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Milan: ever more “stressed out”? Rising fears over safety and cost of living

Milan’s residents are bit more stressed out and a lot more worried: amid rising anxiety due to rocketing living costs, particularly for housing, and a growing sense of insecurity from thefts, robberies, muggings and assaults.

Indeed, in his latest film, Ricomincio da Taaac, the YouTuber Germano Lanzoni (known as “Il milanese imbruttito” – the “Typical Stressed-Out Milanese Guy”), tackles the fresh strains of city life marked by frenetic pace and increasingly tough living conditions, alongside troubling social problems. While in his film “Mollo tutto e apro un chiringuito” (“I’m Quitting to Open a Beach Bar”), Lanzoni became obsessed with chasing money, now the comedian portrays a character sacked due to a dubious and somewhat deceitful corporate “green” initiative. He experiences the dread of unstable work, takes on the role of a delivery rider, and fruitlessly hunts for a decent flat to rent (the last offer is a tiny plastic playhouse: “Do I look like Snoopy to you?”, he quips to the estate agent).

We may laugh, enjoying the sharp wit, yet we also see our reflection in this absurdity and grow concerned about the potential negative trajectory of everyday life and the future of a city once cherished for its blend of competitiveness and hospitality, productivity, and social inclusion.  Today, however, it is seen with weary eyes by an increasing number of disoriented citizens who wonder, “What am I doing here?”.

Shifting from films to facts – and from parody to genuine opinions forming in public sentiment – the image of Milan demands political and administrative action, spanning decisions involving both the city’s leaders and those governing Italy as a whole.

A study Makno carried out for IULM University on Milan’s quality of life reveals that the participants (2,400 adults questioned from July to September) are generally content with cultural events and public transport, yet concerned about living costs, safety, the environment and healthcare (Corriere della Sera, 17 September).

Looking more closely, satisfaction among Milan residents is falling, from a score of 7.8 in 2020 and 6.2 last year to just 5.9 now. The city is becoming more anxious and less tolerant of what’s often termed “imbruttimento” – the relentless stress, hustle and bustle of city life.

Mario Abis, President of Makno, comments: “The pandemic has shifted our mood; we’ve become more wary and anxious, not just about our own city. Yet Milan, which did so well during the Expo, is now one of the cities falling back the most. The proportion of people wanting to leave has risen above 20%, a figure we last saw a decade ago.”

The main worries are prices and living costs, concerning 90% of people surveyed, followed by safety at 86%. Social interaction and mental health worry 48%, healthcare 45%, and traffic, green spaces, and environmental issues 35%. Lastly, culture and job prospects both register at 17%. In essence, Milan offers solid work and good learning and leisure prospects, but residents feel their quality of life has dipped and they have concerns about safety and preserving their lifestyle.

Another hotly debated league table is “IlSole24Ore’s” crime index (16 September). Based on the number of reported crimes in 2023, Milan tops the list of Italian provinces with 7,000 reports per 100,000 people (2023 data), including a rise in thefts and robberies. Rome, however, leads in total crime numbers with 254,000 incidents, surpassing Milan and its province’s 230,000.The data has sparked political arguments. The centre-right claims Milan is unsafe, blaming Mayor Beppe Sala. In response, the mayor and his team argue that maintaining public order falls to the Interior Ministry and the national government. They insist Milan is far from being Gotham City and highlight the council’s focus on housing, integration and tackling social issues.

Putting debate to one side, there are a few points to consider. Firstly, the index is based on the number of crime reports, showing that people in Milan seek police protection more often than those in other cities. Secondly, the Prefecture and Police Headquarters have shown that crime in Milan, especially murders, is on the decline, but this fact doesn’t ease worries. Lastly, the “perceived insecurity” felt by Milan’s residents is a real issue for local and national leaders, who must provide clear and visible reassurance to the public.

Milan is also an ageing city with 1.373 million residents, of whom 305,000 are over 65. It’s grappling with rising loneliness: 57% of households are single-person, and another 20% have just two people. Social problems, both new and old types of poverty, as well as widening social, cultural and technological divides, and a sense of isolation, are intensifying feelings of instability and vulnerability. The city is struggling to cope with sharp social changes.

Milan therefore needs a clear strategy for public order and a set of actions that reassure citizens of their safety and the improved livability of their area. Safety is part of well-being.In these challenging times, fraught with tensions from geopolitical shifts and global conflicts, the desire to feel secure at home, in one’s neighbourhood, and in one’s city grows stronger: it’s an economic, social, and cultural imperative, a vital challenge for fostering solidarity and inclusivity, and a key aspect of for a good quality of life. This is what Milan needs in order to maintain its identity – productive and hospitable, competitive and compassionate – as a city worth living in, growing in, and investing in for a brighter future. A city far from being “stressed out”.

(photo Getty Images)

Milan’s residents are bit more stressed out and a lot more worried: amid rising anxiety due to rocketing living costs, particularly for housing, and a growing sense of insecurity from thefts, robberies, muggings and assaults.

Indeed, in his latest film, Ricomincio da Taaac, the YouTuber Germano Lanzoni (known as “Il milanese imbruttito” – the “Typical Stressed-Out Milanese Guy”), tackles the fresh strains of city life marked by frenetic pace and increasingly tough living conditions, alongside troubling social problems. While in his film “Mollo tutto e apro un chiringuito” (“I’m Quitting to Open a Beach Bar”), Lanzoni became obsessed with chasing money, now the comedian portrays a character sacked due to a dubious and somewhat deceitful corporate “green” initiative. He experiences the dread of unstable work, takes on the role of a delivery rider, and fruitlessly hunts for a decent flat to rent (the last offer is a tiny plastic playhouse: “Do I look like Snoopy to you?”, he quips to the estate agent).

We may laugh, enjoying the sharp wit, yet we also see our reflection in this absurdity and grow concerned about the potential negative trajectory of everyday life and the future of a city once cherished for its blend of competitiveness and hospitality, productivity, and social inclusion.  Today, however, it is seen with weary eyes by an increasing number of disoriented citizens who wonder, “What am I doing here?”.

Shifting from films to facts – and from parody to genuine opinions forming in public sentiment – the image of Milan demands political and administrative action, spanning decisions involving both the city’s leaders and those governing Italy as a whole.

A study Makno carried out for IULM University on Milan’s quality of life reveals that the participants (2,400 adults questioned from July to September) are generally content with cultural events and public transport, yet concerned about living costs, safety, the environment and healthcare (Corriere della Sera, 17 September).

Looking more closely, satisfaction among Milan residents is falling, from a score of 7.8 in 2020 and 6.2 last year to just 5.9 now. The city is becoming more anxious and less tolerant of what’s often termed “imbruttimento” – the relentless stress, hustle and bustle of city life.

Mario Abis, President of Makno, comments: “The pandemic has shifted our mood; we’ve become more wary and anxious, not just about our own city. Yet Milan, which did so well during the Expo, is now one of the cities falling back the most. The proportion of people wanting to leave has risen above 20%, a figure we last saw a decade ago.”

The main worries are prices and living costs, concerning 90% of people surveyed, followed by safety at 86%. Social interaction and mental health worry 48%, healthcare 45%, and traffic, green spaces, and environmental issues 35%. Lastly, culture and job prospects both register at 17%. In essence, Milan offers solid work and good learning and leisure prospects, but residents feel their quality of life has dipped and they have concerns about safety and preserving their lifestyle.

Another hotly debated league table is “IlSole24Ore’s” crime index (16 September). Based on the number of reported crimes in 2023, Milan tops the list of Italian provinces with 7,000 reports per 100,000 people (2023 data), including a rise in thefts and robberies. Rome, however, leads in total crime numbers with 254,000 incidents, surpassing Milan and its province’s 230,000.The data has sparked political arguments. The centre-right claims Milan is unsafe, blaming Mayor Beppe Sala. In response, the mayor and his team argue that maintaining public order falls to the Interior Ministry and the national government. They insist Milan is far from being Gotham City and highlight the council’s focus on housing, integration and tackling social issues.

Putting debate to one side, there are a few points to consider. Firstly, the index is based on the number of crime reports, showing that people in Milan seek police protection more often than those in other cities. Secondly, the Prefecture and Police Headquarters have shown that crime in Milan, especially murders, is on the decline, but this fact doesn’t ease worries. Lastly, the “perceived insecurity” felt by Milan’s residents is a real issue for local and national leaders, who must provide clear and visible reassurance to the public.

Milan is also an ageing city with 1.373 million residents, of whom 305,000 are over 65. It’s grappling with rising loneliness: 57% of households are single-person, and another 20% have just two people. Social problems, both new and old types of poverty, as well as widening social, cultural and technological divides, and a sense of isolation, are intensifying feelings of instability and vulnerability. The city is struggling to cope with sharp social changes.

Milan therefore needs a clear strategy for public order and a set of actions that reassure citizens of their safety and the improved livability of their area. Safety is part of well-being.In these challenging times, fraught with tensions from geopolitical shifts and global conflicts, the desire to feel secure at home, in one’s neighbourhood, and in one’s city grows stronger: it’s an economic, social, and cultural imperative, a vital challenge for fostering solidarity and inclusivity, and a key aspect of for a good quality of life. This is what Milan needs in order to maintain its identity – productive and hospitable, competitive and compassionate – as a city worth living in, growing in, and investing in for a brighter future. A city far from being “stressed out”.

(photo Getty Images)