SURVIVAL OF THE COOLEST

Italy’s Richest Neighbors Keep Betraying Each Other to Cops

Residents of Portofino are turning one another in for unauthorized ACs.

There’s an air conditioning war raging in the small Italian town of Portofino. The Guardian reports that the battle for cold air began when the coastal town’s government began cracking down on air conditioners. AC units, while not entirely banned, must meet specific aesthetic guidelines so as not to disrupt Portofino’s beauty. “The summers have been getting much hotter and July and August have been sweltering and very humid. It’s not that we want people to suffer and have their sleep disrupted by the heat…We all depend on AC now. But Portofino is located in a regional park and there are rules that need to be respected,” the village’s mayor, Matteo Viacava, told the paper. Police are currently scouring the area to find rogue units. Apparently, turning in one another for unauthorized ACs has become a hobby of sorts for some residents. If exposed, the unlawful aircon user could face up to €43,000 ($46,999) in fines.