Hamburg Newsletter: A City in Brief
Good morning, Hamburg! Let’s dive into the day’s key stories.
Political Turmoil in Harburg’s SPD
How do you report on a conflict so multifaceted that any attempt to describe it inevitably leaves more out than it includes? The focus is on the majority faction within Harburg’s district assembly, the election of a new district office head, and a potential first application of the Senate’s new policy of filling the position from City Hall if local representatives can’t agree. This is undeniably important.
This Thursday, the Harburg SPD district faction convenes to discuss a motion from its leadership to expel five of its fifteen members. Given that the board already commands six votes, it is likely to secure a majority. The resulting faction would become the second-largest in the Harburg district assembly, controlling only 22 out of 51 votes in conjunction with the Left and Green parties – insufficient to elect a new district office head. This would effectively dismantle the long-planned red-red-green coalition in Harburg before it even begins.
The SPD faction leadership is withholding public comment until after the vote. However, actions have already been taken: the five targeted representatives have been removed from all district committees. While faction leader Frank Richter describes the remaining ten members as "a reliable and active working faction," he acknowledges, "It’s no secret that not everything is running smoothly with us."
One way to put it is that the leadership clique of a German-descended majority within the Harburg SPD suspects a minority with migration background of attempting to subvert the party by incorporating "phantom members" and seizing power. The minority, in turn, feels deprived of its rights to participate. Briefly, they managed to take over the district board, which decides on the admission of new members. However, with the support of the Hamburg party headquarters, the German-descended majority achieved a kind of reconquest. Since then, they have been "cleaning house."
Did I mention that a complete description of the most essential circumstances is virtually impossible? Not mentioned: the intervention of police and prosecutors on the side of the majority. A court decision in favor of the minority. The manner in which Turkish-descended migrants were prevented from running for the city parliament. The role of the SPD state board, pulling the strings in the background. Some of this is covered [here (Z+)] and [here (Z+)], to be continued.
Ballet Blues: Internal Criticism Mounts at the Hamburg Ballet
Criticism is surfacing from within the Hamburg Ballet regarding the new artistic director, Demis Volpi. It became known in early April that five principal dancers would not be renewing their contracts, including Alexandr Trusch. Now, reports indicate that approximately 30 dancers have addressed a letter of complaint to Senator for Culture Carsten Brosda (SPD). The cultural authority confirmed receipt of a letter but declined to comment on its contents. A spokesperson stated that the change in leadership after 51 years under John Neumeier is "naturally a challenge for all involved."
Hamburg’s Universities Laud Coalition Agreement
The heads of Hamburg’s universities have praised the coalition agreement for its "clear future agenda" for science. This was reported yesterday by the State University Conference. Highlighted was the provision of more than six billion euros for the new construction and renovation of university buildings over the next 20 years. The Senate also intends to strengthen Hamburg as a location for artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
Club Scene in Crisis: Survey Reveals Existential Threats
The situation for club operators remains dire. According to a survey by Clubkombinat, approximately one-third are facing existential threats, and almost one in five clubs are considering closing within the next twelve months. The survey involved 56 club operators and festival organizers. Clubkombinat, their official representative, will be drawing attention to the situation with unusual actions from May 21st to 25th under the motto "Club differently." Information can be found [here](link to info).
Quick Hits: News in Brief
- Today marks the start of the 37th German Shipping Day in Hamburg. Discussions on security will be a key focus.
- Upcoming U1 subway line closure: There will be no service between the Ochsenzoll and Fuhlsbüttel Nord stops from May 12th to 18th.
- Police reports: An eleven-year-old boy was seriously injured in a traffic accident in Neugraben-Fischbek. The man who was injured by a firearm on St. Pauli on Saturday is out of danger, but the perpetrator remains at large. And a carpentry shop burned down in Langenhorn.
Nine Years Later: Reflecting on a Papal Audience
Nine years ago, Pope Francis invited homeless people from Hamburg to an audience in Rome. How did the encounter change their lives? Here’s an excerpt from an article by ZEIT:Hamburg author Anna-Elisa Jakob.
When he was invited to Rome by the Pope, Chris didn’t want to go. Just hours before departure, on the morning of November 10, 2016, he still hadn’t packed his bag. He remembers a social worker calling him and saying: Come along, it will do your soul good. For his sake, he still traveled, towards the Vatican. Whether it would work with the soul, he wanted to see.
Jan Sjoerds didn’t take the whole thing so seriously, he thought it was a joke. What did the Pope want from him?
Only Johannes Wiedeking quickly realized what it would be: a real pilgrimage.
The three were among the approximately 4,000 homeless people who Pope Francis received in the Vatican in the "Year of Mercy." About 70 of them traveled from Hamburg to Rome, almost all of them men.
The next day, Francis greeted them in the audience hall of the Vatican. The Pope walked through the crowd to the front, shaking hands. He asked some of his guests to come to the podium, exchanged a few words with them, and placed his hand on their heads. He said: "I ask you for forgiveness for all the times when we Christians turn our eyes away from a poor person or a situation of poverty. Sorry!"
Chris unfortunately didn’t understand all of this so well, the button with the simultaneous translation in his ear didn’t work properly. Instead of German, he sometimes heard Italian, sometimes Spanish. Johannes Wiedeking, on the other hand, had fully arrived inwardly on the pilgrimage, and had admired the paintings of the earlier popes on the way to the audience hall. And now a real Pope called him "brother." Jan Sjoerds did not memorize the words of the Holy Father, but he remembered how much gold, marble and splendor he passed in a single day. So much wealth in such a small space.
How the men look back on the trip nine years later, read more in the unabridged version on ZEIT ONLINE. [Link to full article].
Digital Economy Dominates: OMR Festival Kicks Off
The digital economy is much more than an economic sector. It affects many people in the cultural, entertainment, and media industries.
Today, the OMR Festival begins, attracting people from the digital economy to the exhibition halls for two days. Founder Philipp Westermeyer discusses the unusual success of his fair in the podcast "Alles gesagt?" Listen to the entire episode [here](link to podcast).
Commemorating and Reflecting: "Liberation" at Kampnagel
To conclude the "Week of Remembrance," a performance of the multi-perspective peace oratorio "Liberation" will take place on May 10th at Kampnagel. Turkish-Armenian musician Marc Sinan developed the work with cultural workers from six countries. The orchestra consists of musicians from various well-known European ensembles, including Ensemble Reflektor.
"Liberation," 10.5., 7:30 PM, Kampnagel K6, Jarrestraße 20; more information and tickets can be found [here](link to tickets).
A Blankeneser Breeze: Feeling the Island Vibes
On the sunny terrace of a Blankeneser bistro, a light breeze is blowing. Enthusiastically, I turn to the friendly table neighbors: "Isn’t that a wonderful Sylt feeling?" Just as friendly, but determined, the reply comes back: "No, that’s Föhr feeling."
Heard from Günter Brinkhoff.
That was "Elbvertiefung," the daily Hamburg newsletter from ZEIT. If you would like it delivered to your inbox daily at 6 AM, you can subscribe for free [here](link to subscription).
