Full house at the Mariinsky

The initiators of the construction of the skyscraper on Okhta were seriously concerned about finding a suitable public - one that would not hesitate to approve the appearance of “corn” near the Smolny Cathedral.

To whom - honor, to whom - failure
This year, only ten people are vying to become two honorary citizens of the city (it seems that there have never been fewer candidates). Most of them have been nominated not for the first time: surgeon Fyodor Uglov, people's artists Edita Piekha, Olga Andreeva, Valery Gergiev and Oleg Basilashvili, writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn, former chairman of the Leningrad City Executive Committee Vladimir Khodyrev - all of them are already veterans of this most prestigious competition in the city. The other three candidates are also very famous people: Olympic champions in athletics Galina Zybina, Tatyana Kazankina and cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev.
On the sidelines of the Legislative Assembly they say that one of the future honorary citizens is guaranteed to be the artistic director, director and chief conductor of the Mariinsky Theater Valery Gergiev. Everything is clear with Valery Abisalovich - he is undoubtedly a world celebrity. In addition, he has a very correct political position: speaking about the prospects for building a 400-meter monster on Okhta, Valery Gergiev wisely noted that “it’s stupid to fight Gazprom”, that the concern “wants to do a lot for St. Petersburg” and that “it’s great that whoever - wants to develop.” How can such a wonderful person not be chosen as an honorary citizen?
As for the second candidacy, they name Sergei Krikalev (he is the only one nominated by Matvienko) and Edita Piekha. What can I say? All are honored people, although, let’s say, there are questions with Alexander Solzhenitsyn - despite all the world-wide fame of the writer, he has nothing to do with St. Petersburg. The presence of Vladimir Khodyrev on the list raises questions: some fifteen years ago we considered him one of those who reduced the city to cards and empty shelves and who should no longer be allowed within a cannon shot of power. So we can talk about his “outstanding contribution to the development of St. Petersburg” only to the same extent as one can consider Khodyrev, a member of the bureau of the regional committee of the CPSU, involved in “strengthening democracy and protecting human rights” (all this should be present in future honorary citizens).

Life will become more fun
With the planned gubernatorial message, everything is even simpler: in recent years they have all looked alike, like twins. The leitmotif is that we have an economic miracle, all indicators are growing, large taxpayers are rushing to us with their money, we are implementing one “ambitious project” after another, we are becoming more and more attractive to investors, we are building housing, we are supporting small businesses in a fatherly way, we are conducting a dialogue with society and are getting closer and closer to “European standards”. And all this - with the unwavering support of Vladimir Putin and with the constructive cooperation of the executive and legislative authorities, which only during the reign of Valentina Ivanovna finally stopped criticizing each other and began to live in perfect harmony. And every time, after listening to the next message, I want to bitterly regret that Valentina Ivanovna and I live in different cities and we probably won’t have to visit that wonderful city that she talks about.
There is no reason to believe that this year will sound different. That is, of course, I want to dream - assuming that this time a miracle will happen and the governor, coming to the podium, will say completely different words. About how and for whose benefit small businesses are destroyed. About how budget money is siphoned into the pockets of businessmen. About how the same money is laundered through continuous “improvement works”, which now, as we know, have practically paralyzed traffic on Vasilyevsky Island. About how corrupt officials are and what ordeals entrepreneurs have to face. About how “investors”, “protected” by the authorities, are seizing more and more plots in the city center. About who gave the order to beat the participants of the March of Dissent on April 15 and who was punished and removed from office for this. About why going to the doctor at the clinic turns into a journey through agony.
Of course this won't happen. Of course, we will hear how great it is to build the Western High-Speed ​​Diameter and the alluvium on Vasilievsky, the Okhta Center and the Baltic Pearl. Of course, we will hear that only troublemakers and extremists may not understand the need for the city to develop, but they will not be able to interfere with the creative work of the city government.
The logical conclusion of this victorious report should be the confident adoption in the first reading of changes to this year’s budget (Novaya has already talked about the details), the expenses of which will have to increase by 22 billion rubles. The governor stated that she would not allow any adjustments to this document - which means: all additional expenses have already been calculated and measured and deputies will not be allowed to make any amendments. Their job is not to discuss, but to approve.
It is possible, however, that there will still be amendments - in particular, related to the Okhta Center. Its financing program should be cut in half - but Smolny proposes to reduce it by only 1.3 billion: from 4.2 to 2.9 billion rubles. If everything were cut in half, the reduction would be 2.1 billion rubles. The difference is 800 million rubles, which, for example, would be enough to reduce the maximum share of citizens’ own expenses for rent to 10% from July 1 of this year (last Wednesday, United Russia, citing a lack of funds, blocked the adoption of this bill).
And one more extremely interesting budget fact. The report of the Chamber of Control and Accounts on budget execution for the first quarter of 2007 has been made public. And it turns out that, firstly, with cries about a “lack of money,” the city as of January 1, 2007 had... 27.2 billion rubles (!) unspent from last year, and secondly, that in the first quarter expenses Subventions from Gazprom Neft Invest LLC (for the construction of a gas scraper) ... were exceeded by 819 million rubles compared to the budget schedule. At the same time, budget assignments for the Housing Committee - for housing construction - were fulfilled by only 11.6% “due to low utilization of funds.” It is clear, dear readers, what Smolny considers important and what they are willing to spend money on at a faster pace - and what is not very important?

Boris VISHNEVSKY