While the municipal council focused on the rigorous investigation into undermining in Hoogeveen, that attitude came back like a boomerang. Researcher Edward van der Torre freaked out after hearing so many questions about a “stigmatizing” study. “I don’t understand your position,” he snapped at the council.
Almost all questions from municipal councilors focus on whether or not stigmatization is included in the conclusions of the study; they were not gentle: the municipal approach is completely lacking and undermining is rampant in the municipality.
Two researchers conduct field research in the Oranjebuurt and the Verzetsbuurt. In addition, research was conducted into the many car companies and caravan residents were identified as a possible risk. That research was enough for firm conclusions, the committee found.
Stamp
It resulted in respondents who were aggrieved and felt attacked. “We used to get such a stamp and we will never get rid of it,” said a speaker from the Oranjebuurt. And the caravan residents also made themselves heard.
“We want to look at that one quote about caravan residents and we apologize for it, but we are not going to change the rest,” said chairman Arie Teeuw of the Audit Committee. Teeuw gave an account of the investigation, but mainly had to defend himself. He received quite a few questions about whether the researchers had created stigmas for Hoogeveen, for the residential areas and for the car industry.
That didn’t sit well with researcher Van der Torre. “With our research we are trying to help your residents; people who give their residential area an eight, but say: ‘but we occasionally look the other way’. And you’re talking about stigmatization. The perspective has completely tilted and I am so disappointed with your advice.”
Teeuw then kept Van der Torre out of the wind, but continued to stick to his position. Even when he was asked why those two working-class neighborhoods in particular had been chosen to investigate. “Don’t worry: we also encountered subversion in a residential area, but in a different form, for example white-collar crime. If you now say: you should investigate more neighborhoods, that would be very nice to me. For the residents of Hoogeveen, because they are screwed now. Subversion has started in Brabant, but it is coming this way. It’s here.”
Order in order
Teeuw insisted that it is high time for the council in Hoogeveen to put its affairs in order: develop a vision and a long-term plan of action. “Because your honorable, decent citizens are being affected by these criminals.”
On October 5, the Hoogeveen municipal council will debate the research with the council.