The first block of the city council meeting this week was pleasant – ten heads of educational institutions were appointed, who will lead their charges to knowledge in the new school year. From a kindergarten in Grizinkalns to a music school in Bolderaja – and all unanimously. A positive example, always like this...
What Are Russian Citizens Doing Here?
A big commotion began during the discussion of transferring ownership of a "land unit without an address, on Balasta dambis" to a legal entity – a limited liability company registered in Latvia. However, representatives of the "Sovereign Power/Young Latvians" faction immediately started asking questions – why is it not specified that the owners of this company, wishing to acquire a coveted piece of land on the waterfront, are Russians? Especially since, according to the opposition, this is a "strategic location," as there is a cruise ship dock directly opposite. This needs to be considered from a geopolitical perspective!
– Has this been agreed with Mr. Ratnieks? – the deputies inquired. Immediately, the aforementioned vice-mayor from the National Alliance announced a break – for coalition faction consultations.
After his consultation, Edvards Ratnieks stated that the issue was being removed from the agenda until all circumstances were clarified (it was also necessary to find out whether the owners were subjects of sanctions!).
Thus, an initiative that began in the form of trolling led to concrete harm to business activity in Riga. Moreover, according to informed sources, this property in Kipsala – with a business center and trendy restaurant – actually belongs to a firm involving a citizen of Belarus...
Warm Relations
The Chairwoman of the Housing Committee, Elina Treija (National Alliance), spoke about the status of the municipal enterprise Rīgas siltums. The Competition Council agreed that the municipality "should retain its participation" in the company.
– We have no topics for internal disputes with other shareholders, – Ms. Treija preempted her colleagues' questions. The joint-stock company Rīgas siltums (RS) is currently the largest supplier of thermal energy in Riga, and its capital is divided among several shareholders:
-
49% belongs to the municipality (Riga City Council);
-
48.99% belongs to the state of Latvia represented by the Ministry of Economics;
-
2% belongs to the private company Enerģijas risinājumi (formerly Dalkia, solely owned by Guntars Kokorevičs);
-
0.01% is distributed between AS Latvenergo and AS Rīgas siltums.
Heat supply is a regulated service, emphasized E. Treija. And when the "matrix" changes, i.e., energy prices, the tariffs change as well...
Your author inquired about the everyday practice of RS – for example, the strange above-ground pipeline that has appeared in Riga between Dzelzavas and Dudaev streets. It looks quite substantial, although not entirely in accordance with feng shui... It is interesting why such constructions are carried out without any discussion in the Council. And Ms. Treija said she knows nothing about the origin of the new "branch." She will look into it!
They Don’t Know How to Vote
An opposition deputy, in his speech, cited data from the State Audit Office, indicating that Rigas BioEnerģija, fully owned by RS, made 15 million in excess profits last season; and it has up to 25 million euros sitting in its accounts that are not being used at all!
Meanwhile, part of the energy that could be used from the CHP is simply being released into the air. This is because RS has no single owner. In this regard, the opposition deputy suggested that the mayor appeal to the state to transfer its shares to the Riga City Council.
The capital's mayor, Viesturs Kleinbergs ("Progressives"), admitted that he does not know how to vote. Because RS is called that "because it is in Riga, but does not belong to Riga."
– We can influence shareholders on tariffs, – the mayor stated. He has already negotiated this issue with Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs ("United List"). Although the head of government believes that "the state can do this better"...
– We will do this in the next few weeks, – promised the mayor.
Meanwhile, ordinary deputies expressed the idea of selling the heat networks through the existing NASDAQ exchange in Riga. Another proposal was to increase the RS council to 5 members, so that Riga would have 3 members and the state 2. And, of course, salaries...
"We are not magicians; this year no one will offer us gas at last year's prices," – Elina Treija stated on her part.
Scrap Metal for Allies
The unprecedented generosity of transferring four vehicles from the balance of the Department of Environment and Mobility to the society SOS PALĪDZĪBA UKRAINAI also caused misunderstanding among some deputies. The donation was presented by the Chairwoman of the Committee on Communication and Transport, Marta Kotello ("Progressives").
It turned out that the aforementioned vehicles are Mercedes minibuses with lifts, manufactured between 1993 and 2007. Mileage ranges from 122 to 155 thousand km. However, strangely enough, they all turned out to be priced as scrap metal. So, does this mean we are either handing over junk to a suffering, fighting country; or conducting an accounting manipulation... Your author was one of the 9 who voted "against."
Leave a comment