Tempelhof Field - Tempelhofer Feld: Building senator rejects criticism
Berlin's Senator for Urban Development, Christian Gaebler (SPD), has criticized the citizen participation process regarding the future of Tempelhof Field. "I find it quite difficult that ten years after a referendum, one is not even allowed to discuss which uses are possible or not," Gaebler told the German Press Agency. "This is a discussion process, not a decision-making process, and not a decision against referendums. Discussions must always be possible."
The Greens are criticizing the process sharply
Green fraction leader Werner Graf criticized the senate's planned form of citizen participation as a farce and accused the coalition government of trying to push its politics "without regard for losses" against the citizens. "Berlin clearly voted in favor of keeping Tempelhof Field entirely undeveloped. But, as with so many referendums, the black-red government here does not seem bound by the voter's will," Graf told the coalition government.
Gaebler considers the allegations unjustified: "The Greens are increasingly saying that one should not even discuss it." However, the party usually calls for citizen participation. "We ask the citizens what they can imagine. And then one must consider what one can initiate a broader debate about in the city society."
Gaebler: The allegation has been pulled out by the roots
"It is a discussion process, it is not a participation format with an outcome decision. And that's why this allegation of a farce and violation of democracy has been pulled out by the roots," Gaebler said. The approach is to discuss with a group of randomly selected citizens who are approximately representative of the population of Berlin.
The participants for the so-called Dialog Workshops will come together for the first time on a Wednesday. Initially, a sample of 20,000 people aged 16 and over from the resident registration office were invited and asked to participate. About 1,000 people expressed their interest, and 275 of them were selected by lottery.
They are supposed to present theses for the development of Tempelhof Field to the Senate Administration. Their assessments are not binding. The results are, however, supposed to influence the assignment of the planned international ideas competition. The Senate is in favor of a peripheral development of Tempelhof Field. However, the result of the referendum on May 25, 2014, in which a majority of voters voted to keep the field undeveloped, still applies.
- Gaebler highlighted the importance of continuing discussions about the future uses of Tempelhof Field, stating that it's not a decision-making process but rather a chance for society to engage.
- Alliance 90/The Greens have raised concerns about the Senate's approach, with Green fraction leader Werner Graf calling it a farce and an alleged violation of democracy.
- Berlin's housing and urban development senator, Christian Gaebler, disputed these criticisms, emphasizing that the process is about initiating a broader debate within the city's society.
- The first Dialog Workshops, involving a randomly selected group of 275 Berlin residents aged 16 and over, are scheduled to take place, aimed at presenting theses for the development of Tempelhof Field.
- Despite the results of the 2014 referendum favoring the undeveloped status of Tempelhof Field, the Senate remains open to considering peripheral development plans, demonstrating a commitment to balancing various perspectives in Berlin's leisure time and housing policy.
