Controversy Surrounds Fes Council’s Decision to Allocate MAD 23 Million for Florence Square Renovation

Amid growing criticism over the management of Fes city affairs, councilor Mohamed Khi voiced his discontent with the city’s decision to allocate MAD 23 million to renovate Florence Square.

Mohamed Khi described the move as a “decline in governance,” raising questions about the project’s value compared to a previous plan that would have provided underground parking at no cost to the city’s budget.

The earlier project, planned in partnership with SDR Parking Fes, aimed to build underground parking facilities beneath a public square, with full funding from the private partner.

This initiative promised long-term benefits, especially given the city’s chronic shortage of parking spaces.

However, instead of pursuing this partnership, the city council opted to allocate its own budget for the square’s renovation, sparking a wave of criticism and debate among both council members and residents. Many questioned the rationale behind this decision, especially since the privately funded project would have solved parking issues while enhancing public spaces without draining the city’s resources.

Mohamed Khi, one of the most vocal critics of the decision, called for a reassessment of how development decisions are made, pointing out that such choices reflect poor planning and raise concerns about transparency in municipal project management.

The ongoing debate highlights the urgent need for a review of how public funds are managed, ensuring that resources are directed toward projects that deliver real value to citizens, rather than those that may not yield the expected benefits.

Questions remain about why the city chose this project over an alternative that would have offered numerous advantages without burdening the budget. The situation puts the council’s transparency and fiscal responsibility to the test.

source : fesnews media

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