Zalevfyerma

Zalevfyerma is the metropolis and commercial capital of the Sober Thought province of Cholmestay. At 3.1% of the national population, it has narrowly eclipsed the political capital of Nordentor. The geographic proximity and similar size have promoted a sometimes unhealthy political, sporting and cultural competition between the two cities.

Geography

The city is situated in the south of the province in the middle of a semi-arid plain which supports both livestock and poor soil crops.

Urban landscape

The city rises without warning from the prairie, its glass-clad skyscrapers jutting up to the wide-open sky above. It looks like mammon, and upon closer inspection the comparison stands up.

The almighty Denkmark rules the roost here; most apparently public buildings are in fact corporate headquarters and office towers. Their opulent -- especially as seen in the context of ostentation-light culture of the nation as a whole -- settings are meant to impress investors and VIP guests. Of course, it is the stockholders largely located elsewhere who pay for these frills, but so long as the profits continue to roll in, there are no complaints.

Like its rival, the numbered streets and avenues form a grid for the city's traffic. Some streets have been renamed to honour notables -- but only business tycoons, robber barons, captains of industry and corporate giants. The Zalevfyerma City Council is not averse to using its power to rename streets to take the opportunity to charge six-figures for the purpose, including sections as small as one block long.

Demography

Although settled primarily by pre-Communist Slavs, at various times the city has considered changing its name to downplay its origins. However, this is one of the few nostalgic decisions the city fathers (there are few women in politics in this traditional city) have taken. Characteristically, the decision was heavily influenced by its ability to act as a shibboleth to make it difficult for the hicks in Nordentor to spell or pronounce properly.

Waves of mainly white immigrants have washed over Zalevfyerma, few leaving a mark, since the only real colour of importance here is that of the money. This is the fifth most populous municipality in the country with 3.1% of the national total, but third after Schweindorf and Mont Royaume for economic activity.

There are no old people here for several reasons. Firstly, those who claw their way to the top tend not to live that long or if they do, to spend it abroad in more free-market countries. Secondly, those who try but cannot claw their way to the top slink away in shame. Finally, those who come from away are hit hard by a cyclical boom-bust economy.

Economy

Although extractive industry like mining, petroleum and to a much lesser extent ranching takes place outside the city, they provide the raison d'être for Zalevfyerma. Oil exploration, refining, smelting, meatpacking, joint stock promotion and venture capital is what the city is all about.

When the going is good, the money is flowing all around. But when the bottom falls out of the market, all but the most resilient are sent packing. The wild west free marketers here would have it no other way.

Government

This economic attitude spills over to all levels of government.

Federal representation

Zalevfyerma has seven district members of the House of the Federation, and usually a couple more top-up MHFs elected through proportional representation.

Unlike Nordentor, however, they are all likely to right-wing deputies -- more or less evenly split among the more moderate Conservative Party and the hard right fiscal conservatives in the Free Enterprise Party. In fact, about a seventh of all Free Traders in the country are elected in this city.

Provincial representation

Surprisingly, the thirty-one deputies the city sends to the provincial legislature actually include one or two members of the Socialist Party because they are sometimes able to scoot up the middle in a race between secular and religious right-wingers.

Municipal government

Unlike any other chartered municipality on the country, the Zalevfyerma City Council elects all of its members at-large. This practically ensures that no centre (let alone left) candidate can ever get elected unless a single candidate is run for all twelve ordinary council seats, and certainly not for mayor.

The city council is ridiculously small for such a large number of residents, so it operates as a hands-off board of control under a strong mayor-cum-CEO.

Exclusive jurisdictions

Fire

Access to the anti-incendiary service is only available to those paying a flat fee for public fire insurance, in effect a regressive system because those living in a house pay the same as those owning an office tower. Of course if one fails to insure against fire and a fire beginning on their property spreads to neighbours, one's property is open to seizure to pay for the damages.

Garbage

Similarly, access to the municipal garbage service is by flat fee. The right not to participate in recycling programs costs a similar fee, which most commercial buildings purchase as a small investment to keep away from stringent national environmental law. Consequently, Zalevfyerma has the lowest rate of recycling in the country.

Associated jurisdictions

Education

There are two institutions of higher learning in the city, one offering a private Fundamentalist Protestant education only and another offering a private business education only.

Transport

The city is a transportation major hub in the national airways, national railways and national highways. As an inland city, there are no nautical networks.

Public order

A Police Division covers the entire city, as is one of several across the province. Although actual police functions cannot be privatised, corporate security guards are a regular presence in the glass towers.

The Cholmestay Civil Guard is active in the city, raising three battalions every one hundred million national population. One battalion is from The Zalevfyerma Light Infantry, one from the Cholmestay Engineers and the third from other regiments.