Mess of pottage

I write with a heavy heart. The destruction has begun. The destruction of an emblematic piece of the city of Turin's rich heritage of industrial architecture. Two former factories in the working-class district called San Paolo were used and protected by the City Council until last summer. Then, strapped for cash, it decided to sell off the land to property developers, who, today, moved in and began the destruction, protected by vanloads of police in riot gear and equally burly non-locals in civilian clothing. For my sins, I have a grandstand view.