Virtual SPD New Years Reception: Clear statements on Penzberg's austerity policy
Created: 01/11/2022, 11:00 AM
From: Andreas Baar
Discussion at the Penzberg SPD: (from left) parliamentary group leader Adrian Leinweber, district councilor Elke Zehetner, local chairman Clemens Meikis and third mayor Hardi Lenk sat together for a virtual New Year's reception.
© Andreas Baar
Penzberg - Clear statement from the Penzberg SPD: There are limits to an urban austerity program.
That was emphasized at the virtual New Years reception.
For weeks now, an austerity course has dominated the local political deliberations on this year's budget in Penzberg.
For the local SPD, however, there are limits, despite the financial necessities.
At the virtual New Year's reception, the local club grandees made it clear that they would not support all of the deletions in the city council.
Do not touch the family bathroom
Group leader Adrian Leinweber used the specially recorded round of talks to defend himself against allegations that too many large projects had been launched in the past: “I don't see it that way,” emphasized Leinweber in the direction of the CSU - “the ideas came out to the whole city council.
The opening date for the around 26 million euro project (currently set for spring 2023) should not be "postponed any further".
Against sale of apartments
Third Mayor Hardi Lenk also made it clear that the sale of communal apartments in the almost 54 million euro urban new building project Birkenstrasse-West for counter-financing is not an option: "That is absolutely impossible with the SPD." Lenk also resisted another financial policy idea: Another topic in the budget consultations was an increase in property taxes in order to flush more money into Penzberg's coffers.
In the city there is already a high rent index, Lenk warned of the negative effects on prices.
We were left out
Third Mayor Hardi Lenk on the beginnings of the SPD after the 2020 election slump in the new city council.
Otherwise, the local Social Democrats looked back positively on their own local politics - and on developments in the city council.
“We had to find our position”, Lenk admitted self-critically in view of the 2020 election failure.
“We were left out,” recalled the third mayor.
His conclusion: "We arrived more." Basically, however, Lenk and parliamentary group leader Leinweber praised the good cooperation in the local parliament.
Although Leinweber also restricted: "That doesn't work with all parliamentary groups."
Happy to have my own clinic
Elke Zehetner was responsible for looking beyond the city limits.
In view of the debates about the future of the district's own hospitals in Weilheim and Schongau (Rundschau reported), the SPD district councilor recalled the experiences with the district's sale of the Penzberg clinic.
That the facility, taken over by the Starnberg Clinics, continues to exist in Penzberg, "we are really happy and grateful".
In view of the “huge discussion” at the time, according to Zehetner, it is important “to take the citizens with you”.
She described the most recent district council resolution to make the Weilheim and Schongau clinics fit for the future through restructuring as the wrong signal: "It's about people's health."
Former Mayor Hans Mummert campaigned for solidarity at the SPD New Year's reception.
© Andreas Baar
Signal from the former mayor
Former Mayor Hans Mummert sent a special signal.
In order to overcome the corona pandemic and its effects, it is "important that society sticks together," the veteran social democrat campaigned for solidarity.
After 53 minutes of virtual reception, in the live evening with up to 35 visitors on Facebook, a question and answer session for the SPD representatives followed.
