Dilma: "Cities went 30 years without investment"

247 - At 12:07 PM, President Dilma Rousseff began her speech at the São Paulo City Hall, where she will shortly sign the release of R$ 8 billion in funds for infrastructure projects in the capital. The speech concluded at 12:33 PM.

"Perhaps, like social media, the great event of the 21st century is the emergence of megacities," President Dilma began. "São Paulo is a megacity, perhaps the most significant, important, and challenging in this part of the hemisphere. It is grand because of its population, but also because of its problems."

The president pointed out that "without a doubt, São Paulo is marked by inequalities." "I came to announce another contribution from the federal government to address major problems," she continued. "It will be R$ 8 billion: R$ 3 billion for urban mobility, R$ 1,3 billion for flood control works, R$ 2,2 billion for drainage, and R$ 1,5 billion from the 'Minha Casa, Minha Vida' program for housing for 20 families," Dilma detailed.

"I used to live on Radial Leste Avenue," the president recalled, referring to the main avenue in the city's East Zone. She made the mention while emphasizing the importance of creating bus lanes with part of the funds released now. The City Hall announces the opening of 96 kilometers of exclusive bus lanes.

"This is not the first time I've come here to São Paulo to announce projects, but it is the first time we've announced the release of R$ 8 billion in a concentrated manner," the president emphasized. "An important point is that these projects will begin quickly."

Dilma cited that 55% of the population of 11 million people uses public transportation. "How is it possible for a city the size of São Paulo not to have a subway, not to have underground transportation, as they say?" she asked. "We are the largest city in the world with the least developed subway system in the world," the president compared, in an indirect criticism of the PSDB state administrations, in power in the state since 1995. Governor Geraldo Alckmin did not participate in the ceremony, having sent a secretary as his representative.

"Providing urban mobility means giving life back to the population," Dilma stated. "The federal government is committed to ensuring subway and light rail systems. We have already invested R$ 89 billion in urban mobility, and now we will invest another R$ 50 billion. It is only right that the first city to receive R$ 8 billion of these R$ 50 billion be São Paulo. It is only right that it be here, because it is our greatest urban mobility challenge."

The president emphasized that her administration invested directly in the construction of subway lines and stations in the capital cities of "Porto Alegre, Curitiba, Salvador, Recife, Fortaleza and the Federal District, in addition to partnerships with São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro." 

Below, previous news report:

247 - "São Paulo is too big to remain isolated," stated the mayor of São Paulo, Fernando Haddad, in a speech alongside President Dilma Rousseff, at a ceremony taking place at 11:53 AM at São Paulo City Hall. The president will announce shortly the release of R$ 8 billion for infrastructure projects in the capital. "What is being announced here is that we will tirelessly seek a realignment between São Paulo and the federal government, just as is already happening with the state government," added Haddad. "The success of São Paulo is the success of Brazil."

Following Haddad, the Minister of Cities, Agnaldo Ribeiro, spoke. "We are living through a historic moment in the country," he said. "This is because President Dilma's government has taken up a topic that Brazil had forgotten: urban mobility," he noted. "Before, there was a dismantling of bodies that were essential to urban infrastructure in Brazilian cities," he pointed out. "I'm referring to Geipot, dismantled 23 years ago," citing the agency that coordinated public policies on urban transport, especially in metropolitan regions.

A significant portion of the resources to be announced by the president will be allocated to the opening of 127 kilometers of exclusive bus lanes on the capital's avenues. "Urban mobility is about having time to live a little longer," the minister stated. Ribeiro affirmed that the federal government currently allocates R$ 89 billion to urban mobility programs. "It's the largest urban mobility program in the world," the minister defined. He confirmed, at 12:02 PM, that the president will announce R$ 8 billion in resources for infrastructure projects in the city.

The minister also announced R$ 1,3 billion for flood control works, such as the channeling of streams. Federal resources of R$ 2,2 billion will be allocated for the cleaning and maintenance of the Billings and Guarapiranga reservoirs. An additional R$ 1,5 billion will be used for the construction of 20 affordable housing units. "With this, and the R$ 3 billion for urban mobility, we reach a total of R$ 8 billion," the minister added.