On Sunday 14.6.2015 we had a spontaneus visit by a great Project from Paris: R-Urban.
They told us about their problems with the municipality due to a change in the local political situation. Their lease was ended and they have to move the project. Contracts are also broken, so the cooperative housing project has no longer the support of the local city administration. The plan is to replace the project by a car park for temporary parking. This means that about 200 people will loose the jobs they do in the projects, most of them are from social lower class in the area. Therefore the project cannto move outside of the area, as was suggested by the local government.
Background is that the local politicians may feel threatened by the project because it is a place where peope can emancipate and then they won’t vote for the party, and also the mayor is 79 (older generation) and his wife has a company that demolishes buildings. This might explain this irrational political and ideological goal of destroying the project.
There is a European contract to encourage and help the project with public money. The project leaders are now searchigng for platforms for legal support and support with the European Commission.
Suggested strategies:
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Suggestion to attend the Climate Change Conference in Paris in December.
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contact ‘Place to be’ Association.
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build up pressure by starting a petition on change.org
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search for a local mediator
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search for alternative plots for the car park
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contact Mietshäusersysdikat and [Wächterhäuser][4] initiative for advice
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find a pro bono lawyer