More years have gone by with only bad news. Targets for housing construction are not being met and "Eigenbedarf" (landlords needing apartments for themselves or close family members) has become big business, with elected officials making no serious effort to control the widespread abuse.
Added to that is a more flagrantly racist approach to politics and policing, and more surreptitious ways of gentrifying. I published this article on 29 September 2024.
"Fence up, floodlights on, gates locked – problem solved!"
It seemed that nothing much was happening for a few years. Then...
Here's my article from 15 July 2023.
WE TOLD YOU SO! A commission of experts proves Deutsche Wohnen & Co. enteignen right
My first long read from November 2020 introduced basic issues and major campaigns.
TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE? On Berlin's housing crunch and responses to it
In early February 2021, I addressed the problem of commercial rents and provided updates about major campaigns.
"HOUSES FOR THE PEOPLE WHO READ IN THEM!" A Berlin Housing Update
In mid-May 2021 I published
URGENTLY NEEDED: LESS "PROFITABILITY" AND MORE HUMANITY
When I first saw a poster about expropriating the big housing corporations that pay prime dividends to stockholders while exploiting tenants, I thought it was a wonderful joke! However, it turned out to be a serious campaign and I joined in, collecting signatures and canvassing for the referendum that got the most support of any Berlin referendum ever. With feedback from other editorial team members, I published two blog posts in German for the Deutsche Wohnen & Co enteignen website, which, unfortunately, are no longer available.
WENN SIE GEWINNEN, VERLIEREN WIR: Über die angestrebte Fusion von Vonovia und Deutsche Wohnen (WHEN THEY WIN, WE LOSE: On the proposed merger of Vonovia and Deutsche Wohnen)
Since I wrote that, the merger has gone through... and Vonovia has just announced substantial rent increases.
SO SIEHT DEMOKRATIE AUS! (THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE!)