The People Moving the City 2 2016
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A global local newspaper in cooperation with 2016 EVER IN THE MAKING The people moving the city 2 2016 EDITORIAL Mockery and merit “The more of a Berliner you become, the more you mock and complain about Berlin.” The words of Theodor Fontane (not from Berlin, by the way), written in 1894. As true then as it is today, mockery and contempt are part of the city’s DNA. But isn’t there enough to gripe at? The eternal airport-in-waiting, chaos at the refugee camps, the sorry state of Berlin’s public schools and more of the same from the city streets. Enough, already. Berlin is a work in progress. In this fourth edition of The Berlin Times, you’ll read about the numerous things that do work in this city, written by people who praise the day they arrived here, as well as by the born-and-bred Berliners, who may actually have something to complain about. It’s easy to find fault with this city, but spare a moment to consider how far we’ve come. Berlin suffered more than any other German city from the effects of World War II. It was destroyed, divided, walled and became ground zero for the Cold War. All its big industries scurried off to West Germany. Our city is now again on the rise, and many of those joining this resurgence cannot be found in newspaper headlines. So here are some of these silent heroes – from native Berliners to those fresh off the boat – who demonstrate how diverse and multicultural, how colorful and tolerant our city truly is. Detlef Prinz Publisher am a Berliner, since my birth in 1964. depth of culture, both high and low; for It’s my city; my roots are here, a place its museums; and for its galleries, which where history lives all around us. The place to be match Paris in number: 350. When Berlin was still divided, I had The magnetism of the city benefits all Ithe luck to grow up in its Western half, By Michael Müller Berliners. Unemployment figures have where anyone could become happy on his been halved over the last ten years. The or her own accord, where one could live city is again investing in its infrastructure, free, where democracy flourished. In its center, where walls crumbled during Brits are quitting London for affordable above all as a location for science and Dreaming. Experimenting. Failing. and after the war, the city has reinvented Berlin,” wrote The Guardian last year, with technology. Tourism and the economy are Starting anew. Anything was possible in itself with ambitious buildings for living and legitimate concern. “More and more burnt- booming. The famous “Berliner Luft” has West Berlin, for the city itself was searching working alongside out Londoners are a prettier scent than in 1990. And Berlin for its future. Berlin provided for any surviving historical embracing the laid- as a sporting metropolis has transfixed number of different lifestyles, which is why structures and ruins. back cool – and many Europeans. so many people were attracted to West Much as changed. much lower cost Berlin is moving ahead; it’s captured the Berlin, and now to unified Berlin. Diversity Every second Berliner of living – of the imagination of people all over the world. is what makes the city tick. was not born here. CARSTENSEN DPA/JÖRG German capital.” For this reason Berlin is more than ever Even when the Wall fell and Berlin again And it’s as important It’s a boon that the place for experiments, commercial as seemed to be a “normal” city, it still didn’t as ever to offer people Paris, London and much as cultural. The city is a place of want to grow up. It was still dreaming a good life in their New York can still longing. As it always has, today’s Berlin and experimenting. And celebrating. old neighborhoods. not compete with lets its residents live their lives, but now Berlin grew to become a colorful city – The city is growing, Berlin in terms of their dreams are more than just longing, Love Parade, Christopher Street Day, the but it must remain affordable housing, they’re coming true. Anyone, no matter Carnival of Cultures. affordable, for cheap living where they’re from, can design their own But the city managed to do more than just without the famous expenses and open lives in Berlin. The effect is that Berlin is party. It found its future. Berlin is growing Berliner mix, the city Mayor of Berlin: Michael Müller spaces to create constantly changing, but always remains together. Berlin is hip and Berlin “starts will lose its charm. the new and the true to itself. Even in Berlin, not everything up.” The Founding Years are back. Berlin We must remain a home for everyone. innovative. But people – visitors, new works out on the first try, but if we’ve has since grown up and is now holding its Young people with ideas – from London, residents and native Berliners – love the got anything, we’ve got perseverance. We own among large cities like Paris, London Tel Aviv and Milan – come to Berlin to turn city for its countless clubs and bars that don’t quit, which is why Berlin is a city and New York. their ideas into companies. “Creative young have earned it global renown; for its ever in the making. 2016 3 CHEF AND CHIEF As Chancellor Angela Merkel’s chief of staff, Peter Altmaier has to come to grips with the greatest humanitarian challenge since 1945: the refugee crisis. By Peter H. Koepf and Lutz Lichtenberger DPA/SEBASTIAN KAHNERT longside his political career, Peter Stability is under threat across the region, he recognized refugee to enter the EU. That, Its influence only grew as time passed. The Altmaier is known as an avid warns. With its pledge to help the refugees, he said, would put the people traffickers CDU and Greens entered a dialogue, over- bicycle rider, gardener and cook. the German government had one thing out of business. And, “for the refugees, came prejudices and discovered common As such, he expects the newly squarely in view: “Buying time.” Turkey is a secure country.” That raised ground. The Pizza Connection’s young Afounded, anti-refugee party Alternative Altmaier admits that the German gov- another outcry – this time not from the far lawmakers from both sides of the aisle for Germany (AfD), which gained a big ernment was too late in perceiving the right, which doesn’t want any more refu- rose through the ranks, gained influential following in the wake of the migration dimensions of “the greatest humanitarian gees in Germany, but from the left. “Illegal posts and began putting their stamp on crisis, to soon go sour among voters. As challenge since 1945,” as so many people mass deportations,” they said, violate basic their respective parties. The first successful he has said in both interviews and public streamed into Europe and so many states European values. CDU-Green coalitions were formed at the speeches, it will collapse “like a soufflé sealed themselves off. The latter has disap- Altmaier is at once Merkel’s sword and state level – an absolute novelty in German coming out of the oven into a draft.” pointed this staunch European, who spent shield, especially on the refugee issue. Since politics. As a chef and as chief of staff for his political apprenticeship in the European Oct. 6 of last year he has been the govern- With the backing of Peter Altmaier, Chancellor Angela Merkel – his official Commission and in 1993 took charge of a ment’s point man for the “political coor- the Pizza Connection’s top dog, who title is head of the federal chancellery and commission on dination of all as environment minister in 2011 began federal minister for special tasks, one of the social security aspects of the overseeing Germany’s exit from nuclear most important cabinet posts in Germany for Europe’s “Altmaier is at current refugee power – the Greens’ original raison – Altmaier knows that a soufflé works only migrant work- situation.” If d’être – Chancellor Merkel has shifted when made from the right ingredients and ers. His response once Merkel’s sword he manages to her conservative Christian Democrats even eventually rises above its vessel’s protective to anyone work- fix this crisis further toward the center of Germany’s walls, exposing its true self. In terms of ing to dismantle and shield.” from inside the political spectrum. It is an open secret in migration policy the AfD fails on both the EU: “Noth- government’s Berlin that a CDU-Green coalition could counts. The older, stability-minded parties ing would be better without this Europe, engine room, he may be headed for even become reality in 2017. And, after the have recipes for overcoming the problems and much would be worse.” higher office. Merkel era, an ideal successor and leader in the long term while regaining voters in Altmaier is a pragmatist. On stage at the Following Germany’s federal elections in for this new age would be waiting. the process. Altmaier believes this, and his Munich Security Conference in February, the fall of next year, the political sea change faith is rock-solid. he repeatedly leaned over toward Turk- that began in the 1990s may reach its com- That’s why the 57-year-old trained lawyer ish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu to pletion. That was when Altmaier and other Peter H. Koepf is editor-in-chief (specializing in European law) preaches day lavish praise upon his country.