Italy: Local initiatives address crime and housing crises

In Legnago, Mayor Paolo Longhi has proposed suspending non-essential public benefits for families of repeat juvenile offenders who fail to cooperate with educational programs. The proposal follows a series of violent incidents in the city center, including an attempted robbery of a tobacconist by two 15-year-olds and the theft of belongings from a merchant and an elderly woman.

Meanwhile, in Naples, the municipal government is addressing the housing emergency by repurposing assets confiscated from organized crime. Enza Amato, president of the City Council, announced that nine confiscated properties will be used for experimental temporary housing for vulnerable families who have been evicted from unsuitable municipal buildings. Additionally, two properties will serve as vocational training workshops, and one will be used for social activities.