I was in Venice for George Clooney's wedding. Jeff Bezos' feels completely different — and not in a good way.
Christine Matthey is a Swiss-Italian art gallery owner. Business Insider interviewed her in Venice, where she lives, ahead of Jeff Bezos' wedding to Lauren Sánchez. This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
I was living in Venice when George Clooney married Amal Alamuddin. The mood in the city was nothing like it is now, for the wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez.
To start with, George Clooney is not Jeff Bezos. Bezos is a friend and donor to Donald Trump. Ivanka Trump is even here for the wedding.
For that reason, among others, I'm not happy with Jeff Bezos being this close to my house, or in Venice at all, for that matter. It's not only because of politics, but also because of Amazon, what he represents, and the potential damage his wedding is bringing to this city.
I grew up in Venice until I moved to Switzerland for school. I now live here for six months of every year, and I care about the city's preservation.
One major concern is the "moto ondoso," or "wave motion." It refers to the damage caused by the yachts, water taxis, and other boats in the canals, which erode the foundations of Venice's historic buildings. It's causing real damage to the city.
Bezos has hired fleets of water taxis. It adds to the problems of a city already in danger. He says he has donated 3 million euros to three local institutions, but what does 3 million euros mean to him?
(Editor's note: The wedding will use around 30 of Venice's 280 water taxis, according to Venice city officials.)
Sure, the wedding brings money to the local economy. But I don't think the long-term damage is worth the short-term gain.
Around San Marco, many people depend on tourism. They sell expensive goods to wealthy visitors. I imagine they're happy to see celebrities, and less concerned with the politics.
But for young Venetians, it's a different story. Wages are low. Housing is nearly impossible to afford. It's hard to be OK with a billionaire wedding in the middle of all of these difficulties.
That's part of what is fueling the protests.
On Monday, I passed by San Marco Square just as Greenpeace unfurled a huge banner with Bezos's face. It read: "If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax." I've also been following the "No Space for Bezos" movement on Instagram.
As of Thursday, I haven't noticed major disruption. But I'm nervous. I have an art gallery near the Arsenale, and I just hope I can get to it this weekend without being blocked by police because of the wedding.
The wedding has divided Venice. For me, I sit in the camp of thinking the protesters are brave, especially so in a country where the police can be tough. They're putting themselves on the line, unafraid of being hurt or brutalized, to make their point.
And honestly, I admire them for it.
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