Struggling Paris Suburb Still Waits For Help

Clichy-sous-Bois, the Paris suburb that ignited angry rioting amongst France's young minorities in 2005, is still waiting on the government to provide for its struggling populace.

1 minute read

September 26, 2007, 5:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg

"It's been two years since angry black and Arab youths went on a rampage in this town of 29,000, igniting riots that spread across France. There's still no sign of the police station then- President Jacques Chirac promised in 2005."

"Now France has a new president, Nicolas Sarkozy, 52, who promised to better integrate disaffected minorities. While he's off to a flying start on several fronts -- pushing changes in taxes and pensions, seeking a new treaty for the European Union, attending his first United Nations general session this week -- his whirlwind approach after four months in office hasn't reached Clichy-sous-Bois."

"Clichy-sous-Bois has one of the nation's highest crime rates, among the lowest average incomes and the largest proportion --50 percent -- of under-25-year-olds."

"Claude Dilain, the Socialist mayor of Clichy-sous-Bois, says there's an invisible barrier that keeps France's poor, immigrant communities in densely packed suburbs known as 'banlieues' out of sight and out of mind."

FULL STORY: Sarkozy's Whirlwind Beginning Fails to Reach Immigrant Suburbs

Tuesday, September 25, 2007 in Bloomberg

Community / Economic Development Government / Politics Social / Demographics Europe

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