The Olching Adult Education Center invited to the panel discussion exactly three weeks before the local elections. Six candidates for mayor discussed - actually about education and culture. However, schools, their costs and childcare emerged as the focal point. But the citizens moved very different things.
Olching - While carnival was raging in many places, the Martinschule gymnasium was about local politics. The focus of the panel discussion was on the role that educational and cultural institutions play in urban development in times of acute problems such as housing shortages. These are also the core topics of the organizer - the VHS. Around 250 visitors listened to the debate for over two hours.
education
At least there was agreement that education and culture are important for the city. Stefan Eibl (Free Voters Olching) emphasized: "Education is the key to everything." Maximilian Gigl (CSU), current school officer, said: "We have to provide the schools and our facilities as best as possible." ) wanted for Olching in addition to the elementary schools, the middle school and the high school a possibility to be able to get the middle degree, so a secondary school or the M branch.
Magg expressed rather harsh criticism of the state of the high school for which the district is responsible. "Nothing has changed since I graduated from high school in 1998." The building, which was built in the 1970s, was unacceptable to the students. The district is currently examining a new building.
childcare
When it came to childcare, Stefan Eibl (FWO) complained that people talked about places but not about content. He demanded: "I want very good care and not that children are only parked." In addition, you shouldn't hold round tables with parents and citizens when the fire is going on, but to realize visions together.
Magg accused his opponent of spreading “fairy tales” on the subject of childcare. The city fulfills its prescribed tasks, the numbers speak for themselves. The midday care for the fourth grades has also been regulated.
VHS in old school?
The sextet had completely different ideas of where more space (than just the KOM) could be given to creative artists, those interested in culture and creative people in Olching.
Respect for everyone involved: VHS chairwoman Hélène Sajons (right) and Anke Velasquez.
© Weber
Greens candidate Michael Maier, like Andreas Teichmann (FDP), brought into play the former secondary school on Heckenstrasse, which has been empty for years. Maier could imagine accommodating a library here, for example, with little expenditure of money.
Magg replied: "For this you have to invest heavily." For Gigl one thing is certain: "It should be demolished." Instead, Gigl (and Teichmann) could imagine senior-friendly living there. Gabriel Sailer (ÖDP) proposed the area as a new location for the VHS.
Künstlerquartier
For FDP City Councilor Teichmann it is clear: "Culture belongs in the Paulusgrube." Eibl also considers the newly planned station district to be suitable for a culture and education center. Magg, on the other hand, wants culture where it already is: at the KOM, or better said on the nearby fallow ground. "The most expensive parking lot in the city." The Green Party candidate agreed. Maier could even imagine an artist quarter. But Sailer from the ÖDP disturbed a mundane thing: "Then where should the cars park?"
traffic
The topic of traffic could not be ignored. The audience found creative approaches. True to the motto: You also have to drive or cycle to the concert. Magg explained that he imagined a common area for all road users on the main road. Maier wants the road to be fit for bicycles, and Sailer doesn't want anything to attract traffic there. Gigl hover parking spaces in the Paulusgrube and at the Volksfestplatz and a free shuttle into the main street - in the long run even driverless.
Violent criticism
Josef Glas, chairman of the sepia artist group, also came in from the audience. He criticized violently. First, he complained about the fees that artists would have to pay to use the KOM. Magg described this as moderate. Glas also complained that politics was not planning for the long term.
A little bit of fun must be: The mood on the podium was good, but the candidates didn't give anything.
© Weber
The auditorium of the Graßlfing primary school, which had been renovated just a few years ago, has already been torn down. CSU school officer Gigl replied that the need for childcare had changed.
Andreas Teichmann (FDP) complained in connection with the fact that the conversion and expansion of the school in Graßlfing was initially estimated at EUR 12 million, but now the budget is EUR 25 million. "If you had known this number at the time, you might have decided otherwise." Magg corrected: 20 million euros would be in the budget and in the project decision. The costs for swiveling the Schulstrasse run extra.
by Susanne Schwind
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