Paris La Défense and its solidarity actions: how can a public player help the most fragile during this crisis?

May 11, 2020 4mn
Faced with covid19, Paris La Défense, as a local public authority, has maintained some of its activities as part of its essential public service missions

Footfall: ↙ 98.5%

Paris La Défense, as a local public authority, has maintained some of its activities as part of its essential public service missions.

 We’re going to work with businesses on the rush hour issue to find solutions on staggered hours and encourage a gradual recovery” has said Marie-Célie Guillaume, Chairwoman of the GBD Innovation Club and CEO of Paris la Défense.

The security and safety department keep going its activity to maintain the lockdown and the maintenance of its equipment (elevators, escalators…). Paris La Défense team has noticed that a special bond is created with the residents (42 000 on the business district) during this particular period, notably through information and support.

While lockdown may seem difficult, it is even more so for those who cannot take cover. To fight against this fatality, « Le Chaînon Manquant », an association and member of the « Réseau Solidarité La Défense » (La Défense Solidarity Network), has undertaken a marathon with restaurant owners who agreed to donate these very large quantities of food rather than throwing them away. By the end of March, two weeks after the start of the lockdown, the association had already collected the equivalent of about 15,000 meals (7.5 tons) in Paris La Défense and the surrounding towns. The association has established its food distribution location within Paris La Défense Arena.

In order to acquire various protective equipment for the homeless people and ensure the continuity of their activities, the 5 associations of « Réseau Solidarité La Défense » have launched a crowdfunding campaign. Paris La Défense has already contributed 10 000€.

In addition to teleworking and the smoothing of working hours, Paris La Défense has also put on the table the question of the development of soft traffic, particularly cycling. “We are working on innovative solutions. I have proposed to the Prefect of the Hauts-de-Seine region an experiment to transform two tunnels into bicycle lanes” declared Marie-Célie Guillaume.

How do you feel about staggering employee peak hours as a solution to the lockdown?

Tick tock tick tock… Next week you will discover the East Cut San Francisco action plan.