Orta di Atella (CE) - Lavoro, Consigliere Comunale si incatena su un traliccio (11.05.12)

http://www.pupia.tv/ - Orta di Atella (CE) - Work, City Councilor Chains Himself to a Power Pole. Placed on forced leave by the private security company he works for at the "Fabulae" shopping center in Orta di Atella, fearing it would be a prelude to dismissal, city councilor Stefano Minichino climbed a 60-meter-high lighthouse tower and chained himself to it. Married and the father of three, at dawn on Friday, around 5:30 a.m., the man scaled the lighting pylon of the sports field adjacent to the shopping center. Before chaining himself, he hung a vertical banner reading "Cowards." This was a striking gesture by the opposition councilor, who believes the company's decision is linked to a recent resolution passed by the council, which he voted against. A large crowd gathered at the foot of the pylon: Minichino's mother, son, and other family members also arrived, all in despair. Mayor Angelo Brancaccio and several members of the city council were also present. Firefighters and Carabinieri officers from the Aversa regional unit, led by Lieutenant Giuseppe Fedele, went into action. It was Fedele who, on a firefighter's escalator, reached Minichino at the top of the tower to reassure him that the company had no intention of firing him. The councilor was bleeding from his nose, perhaps from a blow sustained during the climb or from illness. At that point, when the firefighter managed to persuade him, around 11:30 a.m., the councilor, assisted by a firefighter, descended from the pylon and was taken by ambulance to the hospital, where he was discharged shortly thereafter. While descending the tower, Minichino threw flyers into the air, with various slogans: "I have my dignity" - "After the negative vote in the City Council, punishment will be imposed immediately" - "Cowards, have the courage to do it yourself." The resolution Minichino voted against concerns the proposal by the company that owns the shopping center where the councilor works to build another one in Orta di Atella. Among the center's owners is Domenico Damiano of the People of Freedom (PDL), a former mayoral candidate against Brancaccio in the last local elections, on whose list Minichino was elected. Both, along with other PDL members, until recently constituted the PDL group in the Council. Then came the political split with Damiano, who adopted a softer stance toward the majority (which has almost entirely migrated to the PDL, with the exception of the mayor), and Minichino's decision to switch to the Liberal Party (FLI) and ally himself with the remaining opposition, consisting of the Democratic Party, the UDC, and independents. In addition to the proposal for the new shopping center, Minichino, in the same session, voted against another resolution: the Housing Plan to be applied to a building in the historic center, formerly the site of the well-known Nocillo Leanza factory, where several apartments are planned. "I truly hope that Councilor Minichino's employment situation isn't tied to his political activities, otherwise it would be truly despicable," commented opposition group leader Ermanno Guido. Minichino's cousin, however, is convinced, having shouted comforting words to his relative from the foot of the tower the entire time: "We are a family of honest workers," said the cousin, "and it's unthinkable that a vote against the Council should send a man out on the streets." Deputy Mayor Giovanni Sorvillo calmed the situation: "We spoke with the company, which reassured us that Minichino won't be fired. We therefore believe his action is disproportionate to the gravity of the situation." Asked whether the feared dismissal was retaliation for the Council's vote against him, Sorvillo replied: "It's an exploitation for its own sake." (11.05.12)