Bad News Travels Fast
I rarely dip my toes into controversial subjects here, preferring to fill my pages with stories about the history and archaeology I get to wander around in, the breathtaking seascapes and landscapes I soak in everyday, or about the warm, generous and kind people I call my friends. It’s not that I’m blind to the city’s problems, it’s just that there seems to be enough bad press about Naples out there to go around.
I rarely respond to it, but this weekend it hit a fevered pitch. Doing a search of “Naples, Italy” on Twitter, my results page filled up with tweets about the city’s latest trash crisis. (To be fair, we should probably qualify that and say the Province of Naples, as the trash crisis involves not only the city, but the entire Province.) There were hundreds if not thousands of tweets and retweets of the same handful of articles that were written about the situation over the last several days.
The articles, brief summaries that provided no in-depth analysis of the issue didn’t surprise me, but the numbers of tweets and retweets of them did. I check the Naples, Italy search column several times a day and I rarely see any tweets about Naples except from a handful of people who write about it on a regular basis and from the occasional traveler.
My first reaction was to remain silent. I didn’t want to feed the frenzy, nor did I want to comment on an issue I don’t feel qualified to weigh in on. I won’t pretend for a minute to know or understand all of the underlying politics or where the onus lies and prefer to leave that to experts like Napul’e and Naples Politics to debate. But beyond that, I prefer to focus on the more positive aspects of this city. Maybe I’m naive, maybe I have my head stuck in the sand, or maybe, I just feel protective of this city I have come to love.
Those of us who live here know all too well how serious this “trash crisis” is and I know that putting it in the spotlight just might help move the powers that be into action. Lord knows this situation needs to be resolved, and fast. But at the same time, this crisis doesn’t, nor should it define Naples. Yet if I’d never been here before and was contemplating a trip, a quick search on twitter would have definitely steered me the other way. So I have to wonder, did this weekend’s tweet storm help the situation or was it just another assault on the city’s reputation?
I hope it is the former, but my guess is it is the latter. In the frenzy of tweets that filled the twitter waves this weekend, the name Naples became synonymous with trash and that is a shame. Yes, there is a trash crisis, and as much as I’d like to paint a rosy picture the sad fact of the matter is that trash is building up on the streets. And yes, protestors have clashed with police over the state of the current landfill and the Government’s plans to build a second one. It is a complex issue that it is negatively effecting the residents of this city and definitely worthy of reporting. But unfortunately, in the 140 character world we live in, the sound byte that will be taken away about Naples is trash.
I am sure that the trash crisis will be resolved in the short-term and hopeful for the long-term, but I fear that the sound byte will linger on long after the trash is gone. Either way, I will go back to doing what I do best, writing about all of the wonderful things that make Napoli “La città piu bella del mondo.” Who knows, maybe someday one of those articles will get as much play.
Just curious: is it in the historic center or more in the surrounding area? Not that this will in any way change my plans to come next month! Living in NYC it will probably remind me of summer here, which tends to smell like pee and garbage when it gets really hot.
Glad you said that, I didn’t think Naples owned the market on trash
The word is that it will be cleaned up in the next few days so hopefully by the time you get here it will all be cleaned up – but we will see. Around Centro Storico, Chiaia, and Posillipo though it is not too bad. And even Piazza Garibaldi (Central Train Station) was fairly clean this morning.
First of all, thanks Bonnie. Another surprising fact is that I, “italian”, have to follow you in English to know the good things are going on in mu city while I am abroad. No Italian source I know of is as dedicated as you are to spread the word about the good things in my great beloved city.
Thanks to Italy, Naples has become famous more for its problems than for its thousands of good things. Funny things is, nobody knows that the problems of Naples started when it became part of Italy. And that politics as well as media manipulation (who started under the first Italian government) is still well alive. Napoli’s today status is mainly the result of Italy exploiting it and damaging it in every possible way. On purpose.
Keep up the good job, I will make sure people follow you!
Thank you for all your support Vincenzo. I really struggled with this post. I didn’t want to make light of the situation, but the negative press made it the only story. Every city has problems, yet somehow it seems (to me anyway) when it comes Naples, the problems are the only headlines.
The best way I feel I can help is to show the other side of the coin by promoting just some of the many thousands of good things about this beautiful city.
You’re right, Bonnie. It’s habit to talk only about Naples’ problems. Actually, rather than a habit, it’s a plan. A plan that’s being carried on from long, long time. But people are awaking and things will change soon, I know.
Brava, Bonnie. Your posts will get more visibility with time. The fact you love my city as much as you do will inspire and promote the positives of the city. I know Naples is the butt of jokes all over Italy and that has always saddened me but on the same token these same people will also admit what a compassionate, loving, beautiful people there are in Naples. I hate to bring up the mafia but like any state/private business they have their hand in it somehow. I don’t know this for a fact but speaking to my family that’s what is discussed. The greasing of palms and who is going to make more $ than the other. Just like the unions here in the US they all have an element of underworld and crime. I love what you are doing Bonnie, and thanks for being our guiding light back to city by the bay
Thanks Gabriella – well said! Your beautiful city has become my adopted home, the people, my adopted family. And you are so right – the people are Naples real treasure. I hope over time we can dispell the stereotypes of Naples as the city of the camorra and trash, pizza and caffe because Naples is so much more.
although the caffe in Naples is like no other!!!
Thank you Bonnie!!!… A Neapolitan living in Maine, USA.
Thank you Domenico and glad you found us. I’ve been meeting a lot of Neapolitans living away from home lately so great to hear from another
Bonnie,
Well said! I adore Naples in much the same way you do. Since we’ve returned from our two glorious weeks there, I have tried to re-adjust the negative thinking of so many people who perpetuate the negative and uninformed chatter about the city. We can’t wait to get back there. How I envy you that you live it every day.
Thanks Kathy! With so much negativity about the city, it is so nice to hear from those who love this city as we do. We are very, very fortunate to live here and we try not to take that for granted. I hope you get back very soon.
I have been living in Naples for over 12 years and yes there are many negative things about Naples, that could be said about every City in the world.
It is important to talk about what is going on here but it is also important to show the positive side as well.
The garbage crisis has been on/off since I moved here.
However, nothing is ever said about the areas that have made huge steps in solving the problem. I can see the progress being made throughout the city and provinces.
It’s nice to read something else about Naples besides just the garbage.
Thank you and keep up the good work!
Thank you Denise and well said! There are a lot of great initiatives going on around the city (in spite of the trash issue) that rarely get a mention and we will continue to try to put the spotlight on these. And yes the caffe in Napoli is like no other
Ciao Bonnie,
I just found your blog and also discovered this Web site. I love it, but then again I am in love with Napoli. I moved there in 1999 while working for the Navy at Capo. I fell in love with Bella Napoli and have been in love with her ever since then. The Napolitano people are the most heart felt people I have ever met. I learned about life, and how to live it, life, family is everything anything else is secondary. I live my life as a true Napolitano a valueable lesson I learned while living there. I love the food, it’s to die for and the City is beautiful. I learn to cook Italian food Napolitano style and is the only way for me to cook Italian. Pasta Fagioli any one? I dont care about the trash, or traffic you have to look past all that. Once you can see the Forest of Napoli you can actually see and feel the beautiful trees of my Bella Napoli. I never been any where in the world where complete strangers accept you as if they knew you all your life, like they do in Napoli.
Natale
Ciao Natale – Very well said. Napoli is just one of those places that steals your heart and the people are what make this city so special. Thanks so much for sharing a bit about your experience here and I hope you can get back someday.
Ciao Bonnie,
I go back to Napoli every year sometime for two weeks every two year for 30 days. I don’t think I couldn’t go without my Naples fix every year. I have a lot of life time friends I made there and are family to me. Of course there wouldn’t be any going back to Napoli without going to Amalfi for a few days as well.
Keep up the great messages on Napoli.
Natale
You will have to let us know next time you are here Natale!
Ciao,
We will let you know next time we are in Napoli.
How goes the trash strike?
Natale