France’s best-known cultural expert is moving to the country from Paris. He claims that Paris has been turned into a rubbish bin under its socialist mayor.
Stéphane Bern, 58, who was hired by Emmanuel Macron as a cultural adviser, bemoaned how Paris is now a hotbed of violence and ugliness after a series of unpopular reforms by Anne Hidalgo.
The left-wing mayor has overseen a series of sweeping reforms to make the city ‘greener’ including concrete cycle lanes, plans to turn the Champs-Elysées into a garden, and the removal of traditional 19th century benches because they are ‘sexist’, all while failing to clean up the streets.
Hidalgo, who is running for president next year, has also attracted ire for pushing through plans for a controversial new £600million glass skyscraper likened to a ‘giant piece of brie’ that critics say will ruin the Paris skyline.
Bern is a journalist, TV presenter and has made a vow to leave his Pigalle flat, which is famous for its nightlife, and to relocate to Perche, northern France.
Construction is due to start on a controversial new £600million glass skyscraper likened to a ‘giant piece of brie’ (pictured)
Anne Hidalgo (Paris mayor) is in hot water for her oversight of a fall in capital, according to critics
This left-leaning mayor oversees a number of major reforms in the city to make it ‘greener.
Stéphane Bern (pictured), 58, who was hired by Emmanuel Macron as a cultural adviser, bemoaned how Paris is now a hotbed of violence and ugliness
Hidalgo, who is running for president next year, has also attracted ire for pushing through plans for a controversial new £600million glass skyscraper
Bern asked, “Where is the City of Lights?”
“I marvel at its beauty, but it’s letting me down to an extent and becoming more ugly in general.
“Paris is now a garbage bin, where everyone throws away anything and everything they can.”
Bern will move to an abandoned military school, which he acquired in 2013.
He has reopened the debate on Paris, as some critics claim that it is starting to lose its charm.
Hidalgo has advocated for many procycling measures, including controversial new lanes last years that are seperated from roads by huge concrete blocks. These have been called an eyesore.
Bern’s comments have renewed debate about the state of Paris which some say is quickly losing its status as the City of Love
Hidalgo has advocated for numerous pro-cycling measures, including controversial new lanes in last year’s budget.
Bern will relocate to the former military school he acquired in 2013.
In an effort to encourage locals to take care of the flowers, she also placed large plastic pots in the streets. However, many were left untended and neglected.
The proposed Triangle Tour skyscraper, which will be constructed this year, is facing backlash from the mayor.
The Tower’s original plans were approved over a decade ago, but construction has been halted by legal challenges from environmentalists, architects and activists.
The 42-storey building is designed by Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron and will include office spaces and a four-star hotel.
Art historian Didier Rykner blasted the project as a ‘big piece of brie in the sky that can be seen from everywhere’ while French news outlet Télérama said the building is an ‘outdated, ecologically absurd project being built out of place’.
Although a court revoked previous decisions this month in order to give planning permission, opponents still hope for one last attempt to stop it.
There is currently a backlash against the mayor over the Triangle Tour Glass Skyscraper, which was set for construction this year.
Pierre de Meuron and Jacques Herzog, Swiss architects, have designed this 42-storey tower. The building will feature office space and a 4 star hotel.
Philippe Goujon (the conservative mayor in the 15th district where the building is located) will ask that the matter be rescheduled at this week’s city council meeting.
Prosecutors are investigating allegations of ‘favouritism’ by Hidalgo’s Office towards Viparis. Viparis is the company responsible for managing the site.
Her and her backers believe the tower would generate over 5,000 jobs, and that it will be an asset to Paris.
Others claim that the city has already 1.5 million square meters of unoccupied office space, and it’s irregular form would render it much less efficient in terms of energy.
Additionally, Hidalgo made a controversial move to get rid of Paris’s traditional wooden-and wrought-iron benches that were built by Gabriel Davioud late in the 19th century.
Hidalgo, feminists claim they are mostly used by women and men. Women are afraid to use them for fear of being harassed.
Bern lamented Paris’ violence and ugly state after Hidalgo’s series of controversial reforms
Hidalgo was most known for removing Paris’s wooden and wrought iron benches.
Bern called them ‘frightful’ and she replaced them with the deconstructed benches. They resembled long concrete tables.
He stated that he was shocked by the ‘dirtiness’, the holes on the roads, the permanent construction sites, noise, and most importantly the violence in the capital.
He also said that it was important to listen to how people communicate with each other. Traffic can cause tension. This war of wheels, which pits cars against pedestrians and scooters against bikes, is unacceptable.
Bern worked previously under Macron, and is still close to Macron. He was tasked with conserving French heritage within the ministry of culture.
His influence has helped to create a British heritage lottery, and he also presented several acclaimed documentaries on French royalty.