Few mayors in Romania’s history have left such a deep mark on the capital as Demetru I. Dobrescu, known to his contemporaries as “The Pickaxe Mayor.” This well-deserved nickname reflected his tenacity, work ethic, and dedication to the public good. 

A visionary of Bucharest’s modernization

Born in 1869, Dobrescu was a brilliant jurist, a graduate of the Faculty of Law in Bucharest, and a Doctor of Law from Paris, where he completed his studies in 1894. Upon returning home, he became dean of the Bucharest Bar and president of the Union of Romanian Lawyers, earning respect in both legal and social circles of the time.

In 1934, Dem. I. Dobrescu ran as a candidate of the National Peasant Party for the position of general mayor of the Capital. His victory marked the beginning of a golden era for Bucharest — five years of radical transformation, between 1929 and 1934, that would forever change the city’s appearance and spirit. 

During a period when some even proposed moving the capital to Brașov or Băneasa, the jurist managed to prove that Bucharest could not only be saved but also turned into a modern metropolis worthy of a European nation.

“The Pickaxe Mayor” and the rebirth of the city

Dem. I. Dobrescu went down in history as both a visionary and a pragmatic administrator who was not afraid to personally supervise construction sites, often with a pickaxe in hand. His modernization program was vast and carefully planned. 

It included the paving and widening of the city’s main streets, Colentina, Rahovei, Griviței, Văcărești, Dudești, and Pantelimon, as well as the redevelopment of University Square and the Military Circle Square. Under his leadership, Bucharest saw the introduction of modern systems for street lighting, water supply, and sewage, projects of unprecedented scale for the time.

In an era when Bucharest still struggled with mud, waste, and poor sanitation, Dobrescu launched a true urban revolution. He ordered the removal of thousands of wagonloads of garbage accumulated over decades, planted trees along major boulevards, and cleaned the banks of the Dâmbovița River. 

To improve public hygiene, he banned bathing and dumping waste in the river, replacing these practices with the construction of the first public swimming areas for adults and sand pools for children. He also installed public fountains at major intersections, ensuring easier access to drinking water for residents.

Though his reforms seem obvious today, they met surprising resistance at the time. In a famous note, Dobrescu recounted how market vendors sent him a written complaint asking, “Why so much cleanliness, Mr. Mayor? We’ve lived for centuries in filth and were better off than now.” Unfazed, Dobrescu pressed forward, convinced that modernization could not be halted by prejudice or complacency.

A mayor for the people

Beyond large-scale infrastructure projects, Dem. I. Dobrescu distinguished himself through genuine compassion for the city’s poor. He established tea houses and free shelters for the homeless during harsh winters, opened public canteens for workers and low-income families, and created a social assistance program managed directly by City Hall. Through these initiatives, Bucharest became a more humane city, one in which local authorities truly cared for their citizens’ daily lives.

At the same time, Dobrescu promoted culture and urban identity. He fought for the creation of the Municipal Museum (today the Bucharest City Museum), aiming to preserve the city’s historical heritage and offer residents a space for reflection on their shared past. 

His urbanistic vision, inspired by Europe’s great capitals, helped shape a refined image of Bucharest, which began to be rightfully called “The Little Paris.”

His downfall and lasting legacy

Dem. I. Dobrescu was a man of action, not of political compromise. His independence, however, ultimately cost him his position. After the fall of the National Peasant government and the rise of the Liberal Party in November 1933, the new authorities suspended him, deeming him too popular and difficult to control. 

The decision triggered an unprecedented wave of public outrage, thousands of citizens, politicians, and intellectuals took to the streets in protest. Under this pressure, Dobrescu was reinstated after just one week, but his return was short-lived. On January 18, 1934, following a direct order from King Carol II, he was dismissed permanently.

Even so, his legacy endured. Among his unrealized projects were the complete paving of the capital, the sanitation of its lakes, and the construction of a subway system — ideas far ahead of their time, but which would later become reality. After his removal, Dobrescu wrote a touching poem titled “Farewell, Bucharest!”, a love letter to the city that had defined his life:
“Today, the world’s wickedness tore me from you, Bucharest,
It tore me away, but we are not apart.
From now on, I carry you
In my heart and in my mind.
Still with great and vivid visions,
Just as we dreamed you to be.”

A lesson for today’s mayors

Nearly a century after his tenure, Dem. I. Dobrescu remains a model of civic leadership. As academician Nicolae Noica, director of the Romanian Academy Library, observed, “Dobrescu’s ideas are compatible with any era and any form of government.” 

In his own words, “The city is the common home of its inhabitants, and one must ensure that this common home reaches as much beauty and usefulness as possible, to delight and sustain the citizens burdened by the hardships of our times.”

For Dobrescu, a good mayor had to be a well-educated individual with solid knowledge of urbanism, sociology, and aesthetics, as well as the ability to lead people wisely. “A capital city represents the national genius of a civilized country in science and in art. It must be hygienic, aesthetic, and monumental,” he wrote. 

In prophetic fashion, he also stated, “The great problem in the urbanization of a city is the urbanization of its people. In times of civilization, man can only be moved from the rut of habit through enthusiasm or fear.”

Nicolae Noica has recently reminded the public that modern candidates for mayor should look to Dem. I. Dobrescu as a guiding example. While many today focus solely on campaign posters and slogans, the city’s real issues, from earthquake safety and the lack of an updated General Urban Plan, to housing problems for young people, remain unaddressed. Dobrescu did not need publicity; he had a vision.

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