Lyon's mayor Rémi Zinck condemns organized looting during protests and highlights the city's efforts to house homeless minors in a repurposed internat.
Maire criticizes organized looting
Rémi Zinck, the mayor of Lyon's 4th arrondissement and a member of the Ecologistes party, has condemned premeditated acts of looting that occurred during a demonstration on October 17. He highlighted that while some youths engaged in looting, which is entirely condemnable, adults were organizing more significant looting efforts, which he described as equally scandalous.Protest goals overshadowed by chaos
Zinck noted that the demands of protesters and high school students were overshadowed by urban unrest. He expressed concern that even peaceful demonstrations pose risks and suggested that the state should reconsider how it manages protests to allow for democratic expression while keeping those intent on causing damage separate.Lyon opens former internat for unaccompanied minors
In his arrondissement, Zinck is addressing another pressing issue: the opening of the former Favre internat to house 130 unaccompanied minors. These young people had been staying in the Chartreux square for months, or even years, and had been largely ignored by others.Lyon takes responsibility for housing crisis
Zinck explained that Lyon has taken responsibility by using the now-available Favre building, which he said was a natural choice given the lack of willingness from other communities to accept these minors despite having available spaces. The facility will accommodate the young people for 18 months, although its capacity is nearly insufficient to meet the actual needs.
