Rubbish collection in Marseille has always been inseparable from local democracy, clientelism and political self-interest, argue the authors of a fascinating book on the history of dustmen in France's biggest Mediterranean city. The writers, one of whom was himself a Marseille dustman for 23 years, reveal how from the 19th century onwards the city has had its own unique way of organising refuse collection, one intimately linked to the power of trade unions and the desire of local politicians to have the backing of the municipal workforce. They also show how Marseille's reputation as not being the cleanest of French cities can trace its roots back to Roman times. Louise Fessard outlines the authors' key themes, followed by extracts from the book itself.
A fierce and colourful dispute between l’Olympique de Marseille, one of France’s most celebrated football clubs, and Marseille’s city council was ended last week after both sides agreed a new deal on the rent the club should pay for the use of its iconic home ground, the Stade Vélodrome. The cost of the club’s rental of the stadium, owned by the city, was increased five-fold to compensate the steep financial terms of its renovation under a public-private partnership (PPP) deal. But, as Thomas Saint-Cricq reports, the agreement threatens to become a financial disaster for Marseille’s taxpayers and highlights the incompetence of cash-strapped local authorities to negotiate PPPs – all to the benefit of their private 'partners'.
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