Brescia Park Safety Measures Fall Short, Residents Say 'We No Longer Trust You'

Residents in Brescia's Tarello park neighborhood express deep distrust in local authorities, stating that the security measures announced by Mayor Laura Castelletti are insufficient. Despite recent clean-up operations accompanied by law enforcement, the park remains a site for drug use and associated problems, leaving inhabitants feeling unsafe and neglected.

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There are Serie A and Serie B areas.

"There are Serie A and Serie B areas," lament two local women, highlighting a perceived disparity in the city's attention to different neighborhoods. They recall a security commission meeting a year ago where promises were made but no tangible changes occurred. This history of unfulfilled promises has eroded their faith in institutions.

The daily reality described by residents is alarming. They report encountering drug addicts using makeshift tools to consume narcotics and instances of people using the park as an open-air toilet. One resident, Alessandro Pini, who has become a point of contact for reporting issues, recounted finding evidence of drug preparation and even a person washing themselves with a garden hose from a private courtyard.

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We have found the bicarbonate used to 'cook' the substance.

Some residents, particularly the elderly, are so concerned about the park's atmosphere that they would trade nighttime quiet for a sense of security. Pini suggests that organized evening activities, even concerts, could offer a better alternative to the disturbances caused by individuals under the influence of drugs. The situation has also led to an increase in apartment burglaries, further exacerbating the residents' distress and shame when unable to invite guests for a walk in the park.

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I am ashamed to have to respond negatively to a potential request to take a walk in Tarello.