More and more newsstands closed, Innocenti's proposal: «They should become tourist information points»

According to a report by Unioncamere, 2,700 newsstands have closed in Italy in the last four years. A crisis that does not spare the city of Padua. Hence a proposal on the subject by Lorenzo Innocenti, former mayoral candidate, now deputy secretary of Forza Italia.

Lorenzo Innocenti states: «The problem is very complex, because as often happens with these “ancient” professions, the social changes that have occurred suddenly in the last decade or so have had a fundamental impact. It is difficult and not very sensible to try to reverse the transition to digital, with an ever-increasing number of electronic subscriptions to newspapers. Just as it is complex to accompany the younger generations to read newspapers, with an ever-increasing number of young people who in fact do not read newspapers in any form, using social networks and the internet to obtain information, when they look for it. What is certain is that newsstands represent more than a nostalgic legacy to be fond of: they are cultural, social and security strongholds for neighborhoods and, as almost always happens with local shops, where they are missing they leave a void that is much greater than the simple commercial data. It is no coincidence that in Cittadella, the Municipality purchased the newsstand in Piazza della Torre, which had remained closed due to the cessation of business by a private individual, a sign of attention for a place that is important not only economically».

Hence Innocenti's proposal: "What I believe can be easily achieved, to at least protect existing businesses, is to expand their functions and alleviate their tax burden. From the first point of view, I think that newsstands, at least those in the center, in addition to continuing to do their job, could become tourist information points. With traveler flows that have been growing for several years, Padua could prove welcoming and organized with such a widespread structure of assistance to visitors. In exchange for the service, newsagents should receive appropriate recognition from the Municipality. Furthermore, the licenses of the newsagents themselves could be reviewed and allowed to sell other goods, in addition to newspapers and magazines. Today, the license is particularly binding, but such a structure is anachronistic and should be overcome. With respect to the second point, however, the various newsagents should be listened to and their balance sheets consulted. For those most in difficulty, especially in areas where the newsstand plays an effective role in protecting the territory, in social and security terms, municipal taxes such as Tari could be lowered. Of course, here it would require meticulous work and precise knowledge of the territory, of the citizens, case by case, but this has always been the task of good administration".