Mayor Vincenzo De Luca launches demolition of drug‑dealing square and new security unit in Salerno

Mayor Vincenzo De Luca arrived in Salerno’s eastern district, near the metro entrance on Via Fornari, preceded by a small bulldozer. He ordered the demolition of structures that had become an open‑air drug‑deal and bivouac area, a move applauded by residents from their balconies. De Luca said the site will be turned into a “beautiful playground” for children, with plans for a dog‑run and a portion managed by the local parish. He also announced a parallel redevelopment project for an abandoned area in Sant’Eustachio.

In a separate meeting, De Luca presented the city’s new Nucleo Operativo Sicurezza (NOS), a 20‑member municipal police unit aimed at curbing micro‑crime, illegal parking, waste dumping, and other forms of urban decay. The unit will focus on hotspots such as Lungomare Trieste, the historic centre and other sensitive zones, and will operate mainly in afternoons and evenings. De Luca emphasized a “hard‑handed” approach toward delinquency while promising support for vulnerable residents.

Additionally, the mayor expressed willingness to meet market traders on Via Piave to resolve long‑standing sanitation and waste‑management issues, urging a collective responsibility for keeping public spaces dignified.