Who Will Answer for the Words, or Why Buyers Avoid the Central Market of Riga 0 28

On Monday, the authorities faced the unpleasant necessity of responding to the topic of the municipal enterprise SIA Rīgas nami (RN). For some time, the technology worked in favor of the ruling party – the opposition could not connect to the online protocol, and microphones and cameras malfunctioned. But after several breaks, everything was adjusted...

The Roof is Leaking

One of the main topics of the speeches was the situation at the Central Market, which is owned by RN. Recently, one of the vice-mayors, Edvards Ratnieks (National Alliance), pompously opened the renovated Vegetable Pavilion, where now Chinese jeans and shoes are sold.

– Unfortunately, the situation is more than terrible, – said opposition deputies. – We know that for many years, the Meat Pavilion has had a leaky roof through which water flows when it rains; it is cold there in winter. Many vendors have covered their stalls with plastic...

"There is no clear development strategy for the Central Market. There is no funding, no marketing. They promise that several million will be invested by 2029 and that something will change. But there must be a plan, a vision of how all this will develop. What do we see in reality? Where the Commodity Market used to be, most of the stalls have been demolished, but for many years this area has remained empty. It seems that the construction of a parking lot was planned, but nothing has been done so far. Most traders complain that more parking spaces need to be created. All shopping centers have plenty of them, and they are free, at least for a while."

Referring to his experience in the real estate business, the deputy stated that significant funds are needed to restructure the Central Market, which the Riga City Council does not have. Therefore, he finds it unacceptable that RN does not have a developed strategy.

"From 39 to 105 Euros per Square Meter"

Such rental prices – per month! – for trading spaces at the Central Market were announced in the Riga City Council. By the way, traders are also required to pay all taxes – VAT, income tax, social tax. And how much do they need to sell per day to make ends meet? Hence, the prices at the market are, unfortunately, high.

– There is no normal access to the market, – noted the deputy. – Buyers are greeted by "greetings" from Park Expert as soon as they arrive. Moreover, the management's policy of Rīgas nami seems strange – to transfer all traders from the Dairy Pavilion to the Vegetable Pavilion, and then after a couple of weeks say: we changed our minds, get out. Has such high rent ever been seen anywhere else?

The deputy reminded that vice-mayor Ratnieks came to the market to declare – "he defeated matryoshkas and printed publications in Russian."

– Is such interference in private business permissible? Does the landowner have the right to dictate what a specific kiosk sells?

Photo by the author

Urgent International Seminar

Another opposition deputy sarcastically pointed out that as soon as the extraordinary meeting was announced – just 15 minutes later, information appeared on the official website of the Riga City Council Riga.lv that "a concept for the Central Market will be developed at an international seminar!"

– Just like that, suddenly – they sat for a year or two, did nothing, and at the moment when the opposition demanded, in fact, the resignation of the management of Rīgas Nami, to kick these gentlemen and ladies out of the warm places they occupy and do nothing, at that very moment, we have 40 architects coming to Riga to make proposals for the historic center, paying special attention to the Central Market and the surrounding areas. Isn’t it a strange coincidence?

In reality, of course, such an international influx is unlikely to solve the problem – an official competition is needed, in which various architectural firms, possibly foreign ones, would participate. Meanwhile, all this, as they say, amounts to nothing...

The Main Respondent – the Mayor

Corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences, Professor Ringolds Balodis pointed out that the Central Market with its pavilions is already included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, but is in a "pitiful state." According to the deputy, the management of RN "needs to be swept away with a broom."

The corporate governance of municipal enterprises has resulted in them becoming banal feeding troughs for loyal coalition members. Despite the formally adopted "codes of good governance," everything is developing in the opposite direction.

"The capital holder is Mr. Lange (executive director of Riga, – note by N.K.), and the deputies have no opportunity to influence the situation. Their cries are drowned out."

R. Balodis addressed the mayor of Riga, Viesturs Kleinbergs: "You are the main responsible one. The collapse is not the fault of just one – Kiršis and Stakis, who is currently resting in Europe, also had a hand in this. For his part, Jānis Lange is a 'coalition worker.'"

– The fact that you, the 'Progressives,' are thinking about bike paths is commendable. Only in Imanta, the number of trees has decreased, money has been squandered there, which is bad. But, in principle, you have your direction. But to push aside the Central Market, which is the jewel of Riga – that is wrong and bad.

Deputy Lyubov Shvetsova called the prices for trading spaces at the market "inadequate and not supportive of local producers." Expensive parking spaces create an additional burden. As a result, "we do not see a sufficient quantity and quality of our traders at the Central Market."

Deputy Yakov Pliner called the attitude of the city management, which did not consider it necessary to engage in a discussion on the pressing issue or invite the management of RN, "mockery of the Riga City Council and deputies."

– There are no small matters in Riga's economy. The Central Market is one of the business cards of Riga. The management and council of Rīgas nami need to be changed. And within a month, plan what and how to do, with what funds, and the degree of responsibility, from the executive director to the employees of Rīgas nami.

As a result, a vote was held – 18 council members voted "for" the no-confidence motion against the management of the enterprise, while 29 voted "against." This means that municipal managers will continue to receive high salaries at Rīgas nami.

STRUCTURE

The Rīgas nami manages real estate worth a total of 200 million euros, including 2,556,242 m2 of land and 1,963,411 m2 of buildings.

The chairman of the board of the municipal SIA Ojārs Valkers declared an income of 81,037.83 euros for the enterprise for 2024 to the State Revenue Service.

_There are a total of 3 people working in the board, and the council of Rīgas nami has 3 more members. For example, Ilze Bukulde serves in the latter, whose main place of work is the state AS Latvijas autoceļu uzturētājs. There, last year she earned 97,239.48 euros, while in RN she earned "only" 25,942.19 euros.