The stories I hear in Berlin on local authorities magic tricks to circumvent the debt brake and invest in delapidatef infrastructure are incredible.
Berlin has responsibility for investing in schools but no money. So it passes public schools to a 'public' company managed under private law so it can borrow to invest.
This, of course, opens up the Pandora box of privatisation - it's a love affair with PPPs that Germany has had for a long time, and that, I heard yesterday from a PPP expert, has produced 'scandal after scandal' and waste of public money
Same w recent rent cap in Berlin, celebrated around the world as win against rapacious rent capitalism :
'we had to allow for loopholes so private owners can invest in energy efficiency,' as climate plan kicks in soon
'we had to allow for loopholes so private owners can invest in energy efficiency,' as climate plan kicks in soon
Why, I ask naively, isn't this am opportunity for state to put a solar panel and insulate every house in Berlin?
'it will cost billions'
But Germany has billions, it has trillions that it can borrow.
'ah no, #schwarzenull '
'it will cost billions'
But Germany has billions, it has trillions that it can borrow.
'ah no, #schwarzenull '
A long feature on why a Green New Deal for Berlin - solar panels and all, is necessary (but politically impossible given debt break) cleanenergywire.org/dossiers/city-…
