From Hildburg Bruns
Advent, Advent, not a single light burns! The Senate does not want to free up taxpayer money for the Christmas lights in the capital.
“I don’t see subsidizing the additional energy consumption in such a situation,” said Economics Senator Stephan Schwarz (57, independent) on Tuesday.
Klaus-Jürgen Meier (65), CEO of AG City, counters: “Without participation, there will definitely not be any Christmas lights.”
In recent years, the magical lights on the median and in the plane trees of Tauentzien and Kurfürstendamm have cost up to 600,000 euros per year. About half subsidized the State of Berlin.
But the previous Senate had already announced that it wanted to withdraw from co-financing, but then participated in the two Corona years.
“Of course we can use more economical lighting. Everything has already been switched to LED anyway,” says local resident representative Meier. “But the collateral damage from disappointed visitors would be greater than the savings if there were no total.”
But don’t turn off the lights for the “Festival of Lights”!
The spotlights will be switched off at around 150 monuments and buildings – but the “Festival of Lights” light show (October 7th to 16th) can take place.
Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf
“It’s free for Berliners and there are no public funds,” defends Economics Senator Stephan Schwarz (57, non-party). “Berliners can be out and about in the evenings, don’t sit in front of the television – that also saves money,” he adds with a smile.
The organizers have given assurances that they will reduce the duration of the lighting. It is expected that 70 objects will be illuminated, including the Victory Column, which has now been darkened.