More Bargains for Everybody! by sandra46
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Description
Many friends that commented my latest posting thought that it was taken in a mall. Actually, it was taken in a street at 9 o' clock in the night. We don't have malls in downtown Padova because of the staunch opposition of downtown shop owners, who also control packets of votes. In Padova we have a group of power which controls the Townhall with methods used by the Daley dynasty in Chicago. It is an iron alliance between the bishop and the former secretary of the former Communist Party (who became the mayor 15 years ago and still is at the head of the town), the wealthiest merchants and traders (Padova is the commercial heart of the region, we don't have an industry to speak of, most factories are in other provinces of the region), and the University bosses. The well-informed swear that the bishop and the mayor are also first cousins. I don't know whether it's true, but it's a fact that the convent of nuns close to the provincial seat of the mayor's party (the Democrats) votes 100 per cent for him. The hostility for malls has prevented the building of them in town, the French Auchan mall aside, close to the industrial park. Of course, malls have sprouted everywhere just outside the town border, in the small communes of the Paduan belt, which favor them with very low taxes and good services. Thus the bishop, the mayor and downtown merchants wail at the malls and berate at the mayors of the small belt towns for 'unfair competition'. Actually the bishop has sold the huge compound of the former seminar to be turned into a mall, but he was hoisted with his own petard, because after ranting form the local papers against malls, he didn't foresee that the local citizens would oppose the traffic around the new commercial buolding and suited him and the buyer to prevent its transformation. Given the speed of Italian courts, it will last for many years.
Local gossip aside, this is a side window of the same department store, Coin, which sells mostly top-notch clothes, and is part of a chain owned by a Venetian family.
Thank you for your kind comments.
Comments (43)
magnus073
Great looking capture here Sandra, as you appear to have some of the most colorful and beautiful shops I've ever seen. Also it was fascinating to read the history of stores in Padova and the politics that manages to take control as to what stores can exist. You really reminded us of what a small world it is as this practice seems to go on in so many countries including my own.
durleybeachbum
Wonderful!!
Richardphotos
very colorful display
renecyberdoc
wonderful.
jayfar
Colourful image.
brycek
Beautiful capture, sandra!!
lyron
Cool capture!!
mariogiannecchini
Coin รจ un bel marchio in Italia . Ha poi un sottogruppo per vendite economiche di ottima qualita' OVS ( organizzazione vendite speciali ) che per molti anni si trovava anche nel Superstore dove ho lavorato fino alla pensione . Ottima immagine , Sandra !
claude19
Colors, large signs, light ... a festive atmosphere on this picture!
Faemike55
Very cool capture and extremely fascinating history of the region
JSGraphics
Most excellent! Well done!
drifterlee
Cool shot, Sandra!!!!!
flaviok
Magnifico texto (lembra muito o Brasil) excelente captura minha amiga, aplausos (5)
Minda
Beautiful color and great shot sandra.
alanwilliams
amazing lighting
bazza
Great colourful shot and info Sandra, well done!!
Umbetro38
A late comment but the picture like it very much
Vialliy
Those colors. Very special. Nice find.
flora-crassella
wonderful picture!
eekdog
love the lighting capture in your shots Sandra, all are magnificent!!
jeroni
Very nice shot and colour contrast
Radar_rad-dude
A very excellent photo presentation and a most interesting glimpse into the workings of your political environment! Thanks for sharing!
danapommet
Wonderful narrative - very interesting politics. I like the lighting and bright colors. I thought that your last posting was in the underground. Dana
MOSKETON
ME GUSTA.
bimm3d
superb!!
psyoshida
Politics is the same the world 'round. Still there is something to be said for not having malls. I really don't want to see McDonalds or Walmart if I travel to some far off country to enjoy their culture or even to some other city in the states. I miss the independent, unique shops that used to be in our town when I grew up. All the towns and cities look the same, with the same junk you don't want to buy. Now you've go me going.... Sorry. Great shot and a wonderful looking place.
alessimarco
~Cool capture! Love the colors!~
Cosme..D..Churruca
beautiful palette!
anmes
Fabulous urban night scene!! Love the colour again and the strong silhouettes
jac204
Well you could have fooled me because I could have sworn it was a mall without seeing it in context with its surroundings. Great capture and nice insight to local politics which in some ways seems so familiar.