Marcellini recounted an incident from two Saturdays ago: “Under my windows, the shouting returned; there were also drunk girls who started insulting me. In short, this plan, in my opinion, is just a big spot, zero substance.” She emphasized that neighborhood safety is not something that can be inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. “Now,” she concluded, “we are waiting for what the Residents’ Council will produce: we have been asking for it for four years, and it only arrives twelve months before the mayor’s mandate expires. Meanwhile, last Sunday, we repainted the palace walls to erase all the graffiti that disfigured it.”
Recent Incidents Highlight Ongoing Challenges
Recent nights have seen a surge in incidents, including brawls around Piazza Bologna, fascist chants outside venues in Pigneto, and drug dealing in Trastevere, resulting in three arrests and several denunciations. These events are seen as a preview of what could unfold in the coming weekends, even as the “Night Plan” is still awaiting its early July implementation.
The city is thus caught between the desire to maintain a vibrant nightlife and the urgent need to ensure public order and safety for its residents. The effectiveness of the “Night Plan” and the city’s broader strategy will be closely watched as summer approaches, a period historically associated with increased “malamovida” incidents.
Source: roma.corriere.it
