The wish that became a curse

The first time I came across a Facebook post by Kostas Bakoyiannis, the new Athens mayor had written enthusiastically about an operation to clean up a neglected Athens square.
It wasn't the first time. His account is chock-full of actions by the municipality's cleaning and greening service in various areas, predominantly less prominent ones. Passionate workers with high-pressure hoses in their hands cleaning up degraded public spaces that are being restored to citizens.

Great.
A few days later I read an announcement by the Attica Regional Authority concerning works to lay a fresh covering of asphalt on central roads in Athens. The title of the story that reported it featured a statement by Attica Regional Governor Giorgos Patoulis: "Our priority is a safe road network for pedestrians and drivers." And a few days ago the regional governor posted a statement about...