It was a human Gorodetsky

For me, Vladimir Gorodetsky was always. Mayor, again mayor, the governor. On October 6, it took the twentieth anniversary of the Novosibirsk power with a human face. Taiga.info correspondent Yaroslav Vlasov about the personal perception of the ex-head of the region.

When I just started working in the taiga.info in 2011, while still in my fourth year, the editors did not spare me and sent me daily to any events where Gorodetsky was. The opening of the road is “yes, please”, an urgent briefing in the city hall due to the breakthrough of the sewage system-“naturally”, self-immolation in the reception of “United Russia” ” -“ already running ”. And each time it was necessary to learn from then the mayor about something important “out of the topic of the event”, which only we could ask.

And he always answered. He chuckled and indignant, hunched over slightly, frankly angry, but answered any question. This is probably the habit that remained from the free press and the policy of the 90s. When each representative of the authorities of that time understood that he was responsible for his affairs and words, that sometimes it was simply necessary to speak, and not be afraid and hide behind gray PR managers and cattle guards.

In 2012, when Gorodetsky mercilessly criticized Governor Vasily Yurchenko, the mayor answered me not with general phrases, as Yurchenko himself did, but specifically for each case, for which he “got” from the head of the region . This, recall, was happening against the backdrop of a tough conflict between the ex-governor with Viktor Tolokonsky, whose protege Gorodetsky was considered. But it always seemed to me that he was not a “protege”, but to those who wanted to control the city as he saw.

The subordinates of Vladimir Gorodetsky often compared him to the hero of the brilliant American series “Boss” about the mayor of Chicago, however, teasing the chief’s manner of talking. He never intentionally went into conflicts, but if they found him, he answered hard, he could even stead a way. Although, for some reason, no one considered him a politician, everyone prayed for Ignatov, Kozodoy, Tolokonsky, but he was not taken into account, but in vain.

After questions about corruption, Tuleyev, Zimin or Karlina would simply be forbidden to go to local administrations

Gorodetsky for a long time was the only official in Novosibirsk who answered the questions of journalists weekly. And it was from him that such a culture of communication with the press at the city hall came from him. Colleagues from the regions of Central Russia and Siberia are sincerely surprised so far that the mayor, and then the governor, answers any questions every seven days, including possible resignation. In many regions, this is simply impossible to imagine - I think that after questions about corruption to Tuleyev, Zimin or Karlin, I would simply be forbidden to go to local administrations. And they would have considered it normal.

In 2013, Gorodetsky sent me. Directly at a press conference. The question was about the appointment of a new head of the Oktyabrsky district of Novosibirsk, about which sources told Taiga.info, as always, earlier than an official announcement. “Taiga.info, you know everything in advance. What are you asking? Since you know everything, well, then, God be, God is sailing to you, ”he said then. And it was an ordinary human reaction, although very nervous.

Many deputies, officials, including those who former and fell under a criminal case, even after resignation cannot speak humanly. It doesn’t matter whether there is a recorder or not, whether he looks at the lens or at the bars in the courtroom.

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In September 2014, when Gorodetsky, appointed by Putin, was preparing for the elections of the governor, the former adviser to Tolokonsky in sports Alexander Solodkin Sr. was released from the pre-trial detention center under house arrest. The Investigative Committee suddenly publicly stated that he would “check the involvement ” of the regional government to change the preventive measure.

Naturally, a return comment is needed, and I ran to the Globus Theater, where Gorodetsky held some uninteresting “meeting with an asset”. Well, or with "cultural workers." When at the exit from the Globe, he asked him to comment on the SK, one of his three or four Moscow election PR men deliberately stepped on my leg, tried not to let him go to the acting. But Gorodetsky still answered, although before the day the voting was a week, and sharply rejected all the claims of the investigation .

I do not want to discuss the personnel decisions of the ex-governor, his relationship with social activists and deputies or controversial infrastructure projects (I wrote about it almost every day) and an unusual manner of talking, but for me it will remain the standard of openness. Gorodetsky evoked sincere trust. No matter how strange some of his (or not his) solution were, he was not afraid to be responsible for them.

Yaroslav Vlasov