Dec 18, 2019
Maisie, Dan and Joel meet at Gendarmenmarkt Christmas market to
catch up on the news.
Berlin's advertising boards are full of complaints by companies
against the city government. Airbnb is demanding that bureaucracy
more efficiently approve its hosts' applications. Do they expect
citizens to care?
The revolutionary rent freeze law has been passed, meaning our
rents can't be increased for the next five years. Investors
continue to buy up property. The SPD's new leftish national
leadership wants to copy Berlin's law in other German cities.
Pedestrian deaths are up a lot this year: 23 people have died so
far after being hit by cars - a 60% increase. The local Green party
has made it one of its policies to phase cars out of the inner
city. Friedrichstrasse will go car-free for three months next
summer.
Berlin finally starting to control the fireworks madness on New
Year's Eve. Want some peace and quiet this Silvester? Go to
Alexanderplatz, which is one of only two places where fireworks
have been officially banned.
Want a Christmas tree but don’t want to kill a living entity? You
can rent a living tree for €20, and get €10 back if you return it
in good condition.
See you next year for our live recording on January 26 at the
Comedy Cafe Berlin!