Berlin’s district mayors write here once a week about topics that move them. Today: Gordon Lemm (44, SPD), Mayor of Marzahn-Hellersdorf.
The war in the middle of Europe has long cast its shadow over us. Many certainties of the last years and decades are gone. Nobody would have expected that we, as a rich European country, would find ourselves in a situation where we could run out of gas and electricity. But nothing helps. We must and we will adapt.
Each and every one of us can save energy and gas. The television does not have to remain on stand-by. We can also just turn off the light in the hallway and heating with the window open doesn’t make any sense.
As an administration, we will also save energy. In the short term, by only heating our offices to 19 degrees. In the long term, by replacing all lamps with energy-saving light-emitting diodes, modernizing our heating systems and purchasing shared printers instead of individual printers.
We should have tackled some of these measures a long time ago, and we should have reconsidered some of our behavior long ago. Unfortunately, it often takes certain crises before we act quickly and effectively.
For many, rising costs are a real concern. Soaring food prices, inflation and now skyrocketing energy costs. The state must and will act here.
If we’ve been able to invest billions to bail out banks, I expect we’ll also have money for low-income earners to stave off their crisis. In our Marzahn-Hellersdorf district in particular, many people work in poorly paid jobs and just barely keep their heads above water.
No one should lose their home, no one should freeze in their home because the gas was cut off, and no one should starve because they can no longer afford basic groceries. This is non-negotiable.
If we all have to do it now, then that applies to citizens, but also to politicians. The fact that Berlin is currently debating a significant increase in the state’s emergency fund, which is intended to cushion the greatest hardship, is a step in the right direction.