Thursday, November 18, 2021
Clarity from Berlin demands
City Association calls for Christmas markets with 2G
Are there Christmas markets and where can I get vaccinated quickly? Many citizens are currently concerned with this question. The newly elected President of the German Association of Cities demands clarity from Berlin – and demands 500 million euros for the revitalization of the inner cities.
The newly elected President of the German Association of Cities, Münster’s CDU Lord Mayor Markus Lewe, has called for nationwide uniform rules for Christmas markets. “Businesses, cities and citizens want clarity as to whether and under what conditions Christmas markets are possible,” said Lewe at the end of the general meeting of the German Association of Cities in Erfurt. “I think you can be responsible if you take 2G as a minimum.”
Then only vaccinated and recovered visitors would have access to the traditional markets during Advent, for which preparations are currently underway in many places. “2G would bring security,” said Lewe. In a number of cities, Christmas markets had been canceled in the past few days – also out of uncertainty about which rules should apply. There is currently a jumble of rules in the markets that are being held.
Lewe said that in view of the force of the fourth corona wave, the cities were ready to organize vaccination centers, other mobile vaccination teams and smaller vaccination centers. “For this we need clear announcements – and that is not available for free.” As things stand, the vaccination booster alone could not be done by GPs alone at the necessary speed. “The pressure on unvaccinated people needs to be increased,” said the president. The Association of Cities again advocated compulsory vaccination for employees in schools, daycare centers, nursing homes and clinics.
500 million euros for city centers
Lewe was unanimously elected by the delegates as president of the local authority association, which according to its own information represents the interests of 3200 cities and municipalities in Germany. The 56-year-old succeeded Leipzig’s SPD mayor Burkhard Jung, who led the association for more than two years. Jung was also unanimously elected Vice President.
The city council demanded 500 million euros annually from the desired traffic light coalition for the revitalization of the inner cities. Jung also spoke out in favor of a right of first refusal at the market value for unused properties in city centers. For example, vacant department stores or office buildings could be used to better profile the centers as places for encounters.
The future federal government was also required to compensate the municipalities for their trade tax losses, which the Association of Cities estimates at almost eight billion euros in the period from 2021 to 2023.