In Ludwigsburg, the 31st municipal council has just met. LEV founded. The Greens have requested the accession of the city of Asperg. In the municipal council, a broad majority was found in favor of membership, which also brings advantages for the city. Landscape conservation, z.B. in the city’s orchard meadows, on the land consolidation areas on the Hausberg, and the maintenance of the compensation areas that the city has to create for its construction activities can be delegated to the association. The gardening department of the building yard is relieved and can take more care of the maintenance and care of the green areas in the city center.
The state of Baden-Wurttemberg provides the counties with funds for 1.5 positions for the establishment of landscape conservation associations (LEV). Only half a post is to be provided by the supporting associations themselves. After the foundation of a LEV, its staffing with the two workers as well as the completion of a management plan in the respective county, a so-called Natura 2000 officer position is established at the lower nature conservation authority of the county, for which the state takes over the personnel and material costs.
In Ludwigsburg County there are four bird sanctuaries and eight flora-fauna-habitat areas that fall under the Natura 2000 European protected area framework. In addition to the 21 nature reserves and 67 landscape protection areas designated in the district, there are approximately 500 nature monuments and countless legally protected biotopes, which – like the meadow orchards and vineyards as landscape-shaping elements of the cultural landscape of the district – provide habitats for specially protected species. In order to sustainably strengthen the coordination of landscape conservation in terms of personnel and organization, the Ludwigsburg Landscape Conservation Association has now been founded. 23 municipalities from the district participate in it.
The tasks of the landscape conservation associations ranged from preserving the cultural landscape to biotope and landscape conservation to implementing Natura 2000 management plans. It therefore pays off that different interests are represented on an equal footing in the landscape conservation associations. The associations work so successfully because they bring nature conservation, agriculture and local politics to the same table, develop joint solutions for nature and the landscape and mediate in conflicts. Landscape conservation associations make an important contribution to the preservation of our varied and attractive landscapes, which are also an important habitat for many animal and plant species.
(published in the Asperger Nachrichten on 26.11.2015)
Transport Minister Winfried Hermann has achieved one of his most important goals. Competition on the rails is taking place. Greens and rail experts have long claimed that the "Great Transport Agreement" concluded in 2003 between the black-yellow state government and the railroads mainly benefits the railroads. In view of the favorable offers from various rail companies, the minister now has proof that many millions of euros have been overpaid.
DB Regio’s failure to win the tender in the lucrative Stuttgart region is its own fault. Its bids were the lowest, but one contract condition was not met, so the company was disqualified. Although DB Regio will continue to operate – but already after 2016 at much lower prices. Because the new contracts will not take effect until 2019. In any case, the state will use the money to provide better train service than before.
No need to change yet: DB will maintain its presence in local transport. There are transitional contracts that now take effect. The curious thing is: DB Regio is providing the transport services in question – as before. But it does it cheaper and with more modern features. The figures now announced show: On average, a train kilometer cost 9.60 euros in 2017; currently, the state has to pay 11.69 euros for it. Compared to the conditions still in effect, the state has to spend an average of about 75 million euros less per year for the same number of train kilometers.
For the state, the competition was definitely worthwhile. The state cannot finance the train service solely with the funds earmarked for it by the federal government, but must also add to it from its own coffers so as not to have to give up any local transport connections. So this funding gap is now narrowing. Because the state will be paying for the entire term of these transitional contracts Spending 227 million euros less must be better than it is now.
From a technical point of view, too, the transport. In many places, passengers will also enjoy better vehicles. By December 2016, about one third of the old "silver pieces" will be replaced by newer and more comfortable vehicles. Baden-Wurttemberg is attractive again for transport providers.
(published in the Asperger Nachrichten on 29.10.15)
10.12.3, 8 p.m. Thomas Weber – AbWendelin – A Piece of Christmas with Thomas Weber – Alte Kelter Tamm
Jurgen Walter and the Tammer Greens invite to
With whom Wendelin Weber should also celebrate? One neighbor spoils his whole Christmas mood because she says she will only get up again to die. The other neighbor has neither the format nor the class of Maria, and the beloved Sternle in the seventh heaven burns through with her tattooed bull neck on his machine. That leaves Gloria, an angel in memory – but there’s still the matter of the 3-meter board!
Wendelin Weber celebrates Christmas with his guests. With all the trimmings. Really nice! As in former times with family and so. With a Christmas tree and lots of tinsel, with Christmas carols, stories and Santa Claus.
Once again, "old cables" are moving Asperger Thomas Weber, who has been running a theater in the Swabian Forest for over 15 years, to travel to his old home with his cult figure Wendelin to bring some Christmas spirit among the people
6.2.2016, 8 p.m. Dodokay – The World in Swabian – Stadthalle Asperg
Jurgen Walter and the Asperger Greens invite to
Dodokay comes with its live Comedy to Asperg. Whether Barack Obama, jungle Indians or Mr. Vader – thanks to Dominik "Dodokay Kuhn, they all speak Swabian. For more than eight years, the Swabian has been dubbing everything he can get his hands on and has been a huge success with fans on the Internet and on TV. Alone its Internet gloss "Virales marketing in the death star Stuttgart has on Websites such as YouTube& Co. Millions of clicks skimmed off. In the meantime, more than 100 of his films are circulating on the net, and he is a regular guest on SWR television with "Die Welt auf Schwabisch". He has long been said to have finally made Swabian acceptable worldwide.
Now Dodokay is coming to the stage in Asperg with his comedy show! The synchro-grass dachshund shows himself as he lives and lets us hear and see what he himself has to say! Stand-up comedy alternates with Dodokay’s greatest hits and brand-new synchros on the big screen! Dodokay looks deep into the Swabian soul and proves that it is anchored everywhere in the world. And he shows and that modern Swabians are cool – the cool ones at least.
TICKETS ARE NOW ALSO AVAILABLE FROM WRITING WOLF, Bahnhofstrasse 2/1 IN ASPERG
(published in the Asperger Nachrichten on 22.10.2015)
Green-red gets serious about giving citizens more say and participation in the state’s political processes. The law passed by the state parliament amending the municipal constitution lowers the hurdles for citizens’ petitions and referendums in the municipalities, thereby strengthening direct democracy in the state. Despite strong resistance on the part of the municipalities it succeeded in making the beginning of the land-use plan procedure citizen-decisionable.
Blockade policy of the CDU has failed
The CDU torpedoes the consensual results of a year-long cross-faction working group. Although the agreement on citizen participation dates back to an inter-factional agreement from 2013, there were no approval of the CDU. The CDU could not express its fundamental distrust of the competence of responsible citizens more clearly than this.
Hurdles lowered
The law significantly lowers the hurdle for citizens’ petitions and referendums: for citizens’ petitions from ten to seven percent of those eligible to vote and for citizens’ referendums from 25 to 20 percent. The deadline for submitting a citizens’ petition is doubled from six weeks to three months. All this makes it easier for citizens to actually get involved in important municipal decisions. In the future, citizens’ petitions can also be submitted on issues of urban planning and development. Until now, urban land use planning was excluded from the negative list.
Green-red relieved Citizens’ petition and Citizen referendums at the municipal level and makes Work in the Local councils and county councils for citizens/residents more transparent. At the same time Participation rights of elected councillors strengthened. With this, the state government is implementing one of its central concerns: the Strengthening direct democracy and at the same time Strengthening the representative democracy. Respect for the more than 20.000 volunteers in the local councils and the more than 2.380 honorary district councillors in the district councils was also the reason for the improvement of the working conditions of the councillors through longer invitation periods for meetings, the right to reimbursement of costs for child care or for the care of relatives during meetings, through extended application rights in the municipal council and district council and publication rights of the parliamentary groups in the official gazette.
A special concern is the participation of young people in local politics. Green-red anchors a binding right of participation for the youth community council or another form of youth representation in the municipal regulations. The participation of young people must not be a playground. Therefore the youth local council or the appropriate youth agency receives a speech and application right in the local council. Thus it is ensured that the suggestions of the young people are discussed also in the main organ of the municipality.
(published in the Asperger Nachrichten on 15.10.2015)
Last Saturday, representatives of the nature conservation associations from Asperg and Ludwigsburg, the Schutzgemeinschaft Osterholz, the Naturpark West e.V. from Ludwigsburg, the SPD and the Greens for a walk through the Osterholz forest. Jurgen Walter, MdL, state secretary in the ministry for science, research and art and Asperger had invited. For Jurgen Walter it is an urgent task to declare the Osterholz forest a protected area. This wish is also shared and intensively supported by the participants.
Due to illness, Jurgen Walter had to go home after the welcoming speech. Michael Klumpp, chairman of the Green Party, told the group that the Osterholz forest was to become a protected landscape area 25 years ago. What failed at the time due to the objection of the city of Asperg. Only 10 years ago, the district office was ready. But nothing happened. Now, when the city also gave its consent to the procedure, the district does not want to do it anymore. The other ideas from Ludwigsburg were also addressed, as well as the idea of the foundation Hoffnungstrager to sacrifice 4000 m² of forest for a housing project, which was still current a few months ago. It became clear that the forest is endangered, because again and again users want to intervene in the area.
The owner, the Federal Republic of Germany, wants to sell the area. Ludwigsburg has expressed interest in buying. But the Asperg municipal council is unanimous that the area must come into municipal ownership, but in any case must not go to Ludwigsburg. An area of this size and quality is not to be given away.
Because the forest is a unique feature. Not only that it is a special biotope with its old tree population, with the extensive use, the forest is also one of the few forest areas in the Ludwigsburg area, which already since the 17. has been forest throughout the twentieth century. This was pointed out by Dr. Greb attentively.
The ecological peculiarity can be seen in the more than one hundred species of beetles that have been identified, in the 45 species of birds, butterflies, bats, frogs, toads and newts in the wetland biotope. These types of composition alone would be sufficient in many other areas to protect the area. Why not in Asperg?
So the group, led by Michael Klumpp, who works as a nature conservation officer for Asperg in an honorary capacity, set off through the forest. We received additional support from a resident of the forest. Who knows the forest like the back of his hand.
The old buildings, remains of the old shooting lanes are particularly important. The brick buildings are in an astonishingly good condition despite the many years. But there are some dangerous places where bricks could break out. The traffic safety of the building parts is mandatory. The group discussed how this could be achieved and whether excessive demands prevent protection here.
After two hours, the group came back to the starting point. And agrees: the forest is an important recreational area for Asperg and Ludwigsburg. The forest can be used and is used by walkers and joggers, by young people and nature lovers. The forest areas do not have to be changed and modernized (as OB Spec suggested). They must remain as extensive as they are. But the forest also needs protection because there are too many interested parties who want to or can encroach on the forest if they get the property. The associations and groups will therefore continue to work to ensure that the forest is protected.
(published in the Asperger Nachrichten on 01.10.2015)
Last Saturday we were especially lucky with the weather. In bright sunshine, books, clothing, household and decorative items changed hands from 10 a.m. onwards. With over 60 booths, the square in front of St. Michael’s Church was once again filled with life. With white sausages, grilled red as well as coffee and cake both the exhibitors and the visitors could strengthen themselves for the negotiation discussions.
We would like to thank the protestant church again with a donation in favor of the youth work. A big thank you goes to the many helpers, especially to the Syrians Jafo and Mohanat, who were with us from the set-up to the dismantling. The date for the flea market in the next year you can already note: It is the17. September 2016.
Various items have been left lying around: A black bag with clothes, a basket with candle holders and 2 folding chairs. Please contact Renate Burkhardt (tel. 65775).
(published in the Asperger Nachrichten on 17.09.2015)
If you want to overthrow the education policy in Baden-Wurttemberg like Guido Wolf, you should know the basic arithmetic operations. Anyone who thinks they can draw conclusions about a system with 270 schools and tens of thousands of children from a classroom observation of 45 students at a single school would get an unsatisfactory grade as a student of statistics. We are waiting for the resilient overall study of the universities involved with the schools involved. If the CDU wants to use an individual feedback to a single school for their trench warfare against reforms, they act scientifically unserious and try to unsettle the parents.
Guido Wolf should see for himself, go to the schools and find out about the work with teachers and parents. He will hear that the offer of a child-oriented pedagogy and all-day care has hit a nerve in society. He, on the other hand, longs for a return to the old tripartite school system, which parents and students have long since voted with their feet to abandon. He does not have his own overall concept of how all school degrees will be preserved for the future.
The Association for Community Schools in Baden-Wurttemberg e.V. Rejects the statements quoted in the FAZ about the new type of school as unserious and scientifically incomprehensible. The FAZ tries to generalize an unfinished study about a single school and thus to create the completely premature impression that the result of the study by the education expert Thorsten Bohl from Tubingen is already certain. "It is unspeakable how an attempt is made here to exploit a possible first partial result of a comprehensive scientific investigation for political purposes", Matthias Wagner-Uhl, chairman of the association, explained. After all, it is always conceivable that certain difficulties will arise at a school. Who generalizes here, argues deliberately unserious. These eternal attempts to denigrate pedagogy and the commitment of educators are increasingly ignorant and not made any truer by repetition".
Meanwhile, it appears that general conclusions are drawn from partial results for one school – the Geschwister-Scholl-Schule in Tubingen, Germany. The Geschwister-Scholl-Schule is one of a total of ten community schools that have been supported by the University of Tubingen and the Universities of Education in Freiburg, Heidelberg and Weingarten since 2013, writes the Stuttgarter Zeitung. The final report with statements of principle on the new type of school is therefore expected in January 2016.
But the opposition does not want to give time to this new school form. Not at all for factual reasons, but because one sees an advantage for the election campaign and an opportunity to distinguish oneself from Green-Red. It was an attempt to generalize an unfinished study about a single school in order to denigrate the new type of school, he said. Objectivity falls by the wayside only because of cheap election campaign bluster. This is sad. Because with this all community schools are stamped, dedicated teachers and satisfied students no longer count. Suddenly, people are pretending that everything is fine in the conventional school system. My Wolf, Hauk& Co, only voters of the Greens and Reds send their children to community schools? They are also black people who do not let their school be talked out of existence and who are convinced that they have made a good decision – they do not want to become the plaything of possibly changing majorities in the state parliament. Trust protection must also guarantee the current opposition. Now however it tries itself as Kaputtredner.
First inform, then comment – but that’s what the opposition in the state parliament should also do.
(published in the Asperger Nachrichten on 03.09.2015)
Can you play games for a whole afternoon? Of course! Because at the Green Party’s afternoon of games, there were card games like "small fish", Games with words like Boggle, Tabu, making up stories and drawing, movement games like Twister and – because the weather was so nice – team games for outside as well. So the time flew by in a flash. In the lookout room of the Sadtbucherei we had a great space for our actions.
Thank you for allowing us to use this space. Next year we hope to be there again!
(published in the Asperger Nachrichten on 30.07.2015)
Asperg has taken another step towards family-friendly education and care. For years, child care has been expanded in Asperg. From infant care under three years old, to kindergarten, to core time care, the city has continually expanded services for families with children. That this works and is well received is shown by the fact that the number of children in Asperg is still rising. Families like to move to Asperg. The care and education for the children is an important location advantage.
After it was clear that there will no longer be a Werkrealschule in Asperg and that a community school will not be established, the Greens have spoken out in favor of the establishment of an all-day elementary school. The room capacities can be used so optimally. There was a working group for school development. There were discussions and a survey among all future grades, with a clear result. The school, the parents and parent representatives were involved from the beginning and paved the way in their institution with clear approvals in the direction of all-day elementary school in elective form. For the Greens, however, it was clear that this must be done in parallel at both elementary schools, so that parents who want an all-day school can stay in their school district and the children do not have to change either. A different introduction would have led to a split in Asperg, and we wanted to prevent that.
This is how it was decided by the municipal council, and this is how it is designed and requested by the two schools. This consensus of all factions in the municipal council was unfortunately cancelled in the last meeting of the municipal council. Without a conclusive argument for the staggered introduction of all-day elementary school in Asperg (see above for disadvantages). Because, as I said, parents can choose and even from school year to school year.
The electoral form means,
a) that parents can decide for each school year whether they want to register their child for the all-day form or not.
b) that they can choose whether they want to keep the half-day form.
c) that the children are taught and cared for until 3 p.m. with lessons and childcare services. Afterwards there is free time for hobbies, sports or other things. There will be no more homework after that.
d) that students can still go to core time after 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. So that parents have full flexibility in how it works best for their family situation.
e) no one is forced.
For this additional offer we invest again ca. 1 million euros in the Goethe and Friedrich Holderlin schools. A cafeteria must be created or expanded at both schools so that the children in the all-day elementary school can also eat lunch.
Need for a family center identified
The Greens had already applied for the establishment of a family center five years ago. However, in consultation with the administration, the processing was repeatedly postponed. Partly because information was still lacking, partly because structures still had to be created in the kindergarten facilities. In the meantime, a change has also taken place, the stationary facilities, which were common years ago, are giving way to more mobile or partially mobile offers.
Now a trainee, Sophia Kachel, has collected all data, contacts and structures in Asperg, which are active in the children and youth area. And has determined whether and in what form a family center is also necessary for Asperg.
Result: YES, There are already structures and links between all those who are involved with children and young people. YES, There is a desire and a need for a low-threshold help and information offer for parents. YES, it makes sense to further link and deepen everything existing. YES, The existing facilities cannot absorb all of this. YES, It makes sense to continue working on this.
After the summer break, therefore, a voluntary working group is to be formed from the various children’s and youth facilities to further evaluate the results of the project work. The goal is then to set up a central hub ("Network Family Forum").
The group is satisfied that the application has now been turned into a course setting for Asperg took place. All partners in child and youth work are to be better networked and there will be a central office that will bundle the offers and serve as a first point of contact.
(published in the Asperger Nachrichten on 16.07.2015)
Close to the citizens and efficient – with the police structural reform, we are strengthening the police and making them fit for future challenges and tasks. This is how people in Baden-Wurttemberg will continue to live safely in the future.
In hardly any other federal state do people live as safely as in Baden-Wurttemberg. The crime rate is low. And the southwest is also doing very well in solving crimes. But we must not rest on our laurels. That is why we have launched the police structural reform, which will take effect on 1. January 2014 came into force. We explain why this is necessary, and what the reform is about.
Why do we need police reform?
Not only is our society changing, but so are the threats to our security. This poses ever new challenges for the police. Be it the increase in organized crime, the many different forms of online fraud and cybercrime, or the management of large-scale operations. The fact is: The police are always faced with new and changed tasks.
The police could not cope with these tasks in the long term with the previous, almost 40-year-old structures. The police organization was too small by today’s standards. The performance of the departments varied greatly. We therefore had to reorganize the police and improve its organizational structure to meet future challenges.
What does the reform entail?
With the police structural reform, we have streamlined hierarchies and better positioned the protective police and criminal investigation department. The key points of the reform are:
1. The four state police headquarters at the regional councils of Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, Freiburg and Tubingen with 37 police headquarters and police directorates have been merged into twelve comparably efficient police headquarters with regional responsibility. These are directly linked to the state police headquarters in the Ministry of the Interior. With the new regional police headquarters, we have created uniform conditions for effective, professional and citizen-oriented police work.
2. A central police headquarters now bundles the riot police units and all of the state’s special units, the police helicopter squadron and the water police.
3. The Technology, Logistics, Service Bureau combines the technical tasks for the development, coordination and procurement of police command and control equipment and communications technology.
4. The organization and implementation of police education and training and the recruitment of new recruits will now come from a single source – the Baden-Wurttemberg Police College.
In short, we have created powerful regional police headquarters, streamlined hierarchies and bundled operational tasks, training and police technology. This freed up more personnel for actual police tasks. And we have thus made the police fit for the challenges of the future.
What does the reform mean for citizens??
For the citizens the police reform brings more security. With the reform, we have increased the presence of the police on the ground : Each of the 146 police precincts nationwide has received two additional patrols to ensure the safety of citizens. Powerful and modern command and situation centers now coordinate police operations . And criminal investigation units have been set up at all twelve regional police headquarters. This means that both the protective police and the criminal investigation department are now available around the clock for the people throughout the country.
(published in the Asperger Nachrichten on 09.07.2015)
Members of Parliament Jurgen Walter/GREENS and Claus Schmiedel/SPD are pleased about a grant totaling almost 2.5 million euros for the municipalities Asperg (17.307.68 euros), Kornwestheim (570.781.35 euros), Ludwigsburg (1.524.042.15 euros), Moglingen (133.49823 euros) and Remseck (176.900.45 euros). The money comes from federal funds, the specific distribution of which was decided by the Green-Red state government in consultation with the municipal state associations.
"The money will be used to make important investments possible – for example, in the energy-efficient renovation of municipal facilities, in air pollution control or noise abatement," said Jurgen Walter and Claus Schmiedel. The state leaves the municipalities a great deal of leeway in deciding which specific projects to invest the funds in. The municipalities in Ludwigsburg County receive over 4.6 million euros from this program.
In addition to the funds now distributed, the state is reserving 40 million euros of the money for broadband expansion projects. Local authorities can apply to the regional councils for this funding. A further 40 million euros will be distributed via the so-called equalization fund, which will be used to support smaller municipalities in particular where there are special needs.
"With this overall package, the country is enabling investments in future topics. The funds will help to further secure the future of our municipalities," concluded MdL.
Background information:
The law to promote investments by financially weak municipalities (Municipal Investment Promotion Act) was passed by the Bundestag in May 2015, and the Bundesrat approved it in June. Baden-Wurttemberg accounts for around 248 million euros of this amount.
It is the responsibility of the states to determine the group of communities that receive funding. The distribution of 168 million euros, which are available as a lump sum for investments in municipalities in Baden-Wurttemberg, is based on the criteria of tax power (below-average tax power of a municipality compared to the financial requirement) and unemployment rate (above-average unemployment rate of a municipality compared to the state average). That Asperg receives so little shows that the city scores particularly well on both eligibility criteria compared to other municipalities.
(published in the Asperger news on 02.07.2015)
One thing in advance: The Green group in Asperg criticizes the LKZ and the Stuttgarter Zeitung, which in their reports always give the impression that Asperg is ready to go along with the plans from Ludwigsburg. This is definitely not true for the Greens! The local council of Asperg has NOT received the documents from OB Spec until today, in order to be able to discuss it at all once. Because it was promised to us in the meeting in Tamm that we get the documents. Instead, the OB spreads his project in the media and pretends that this is an oversight. Not at all, it is a breach of trust.
As early as 9. June, the Greens from Asperg, Tamm and Ludwigsburg published a press release, which unfortunately was not reported by the press:
Meeting of the council groups from Asperg, Tamm and Ludwigsburg
Together, the local council groups of the Greens from Asperg, Tamm and Ludwigsburg discussed on Monday the plans for a relocation of the B 27 in Ludwigsburg to relieve Eglosheim. The disadvantages of a route along the railroad and along the highway to the Ludwigsburg Nord junction became clear.
"Certainly, it is a tempting idea to lower the car traffic and thus banish noise and exhaust fumes underground," noted local councilor Reiner Balko from Tamm. In the opinion of the Greens, however, there are various reasons why this option should not be pursued further. The real traffic problems could not be handled by this way. New roads will attract additional car traffic, he said. The hoped-for relief in the three municipalities is hardly noticeable here. On the other hand, 12 lanes along the Hirschbergsiedlung bring considerable new burdens. "The negative effects in the recreational area in the west of Ludwigsburg are also talked down," says Ludwigsburg City Councilor Christine Knob, who is also chairwoman of Naturpark West e.V. – At the same time, longer routes are seen by drivers as a detour and are only used if existing roads are effectively cut back. Is then also the will and the money for this available, ask the greens.
Markus Gericke, a city councilor in Ludwigsburg: "For the municipalities, the highway is the artery that receives and bundles intercity traffic."This is why the Green Party councillors are also in favor of upgrading the freeway. The burdens should be reduced in the short and medium term by speed limits, which at the same time improves the traffic flow. In the longer term, in the event of further expansion, structural noise protection must be provided. A cap – as planned between Boblingen and Sindelfingen – is a variant that needs to be examined.
But much more important than expanding the roads is to strengthen the alternatives. The expansion of bike paths and public transport should be prioritized from the Green Party’s point of view. However, the money cannot be spent twice, especially since the federal traffic route plan is underfunded and thus lacks funds for the expansion of federal trunk roads. "We will only get the traffic problems under control if fewer people are on the roads and if more switch to other modes of transport. This includes, in particular, the light rail system, which can reduce car traffic by connecting Markgroningen. We want to succeed in reducing traffic congestion not only in Eglosheim, but also in the whole of Ludwigsburg and in neighboring communities by offering attractive alternatives," summarizes Michael Klumpp, city councilor in Asperg.
In Eglosheim, improvements could be achieved quickly and inexpensively with simple measures – speed reduction to 30 km/h at least at night, further noise protection measures such as noise-optimized asphalt or green noise barriers, better crossing options – according to the local councillors from the three municipalities.
The Greens refuse to solve traffic problems from Ludwigsburg on Asperger territory again. This was already the case with the freeway connection and now the OB wants to act with the motorway-parallel road again on Asperger Markung. And for the apparent solution in Eglosheim, citizens of the Hirschbergsiedlung are to be held responsible. Relocation is not a solution!
(published in the Asperger Nachrichten on 18.06.2015)
On Saturday, the boule tournament of BIA and the Greens took place in the Burgergarten in best tournament weather. Last year’s winning team brought the Challenge cup with. 10 other teams had registered.
BIA and Greens set up drinks, grilled reds, coffee and cake so that the players and spectators could fortify themselves. Many thanks to all the helpers and the cake bakers!
The building yard has straightened the place and coated it with grit especially for our tournament. Many thanks for this! The gameplay was quite new and unfamiliar to some players.
Michael Kreuer us chief referee and tournament director had divided the teams into five groups and set up five lanes. Without him we could not hold the tournament at all. Thank you!
The rules are explained to all players
Then the preliminary round was drawn. Round after round was played until late in the evening until the new winning team was determined.
Congratulations:
Marcel Babler, Robin Walter and Dennis Honeise!
The winning team!
In the other places were:
2. Place: Rolf Kimmerle, Claudia u. Martin Kirschbaum
3. 1st place: Oliver Rohatsch, Frank u. Marvin Rohatsch
4. Place: Edgar Wintergrun, Michael Brachtel, Gunter Schneider
All are winners!
The Burgergarten is really a gem in the middle of the city. Every year many players come back because they appreciate the atmosphere in the Burgergarten. The relaxed afternoon under the chestnut trees. The decelerated way to play a few boules balls. The boule tournament in the Burgergarten has become an integral part of the year’s activities. We look forward to next year when the new winners are the defending champions!
(published in the Asperger news on 11.06.2015)
The abolition of the obligatory elementary school recommendation is the right way to go. Stress among elementary school students is lower today, children learn more carefree. This is the result of a study by the Schwabisch Gmund University of Education. And also the rush to the grammar schools conjured up by critics has failed to materialize.
They are just nine or ten years old and already suffering from stress. Studies show again and again: even at primary school age, many children feel under pressure or burdened. That’s why the state government abolished the mandatory elementary school recommendation in Baden-Wurttemberg in 2012. It was replaced by a new more intensive consultation of the parents by the primary school teachers. Goal: To take pressure off children in the third and fourth grades. They should be able to learn without fear and carefree.
The state government has also strengthened the rights of parents: the recommendation of the elementary school has been retained, but parents now have the final say in the question of which secondary school their child should attend. To help parents make the right decision for their child, the state government has stepped up counseling. The advisory service includes parent interviews and continuous observation of the child. This should help identify abilities, talents and potentials.
Children benefit from the elimination of the mandatory elementary school recommendation
What is the result after three years? Has the intended relief for primary school children actually been achieved?? Researchers at the University of Education Schwabisch Gmund have investigated this question. Their findings: children are benefiting. The elimination of the mandatory elementary school recommendation has led to less stress and more well-being among children.
Especially at schools where a high level of stress had previously prevailed, the situation would have relaxed and approached the level of schools with less stress, according to the findings. Girls in particular would have benefited.
Researchers had studied the effects of the change in regulation on children’s self-reported feelings of stress and well-being as recorded in the self-report and parent report. Two elementary school cohorts were compared for the study. One had still received a binding elementary school recommendation, the other already had the new advisory parent meeting.
Less pressure is important for learning success
"For the educational success of the children, it is important to reduce pressure to perform. The study makes it clear that we have taken the right path by expanding the advisory meeting with parents in the wake of the abolition of the binding nature of the elementary school recommendation," said Minister of Education Andreas Stoch.
Elementary school and parents would have reported back that the more intensive consultation with parents has led to a new culture of conversation in the schools. Parents’ decisions on which secondary school to attend are usually preceded by a well-founded and continuous exchange between the elementary school and parents, which has proven its worth and has been strengthened by the abolition of the binding recommendation.
No "rush" to high school
Critics of the reform had warned when it was introduced that without the binding recommendation, too many parents would send their children to grammar school. There would be a rush to high schools in the country, she argued.
These concerns did not materialize. Enrollment figures at secondary schools for the 2015/16 school year show: Gymnasiums are not being overrun; in fact, enrollment numbers for Gymnasium have actually dropped slightly for the second year in a row. After an initial boom in 2012, the percentage of children transferring to high school is now back at 42.4 percent, similar to 2011 (40.9 percent), the last year with mandatory elementary school recommendations. And the enrollment figures for the Realschulen are also declining for the coming school year: 34.5 percent of the year’s class will switch to the Realschule, compared to 34.3 percent in the 2011/2012 school year – i.e. before the abolition of the binding recommendation.
(Published in the Asperger News on 03.06.2015)
GREENS AT CHURCH DAY IN STUTTGART
Location: Market of Opportunities at the Wasen – Tent Hall 4 (Booth ZH4-A01)
Thursday, 4. June 2015
2 – 3 p.m Winfried Hermann, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure in Baden-Wurttemberg
4 – 5 p.m Cem ozdemir, Federal Chairman of BuNDNIS 90/DIE GRuNEN and Member of the German Bundestag
16:30-18 h Thekla Walker, State Chairwoman of Alliance 90/The Greens Baden-Wurttemberg
Friday, 5. June 2015
10:30-14:00 Oliver Hildenbrand, State Chairwoman of BuNDNIS 90/DIE GRuNEN Baden-Wurttemberg
11-11.30 o’clock Alexander Bonde, Minister for Rural Areas and Consumer Protection in Baden-Wurttemberg
14-15.30 o’clock Volker Beck, Bettina Jarasch, Sven Giegold (Members of the Religious Commission of the Federal Association)
16.00 h Volker Beck, Member of the German Bundestag
16.30-18.00 o’clock Brigitte Losch, Vice President of the State Parliament in Baden-Wurttemberg
(published in the Asperger Nachrichten on 07.05.2015)
We were there, we really tried.
Everything was organized. And bought. The construction could begin. But the continuous rain has not let up. And so, for the first time, we have decided to make the 1. May not take place. We had to cancel the music and the mountain tours as well. With a heavy heart, but a celebration was out of the question.
At 12 o’clock we had finally dismantled and cleaned up everything again. We were able to return almost all of the cake donations. The white sausages found private buyers. The remaining pretzels and rolls we have u.a. distributed among the asylum seekers in Gartenstrabe.
We would like to thank all the helpers, our cake bakers, the pizza team and the Schubart Stube! Next year we try it again.
(Published in the Asperger news on 29.04.2015)
a large group could stand and fulfill everything their hearts desired. But now hard work is needed, tenacious struggle for good ideas and results.
A good idea is to relocate Konigstrabe. It gives the city the opportunity to solve a pressing traffic problem at the intersection of Markgroninger Strasse/ Konigstrasse/ Eglosheimerstrasse. A traffic circle could solve the permanent traffic jam at the traffic lights, make the traffic more fluent. If this solution succeeds – and it is not at all certain yet whether it will and what obstacles remain – we will no longer need an extended turning lane. That it works at all is also not yet proven.
Once again this group wants a north or south bypass. How many meetings and discussions will it take before the wishing stops here as well?? The reality is that there will be a solution for decades, so never. This has already been reported here several times.
Some people also wish for something completely different at the quarry site. Here, too, there is no wishful thinking. Everyone knows that we in Asperg must sell the site as soon as possible, so as not to have to pay back many hundreds of thousands of euros in subsidies. Hopefully there will be an investor who will build on the area and rent school rooms to the IB Zentrum. The investor found is serious and from the region. That gives security for a long-term investment. As for the business tax, it will be the same for each of the possible tenants. Because only one large chain rents this location and they certainly don’t pay much at the Asperg location. Everything else is wishful thinking.
We should not be afraid of visions either. The vision is often bad-mouthed with the quote of former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt: "Whoever has visions should go to the doctor". Which of course has the purpose to make the political opponent ridiculous. But a vision is the long-term orientation of a city, also a strategy for the future. And therefore we need visions for Asperg. And we need plans in the drawers that will be brought out when something changes and there is a chance to make the city fit for the future. Sticking to the old, already existing is not enough. The challenges Asperg faces need ideas and visions. The best thing is that the local council manages to create a vision, for example with a new road layout with a traffic circle.
Therefore, we in our group do not have anything against applications and also not against many applications. Provided they move the city forward or create a vision. Unfortunately, this is missing in many applications. They bring no progress, they show no blueprint for the future, they only want to stick to existing structures and even demand things that have already been decided differently in the municipal council.
Old hat, long since disproved
Already on 12. February, we reported: The green-red state government invested a total of 727 million euros in road construction between 2011 and 2015. The previous governments invested only 508 million euros in road construction between 2001 and 2005 and a total of 562.1 million euros between 2006 and 2010. These figures clearly show that the criticism that the government is investing too little money in road construction is absurd. Never before have so many funds been used for state road construction in Baden-Wurttemberg as under the Green-Red government. The goal is to use the available funds efficiently. Both maintenance measures and expansion and new construction projects will therefore be addressed according to urgency. The basis for this is the prioritization carried out in recent years according to technical criteria.
A change in the rate of support in the transport sector was necessary. Support for municipal transport infrastructure in the state will be designed to be ecological, sustainable and community-friendly in the interests of sustainable mobility development. A good transport policy in the municipalities also includes the environmentally friendly modes of public transport, cycling and walking. For far too long, previous governments have focused only on car transport.
(published in the Asperger Nachrichten on 23.04.15)
The Council of Ministers on 24. In February 2015, the draft law on the legal regulation of inclusive education was released for consultation.
The planned amendment to the School Act provides for the abolition of the obligation to attend special school for pupils with an established entitlement to special educational provision. This strengthens the right of parents of children with special educational needs to choose whether their child should attend a general or special school. Inclusion will be understood as a fundamental task of all schools in the future and will thus be an integral part of the educational system.
To implement inclusion, a total of 1350 new positions are planned, for which 97 million euros a year are budgeted. In its model calculation, the Ministry of Education assumes that 28 percent of the families of children with special educational needs will opt for inclusive education at general schools in the final expansion phase. The planned amendment to the school law is to come into force in the 2015/2016 school year.
After protracted negotiations, the state government has reached an agreement with the municipalities on the assumption of costs for the inclusion of handicapped children in regular school classes. This is about financing measures beyond additional teaching positions. According to a statement by Finance Minister Nils Schmid and Education Minister Andreas Stoch on 23.02. the state wants to pay up to 30 million euros per school year for school assistants, student transportation and construction measures in the final year. Negotiations are still underway on the exact disbursement of these funds.
The state plans to pay around 18 million euros to municipalities in the 2015/2016 school year. In the school year 2016/2017 it is to be approximately 24 million and in the two following school years in each case 30 million euro. It was agreed to take stock after three years and review what additional costs were actually incurred.
The podcast with Minister President Winfried Kretschmann on the Inclusion Act is available on the following pages:
DISCUSSION ON THE TOPIC OF INCLUSION – ON 6. MAY 2015 IN THE STATE ARCHIVES IN LUDWIGSBURG
With the expert Prof. Dr. Kerstin Merz-Atalik, Professor of Inclusion Education at the Ludwigsburg University of Education. The evening will be moderated by Max Bleif, Founder and one of the spokespersons of the state working group on disability policy of Bundnis`90/DIE GRuNEN Baden-Wurttemberg.
The event will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the lecture hall of the Ludwigsburg State Archives, Arsenalplatz 3. The lecture hall of the State Archives Ludwigsburg is accessible barrier-free.
(published in the Asperger Nachrichten on 16.04.2015)
After the scientific service of the German Bundestag has determined that municipal bodies are not allowed to deal with the TTIP agreement at all, as they are only allowed to deal with matters of municipal services of general interest, we publish here the statement of the state government. Regardless of this, the Greens naturally believe that an agreement of this kind also affects local bodies, as TTIP also has an impact on the municipal sector.
"Baden-Wurttemberg is to a large extent a player and profiteer of globalization. It is therefore in our very own interest to use TTIP to positively shape globalization and influence global standards, for example in consumer protection or with regard to fair and sustainable trade rules," said Minister President Winfried Kretschmann after the cabinet meeting. The Council of Ministers had previously adopted key points for the state government’s position on TTIP. "We want an ambitious TTIP that benefits our strong export economy in the state, but also equally benefits citizens."
"Our benchmark is to use agreements like TTIP to give globalization social, environmental and rule-of-law rules," said Minister for the Bundesrat, Europe and International Affairs Peter Friedrich. "We assume that Baden-Wurttemberg’s economy, and especially our small and medium-sized businesses, will benefit from a free trade agreement."The U.S. is an important trading partner for Baden-Wurttemberg with its strong mechanical and automotive engineering sector and its successful metal and electronics industry. "The removal of trade barriers through TTIP will give Baden-Wurttemberg companies even better access to the U.S. market. TTIP can therefore mean a further boost to export trade with the U.S.," Friedrich said. "This is also likely to have a positive impact on our labor market in the state," Kretschmann added.
"However, free trade and the TTIP are not an end in themselves," Friedrich emphasized. The state government is therefore clearly opposed to the inclusion of investment protection provisions and dispute settlement mechanisms in the investor-state relationship in TTIP, Kretschmann said: "We are committed to ensuring that there is no privatized parallel justice system that can undermine the legislative competence of states."The state government therefore supports the establishment of a permanent, multilaterally legitimized international trade court, staffed by independent, state-funded professional judges, with an appellate body and subject to the principle of publicity," added Peter Friedrich, Minister for the Bundesrat, Europe and International Affairs.
The state government also considers it essential that the dismantling of non-tariff trade barriers does not lead to a lowering of the level of protection, for example in the area of consumer or environmental protection in the European Union and the member states. "Not the cheapest price and the worst production conditions, but innovation, good money for good work and quality must be the goals of TTIP. And where Black Forest Ham is written on it, it must actually continue to be in it," said Minister Peter Friedrich.
"It is not enough that the audiovisual services sector is excluded from the TTIP negotiations. We need a cross-chapter exception of the entire culture and media sector," Friedrich emphasized. With regard to local authorities, it is also important to safeguard public services. "TTIP must not create direct or indirect pressures for privatization," the minister said.
Maximum transparency in negotiations would be needed to adequately address public concerns and fears. "At present, there is every indication that TTIP will be a so-called ‘mixed agreement’, which will then also have to be approved by the Bundestag and Bundesrat. And I say quite clearly: We do not issue a blank check to TTIP in the Bundesrat. But we will put the agreement through its paces," said Prime Minister Kretschmann.
"In order for the state to contribute to the creation of a transparent negotiation process, but also to identify and discuss other interests of the state, we will establish a TTIP advisory board of the state government," Kretschmann announced. Under the chairmanship of Minister Friedrich and one vice-chairman each from the Ministry of Finance and Economics and the Ministry for Rural Areas and Consumer Protection, the state government wants to involve important partners such as associations, municipalities, science, churches and civil society, he said.
The state government’s key issues paper can be found here.
(published in the Asperger News on 09.04.2015)
From the beginning there were more questions than answers. From the side of the citizenry and conservationists, the main concern was the destruction of 4.000 m² of forest and the loss of local recreation areas criticized. That refugees should be cared for far away from the city in the forest was more than questionable under the aspect of "integration". In addition the donation had set itself by its purchase behavior opposite the forest house into a bad light.
What ultimately tipped the scales in favor of abandoning the project is not known. For the nature conservation associations BUND, Nabu, LVN, the Naturparkwest Verein and the Weststadtverein Ludwigsburg, which have massively opposed the development, it has been worthwhile. The ecologically important forest in Osterholz will be preserved. And for the "hopefuls" it was worth it too. Because pushing such a project against all odds would only have damaged the foundation’s reputation.
The Greens are now calling for consideration of how the forest in the Osterholz can be protected as a whole, so that no one gets the idea to build here anymore. Protection can certainly go hand in hand with gentle use in the form of walking and jogging paths, as has been done so far. Since the Ludwigsburg clubs have made such a strong case, perhaps cooperation and a joint acquisition for protection would be conceivable.
Appeal to the youth of Asperg
The Green Group has submitted a motion to the municipal council, which is now to be implemented. The point is that the Asperger youth at a round table for discussions with the local council is invited. Since the Youth Community Council no longer exists, there is no longer an institution where young people can have their say. This must change.
The city council has now written to all parties, clubs, associations and organizations, asking them to make the offer to young people and asking them to come forward. The Greens do the same: To all young people reading this article. Please report through the association or other organization to which you belong. Or get in touch via our homepage if you want to participate in the round table. To all parents reading this, address your children, teenagers and urge them to get involved.
We want to establish a new culture of discussion in Asperg. We want to give young people a voice again, not only when elections are coming up, but on a regular basis.
(By the way: The state government is currently amending the municipal code of law. In the future, it will be a mandatory task for cities to set up an information exchange with young people. Asperg is just ahead again!)