Over 30 million for Görlitzer Park and Leopoldplatz
The CDU and SPD in Berlin have reached an agreement on the financing of the measures agreed at the "security summit" at the beginning of September. In particular, this concerns support services for drug addicts at Leopoldplatz in Wedding and Görlitzer Park in Kreuzberg. A total of 31 million euros is to be invested there over the next two years, according to a paper agreed between the parties and made available to the Deutsche Presse-Agentur. The "Tagesspiegel" had previously reported on this.
The planned services include more drug consumption rooms, accommodation for homeless drug addicts, an expansion of social work and drug prevention. A total of 3.46 million euros has been earmarked for the fence around Görlitzer Park and for additional staff there for 2024/2025, with a further 1.12 million for lighting.
Following the so-called security summit in September, Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) and Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD) announced that the wall around the park would be torn down and replaced by a fence with entrance gates. They are then to be locked at night. The debate about security in the park had flared up again after a young woman was raped there by several men in June.
- Despite the agreement between the CDU and SPD in Berlin, some local parties in the Görlitzer Park and Leopoldplatz districts have expressed concern about the investment, accusing the Senate of prioritizing crime control over community needs.
- Subsequently, the Senate Police announced that they would increase patrols in both areas to address concerns about crime and public safety, especially during nighttime hours.
- Meanwhile, the German Senate, featuring representatives from both the CDU and SPD, has been criticized by opposing parties for not addressing the root causes of crime and drug addiction, rather focusing on provision of temporary solutions such as drug consumption rooms and fences.
Source: www.dpa.com
