The interview of Mr. Stathis Lafazanidis, Mayor of Eleftherio-Kordelio, to the students of C2 class

On February 27th 2003 the Mayor of Eleftherio-Kordelio, Mr. Stathis Lafazanidis was interviewed by the following students: Agouras Aggelos, Athanasiadis Kyriakos-George, Apostolou Stergios, Arvaniti Calliope, Vavoura Sophia, Galani Maria, Galatas Konstantinos, Galatas Panaghiotis, Giannou Christine, Iordanidis Alexandros, Karavasilis Manolis, Karfopoulou Magdalini, Nikolaidis Jim, Panagiotidou Maria, Tsiliopoulou Eliza, Tsirigotis Theodore and Haralambidis Gregory.

Question: Sometimes there is an unpleasant smell in the atmosphere and we all know that factories are to blame. This problem concerns all citizens of our Municipality. Are you going to face this problem?

Answer: The problem of pollution is not local. Unfortunately we have the factories nearby. In some cases the pollution is heavy even if it isn’t accompanied with an annoying smell. Of course we react to this problem. Last week a man in charge of chemical industries, was sentenced to 5 months’ imprisonment suspended for three years and was also sentenced to pay a fine of 800 euros because the industries polluted Thermaikos Gulf with a milky liquid, which was removed from certain pipes and poured into the open channel.Some people are responsible for the pollution they cause and should therefore be punished. We have deposited a lot of documents to the Prefecture and to the Ministries with which we complain about the problem of pollution in our area as well as in the wider area of Thessaloniki. Factories should be removed to remote places so that the citizens’ life isn’t in danger.We try to cooperate with the Ministries and the Courts that are responsible for such affairs.

Question: When is the new school going to be built so that students attend only morning classes?

Answer: We expect it to be ready in about two years. It will be the 9th Primary school at Filippou Florou and Katsantoni street opposite the old cemeteries.

Question: In our schoolyard there is a bin for recycling paper but sometimes the persons responsible to empty the bin neglect it.Do you think that the bins are enough? What does our Municipality do for recycling?

Answer: Not only have we placed bins in schoolyards but also in several parts of the streets. There are special bins for recycling paper as well as for aluminium. The car of the Municipality picks up the paper and the aluminium cans and takes them for recycling. The Municipality gets some money, which is used, for certain necessities. In case the bins are full the school headmasters can call the Municipality. Since recycling is very important we are thinking of placing more bins.

Question: Why do the vehicles that wash the streets pass only from the central ones?

Answer: This is not true. Sometimes when the staff is not enough the itineraries are decreased. However, in summer, the vehicles wash the streets more often so that there isn’t much dust, which causes problems to our health.

Question: In our Municipality there aren’t several pedestrian zones. Are you going to do anything about it? We need such zones in order to walk and play.

Answer: There will be a pedestrian zone and a park in Ethnikis Antistasis area covering the area between the Town Hall and beyond. There the children will be able to play without being exposed to the danger of cars especially in summer time. 

Question: he playgrounds aren’t cleaned regularly and the swings that are damaged aren’t replaced.

Answer: Whenever there arises a problem we try to solve it. However, sometimes the employees of the Municipality don’t work well and we try to overcome the problem.

Question: Are you satisfied with the lighting in our Municipality?

Answer: We are satisfied enough. Comparatively with other Municipalities we have better lighting. However we cannot say that it is the best lighting. We try to do our best and increase it in the playgrounds, the streets and the parks.

Question: We would like to do something in order to improve our area. Could we do anything in collaboration with the Municipality?

Answer: You can help in many things. We must all learn to respect the laws and all together we can make a lot of things. You can keep the schoolyard clean. In this case the Municipality will not have to employ someone to clean the schoolyard and you will contribute to the cleanness of the area. If we collaborate all together the results will be better.

Question: Are you thinking of making more playgrounds and spaces of green?

Answer: Our Municipality needs green more than any other area because there are factories nearby. Of course we are making an effort to remove these factories but it doesn’t absolutely depend on us. As far as we are concerned we try to increase the areas of green. We try to make rows of trees in the streets so that we decrease air pollution.

Question: People park their cars not only in the streets but also on the pavements. What are you going to do about it?

Answer:The cars are parked indeed in the streets and on the pavements. We try to face this problem with the police. There is an underground parking space but people don’t take their cars there. We need more parking places. We must gain conscience and not park our car in places where it isn’t allowed. You should have this in mind when you grow up and become drivers yourselves.

Question: You had promised that you were going to extend the children’s playgrounds.

Answer: In order to extend the playgrounds we must have the proper space. What we said is that we must improve them with better lighting and fencing. Since the space is limiting it is difficult to extend a playground. If this is attainable it will be done. Anyway we will try to make the available playgrounds more functional, less dangerous and more beautiful.

Question: There are a lot of stray dogs in the street. What are you going to do about it?

Answer: Human beings are to blame for that. Most people are fed up with their pet and abandon it. We get these stray dogs and have them sterilized so that they won’t give birth to other stray dogs and let them free again. We shouldn’t maltreat them or kill them. What they need is love and care.

Question: Shouldn’t certain areas be cleaned from the rubbish and the grass?

Answer: Of course they should. However those who own these areas should help the Municipality. If everyone cared for his own area then the Municipality wouldn’t have to clean so many of them. Everyone should care for his own place.

Question: In our Municipality there are athletic installations. Are they enough for the needs of the citizens?

Answer: Hard efforts are made to make football fields and tennis courts as well as big athletic installations like the ones in Ziakas camp, which now belongs to the Municipality of Eleftherio-Kordelio. An important work is the velodrome, which will be in the athletic park of E.K.O. beyond the ring road in our Municipality.

The interview was given in the Mayor’s office. We thank him very much. The students of C2 class