The former chairman of the board of the Dutch Public Broadcasting (NPO), Shula Rijxman, will become alderman for D66 in the new Amsterdam city council. Her portfolio includes public health, digital city and participations. Rijxman is one of six female aldermen who will take office, in addition to three male councilors.
The portfolio allocation and the names were announced on Wednesday morning, at the same time as the coalition agreement of election winner PvdA with GroenLinks and D66. PvdA party leader Marjolein Moorman will keep her portfolio (education), as will GroenLinks leader Rutger Groot Wassink (social affairs). D66 leader Reinier van Dantzig becomes alderman for housing and spatial planning.
The most important measures from the coalition agreement were already on the street on Tuesday evening. The plans for the years 2022-2026 rest on three important pillars: “a city of solidarity with opportunities for everyone, a sustainable future and responsible growth of the city”, according to the authors.
More houses
The ambition is to build more affordable houses for the low and middle incomes. “We want to offer more space for Amsterdammers and for people who want to become Amsterdammers. Amsterdammers make Mokum,” reports the trio. The aim is therefore to build 7,500 homes per year, of which, just like now, 40 percent is social, 40 percent in the middle segment and 20 percent in the private sector. “Fifteen percent of the total Dutch housing construction can be realized in Amsterdam. This is not possible without major investments in infrastructural projects, which Amsterdam can only do together with the national government,” said future housing alderman Van Dantzig.
The city is also investing heavily in insulating homes. 32 million euros is being earmarked for this. Agreements are made with the ten largest polluters about reducing CO2 emissions.
Investing in deprived areas
The new city council is also investing money in deprived neighborhoods and poverty alleviation. For example, 60 million euros will go to the Zuidoost, Nieuw-West and Noord districts to raise the opportunities for residents to a higher level. Millions will also be made available for street safety and more enforcement.
The money to realize all the plans comes from, among other things, raising property taxes, expanding paid parking and cutting back where possible. Amsterdam also expects more income from tourism.