A number of lockers set up to enable
tourists to check in at B&Bs in Rome's Via di S. Teodoro, near
to Circus Maximus, have been removed by anonymous protesters in
an act of sabotage against overtourism.
Instead of the lockers, visitors found a green Robin Hood hat
and a message explaining the protest.
"If you are looking for the lockers and can find them, read
below," it said.
"We rebel: we remove these lockers to denounce the sell-out of
the city to hit-and-run tourism, which alienates peoples and
leaves locals out on the streets", the statement said.
"There has been an exponential growth in rent prices in recent
years. We're talking about tens of percentage points compared to
people's salaries, which aren't growing.
Short-term rentals devour long-term ones, taking away space for
families to create more profitable rentals for tourists.
"This is only the first action we take against your Jubilee of
the Rich," it continued in a reference to next year's Jubilee of
the Catholic Church.
"Mayor (Roberto) Gualtieri should guarantee a social pact for
the Jubilee, setting a maximum threshold for properties used for
short-term rentals in the city.
"The hunger of the big landlords should be stopped to protect
those who are fragile.
"Help us, let's sabotage the Jubilee of the Rich. We sabotage
speculation to defend the right to housing. Let's build a
Jubilee of the Poor!".
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