How long we’ve been waiting for this!
Mayor of one of the downtown Budapest disticts was arrested yesterday. The site where i blog, lmv.hu is mainly used by bloggers busy about urban issues, most probably real estate affairs. Panamas, as we call them: inadequate demolitions, lots sold for bobs, manager-block-houses bulit in the place of ancient baths, whatsoever. Affairs, many of which had a lot to do with this mayor.
Motto:
“Heads against the wall”. Ivan Svitak.
I’ve grown this feeling that we are just barking, uselessly: we are kept in kennels, the sound of our barking might disturb this man, but this doesn’t keep him from anything. I still can not believe, something is happening, and this godfather is being arrested. I still cannot believe it’s for real.
The most conscious, still the least effective civil movement in Hungary is the loose network of those civil groups, NGOs and inhabitants’ groups, which exclaim against the ‘investment projects’. Investment: this is the magic expression for any moneywasting, since we became EU members. And the highest range of demonstrations per inhabitant is now in the 7th distict of Budapest, which includes the remains of the old Jewish Town - a tremendous piece of lively and living history, slowly chewed up by the local government, sold for bobs, sold on to offshore companies, then sold on to some invester who demolishes the old buildings, which are quite often ancient monuments, and after cleaning the place some ‘manager-block-house’ can be built. These are usually at least half empty - sold to foreingers, who want to let it out for rent, but nobody rents such a flat, when there are thousands of much nicer, ancient flats to rent, for even lower prices.
That it the case briefly, and we’ve been busy protesting against these useless new buildings, shopping malls and underground parking lots for a couple of years, and usually had no success.
Even though one of our main references were the UNESCO World Heritage Agreement and the Aarhus convention. We tried several times to get help thorug the EU. We tried to let the posessive groups know, that a project they were just about to give an EU grant for, is planned upon a totally cheated participative planning project. We referred to moratoriums and puffer zones, offers and restrictions. But the legal processes were always more posessed by those in power, than by those of real concern.
The first time i belived in democracy was a corruption court case, the first really big one of the new democracy, after the ‘89 political transtion: the Tocsik-case. It was about an obviously unfairly high success sum given to a lawyer. The whole country was on fire, it was the trial go, let’s see if the machine is working or not.
György Hunvald, arrested mayor of the 7th District, Budapest, Hungary
Years of slow disappointment came. Neither this lawyer, not anyone else of the big scandals were treated as they should have been, and i had to put up with my ideas of fairness and justice, and all the bullshit with which they made me stay quiet at school.
Joining the EU was a eufoira of expectancy: we are going to Europe! The world of justice and cleans affairs. We really thought, it would make the change, and disable the old soviet type of corruption.A whole art of (quite disgustingly occidental) Balkan, Russia and Ukraine jokes developed, to express primitivity, precarity, scruff and hopelessness. And we thought, it would end for us now.
But it did not.
The EU turned out to provide capital for the further horrors, and practice no control over them.
This is, however, a moment of faith. Let us hope, György Hunvald and his fellows shall be punished for what we think they have done. What we have seen they have done.
I would like to believe in god again, like i used to believe in my childhood, so that i could pray: would a sign be given, may this point the one to turn on. Shall hope be given, that it is worth thinking something about ourselves, it is worth the efforts. It is worth running head against the concrete walls, as it may split once.
*The original of this post is here.*
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I am giving you 5 starts for this post, thinking about totally the same. Being a part of a generation raised in a spirit of “brotherhood and unity” which clashed not only with the idea of individualism, but also a world where some individuals can afford to do absolutely everything. And is today really better: when you struggle on a job market full of old elites which do not give you any chance to enter “in their world” (which should be the world of “all of us”) of public sphere if you do not want to play their game. When you go to the doctor and he/she doesn’t even open the door because you didn’t make an appointment 6 months - 1 year ago (who cares if you think that it’s urgent). I think membership in the EU makes things better-I am sure it would be even worse if we were outside the club. But at the same time, it is really, really hard to struggle in so-called (post)transitional (when does the transition end) world where no one is able to take a responsibility for his/her actions.
I hope you don’t mind that I used the space for expressing my anger. Anyway, it is all happening inside of EU
Excellent entry! And so informative… In Bucharest there’s a lot of this going on, but protests/ civil society watch-dogs seem to be a lot less organized. However, we did manage to put a stop when one of the most beautiful lake-side parks in Bucharest was about to get torn down to have condos and office building erected. And we did succeed. However, urban planning is totally hectic and we really do need a change, still. Your example is very motivational. The only thing I hope for is that justice would do its job and not let this guy get away with a clean slate. We’ve had politicians-businessmen arrested before, but they weren’t put on trial and convicted. So I sincerely hope Hungary will set an example for this!
Wonderful post, though I was slightly confused about what “sold for bobs” meant.. Either way, I truly enjoyed it.
I enjoyed it so much because I could feel the emotion in the piece. The reason for that is you expressed your opinion clearly — but it wasn’t just a “this is what I think” article. Rather, you focused on a newsy, timely, relevant story. That is what blogging is all about - keep it up.
This is a very important topic, and I very much liked your post, Reka.
I have been living in Budapest before Hungary’s accession to the EU and I have seen the 7th district in its former state, in ruins, but very authentic. Why wasn’t there a city plan how to slowly renovate the area, in order to keep its spirit and atmosphere from 2004 onwards?
I have been walking along its main street Kiraly utca in April 2008 and I was shocked: Several houses now looked like gated communities. - I have seen something similar in Bucharest, december 2008. The vice mayor told us this story about the building sites in the park.
Vice Mayor who says of himself that he “loves” the parks, calls the Mayor: “Did you know, that there is a building site in one of our city parks?”
Mayor: “Yes”.
End of conversation.
If the politians cannot do proper city planning and rather put corruption money in their pockets, then the civil society and the jurisdiction should supervise it. Great news, that the building site in Bucharest’s park could be stopped. And thanks to the engaged Bucharesti citizens!
Do you know the man you are writing about? Do you know what he did for the distrinct? Do you know that the notary is still working officially? Do you know that not the right people are arrested? God, easy to write things about someone you just do not know, and things you read in newspaper (sorry for my bad English) but… Have you ever lived in that distrinct???? Do you know how much he did for example for disabled people or noice???
I’ve been living in this district for quite a while, yes. I’ve been into activism against demolishing the historical jewishtown for even more. I know this major in person, and yes, i am sure about what i wrote.
He olny did for disabled people what he easily could, he did amazingly more for his own benefit. This raises no respect in me.
As Skipper said, I would use any treats from the pet store. Contians too many by-products and nasty additives. I use frozen small balls of peanut butter. They work awsome if your doing that 10min training session with your dog. (to prevent them from melting in your hand) My dogs love them. But be aware, my dogs like to chew there treats before swallowing. Just watch them, so they don’t choke on them.