Radio Spaetkauf Berlin

Restauranteur Clare D'Orsay is a victim of anti-gentrification violence. She has been unfairly targeted by protesters angry about the potential eviction of Cafe Filou in Kreuzberg. Her restaurant Vertikal is next door. On this show Clare talks about the attacks against her business at the hands of misguided protesters. Clare says she's been spat at, pushed to the ground and had her windows smashed by an organized group for being a foreigner opening a nice looking restaurant. Investors Charles Skinner also joined the show to announce he's reached an agreement with Cafe Filou and will allow them to stay. Mr. Skinner said he decided to renew the contract after appeals from Green party politician Hans-Christian Ströble and Ms. D'Orsay. "In the end we saw reason," Mr. Skinner said. Maisie is one of 480 British citizens trying to apply for a German passport to ensure she can stay after Brexit. Unsurprisingly she's run into bureaucratic hurdles. Mark Whiley from Forward Britain joined the show to talk about what des

Hang on to your wallet on the U6 and U8. Crime stats show they’re the hottest U-Bahn lines for pickpockets. While wallet theft is up, crime rates in Berlin have remained stable - not bad, since the city is growing. Bicycle activists have long complained that Berlin’s €10 parking fines are too cheap. Now a study has found it costs the city €10.38 to process a parking ticket. Should the city charge more, or give up issuing fines? Strikes are continuing at Berlin airports, where workers are demanding an immediate €1 pay rise per hour, while ground service companies are offering €0.27 a year over three years. Ryanair has escalated the situation by flying in a plane load of Irish strike breakers. Hear more about drama at the BER airport at our next live show at 5.30pm, Sunday March 19 at the Comedy Cafe Berlin in Neukölln. This episode was hosted by Jöran Mandik and Daniel Stern, and presented by RadioEins.

Ever wanted to make a citizen's arrest? Don't try it in Berlin. A local politician attempted to rally an U-Bahn carriage to help detain an alleged pickpocket, but was ignored by his fellow U8 passengers. New fatter U-Bahn carriages are now being rolled out on some lines. The new model type is nicknamed the "Icke." That name has nothing to do with David Icke, the conspiracy theorist whose speaking event was recently cancelled by Berlin's Maritim Hotel, which has declared itself politically neutral. Ever wanted to try out stand-up comedy? Dan is hosting a new open mike called Slingshot! held each Wednesday at Kupfer Bar in Mitte. He'll even give you a few tips. This episode was presented by Maisie Hitchcock and Daniel Stern, and brought to you by RadioEins.

How to make Berlin's buses run faster? The city has set up a taskforce to come up with ideas. One of them is to allow passengers to board on the rear doors to save time. The BVG doesn't like the plan. Our own Dan Stern has a few suggestions for the taskforce, one involving the to-be-constructed Wippe see-saw monument. Two major transport tunnel projects are delayed due to groundwater flooding - no surprise, since Berlin is built on a swamp. The S21 connection between Gesundbrunnen and Hauptbahnhof, and the U5 extension under Museuminsel are both experiencing water problems. Again, Dan has a suggestion - an underground ferry system. Berlin's latest anti-gentrification protest is against the eviction of Cafe Filou, a French bakery in Kreuzberg being kicked out by British investors who don't like the croissants. Could more of these kinds of investors be on their way to Berlin with the planned relocation of Lloyd's bank to the German capital? Radio Spaetkauf is a listener-supported podcast. If you like the show,

Berlin workers go on strike! Airport staff shut down Tegel and Schönefeld terminals on Feb 8 demanding a pay rise from €11 to €12 hour. Kindergarten staff went on strike on Feb 15, causing every second kita to close. They're seeking equal pay with Brandenburg kita workers, who get up to €400 more per month. Berlin is to get a new monument that is more like an amusement ride. The so-called Wippe, or see-saw, will be a moving platform that is supposed to reflect the motion of democracy. Federal politicians finally agreed to fund the Wippe after years of back and forth. No fixed opening date has been announced. The famous Berghain nightclub will open a new dance floor on March. Called Säule, it will feature dark experimental electronic music, and provide the club with space to squeeze in more guests. Come to our next live show! It's on Sunday Feb 19, 17.30, at the Comedy Cafe Berlin in Neukölln. Entry is free. This episode was presented by Jöran Mandik and Joel Dullroy, and brought to you by RadioEins.

German federal police carried out an undercover sting targeting ticket inspectors on the Berlin S-Bahn. Five inspectors were busted fining tourists and pocketing the cash. If you're caught, ask for inspectors' ID and always get a receipt! Six months in prison for smoking on your balcony? A Hellersdorf woman has been ordered by a court to not smoke outside between 8pm and 6am, or face a fine or jail time. Her 20 cigarettes a night were bothering her neighbour. Fritz is the new Knut. Tierpark's 3-month polar bear cub has been named Fritz, short for Friedrich, which intones peace. He's half Russian. Event tip: Australian musician Darren Cross writes songs inspired by Berlin. He's playing a silent concert at Ofen Bar on Feb 7, where you wear headphones to hear the music. More here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1079325368844281/ This episode was presented by Maisie Hitchcock and Daniel Stern, and brought to you by RadioEins.

How big is Berlin's marijuana market? We interview podcaster Diane Arapovich who investigated the weed economy and found Berlin is the greenhouse of northern Europe, supplying even Amsterdam. Listen to her full German language podcast Die Stadt und Das Gras for more: http://www.radioeins.de/archiv/podcast/die_stadt_und_das_gras.html Was it fair for Andrej Holm to be fired from Humboldt University, just days after resigning under pressure because of his brief Stasi past? Joel and guest Konrad Werner think not. The academic has spent his adult life fighting to make housing affordable for poor people, a career that surely redeems his youthful error. This year marks the end of an era at Berlin's Volksbühne Theater. Long-time intendant Frank Castorf will be replaced by Tate Modern director Chris Dearcon. Konrad Werner explains why the Berlin theater scene is upset over the switch. You've got until summer to get along to Volksbühne and catch one of the last Castorf productions. Radio Spaetkauf needs your support! W

Berlin’s R2G coalition is in crisis after the mayor Michael Müller (SPD) forced the resignation of Andrej Holm, who had been picked by Die Linke as the city’s housing secretary. The sociologist was a controversial choice due to his radical anti-investor ideas, and also because when he was 18 years old he trained to become an officer for the Stasi, the secret police of East Germany. Holm has also now been fired from Humboldt University for failing to fully declare his Stasi past. Was it fair? Listen to our next live recording for a full discussion. The KaDeWe department store has been robbed yet again. On January 14 axe-wielding bandits broke through the doors, smashed glass cabinets and stole jewelry. In robbers held up KaDeWe during opening hours and sprayed teargas as they stole €800,000 worth of expensive watches. And in 2009, burglars broke in and stole jewelry worth €2 million. Evidence from a dropped glove led to the arrest of a pair of twins, but neither could convicted as their DNA was too similar. Po

The new year started in Berlin with 16 people hospitalized from fireworks injuries. The number of emergency calls was down by 12%. If you think Berlin was chaotic, in Paris more than 650 cars were set on fire. Last month video footage of a man kicking a woman in an U-Bahn station led to a suspect’s arrest. Since then police have been releasing a steady stream of images from attacks and robberies. Previously, they were reluctant to do so for privacy and legal reasons. Even the mayor Michael Müller has changed his mind about video surveillance. He says he’s now open to more cameras in public places. The BSR will be collecting old Christmas trees from January 7 until January 20. You can find a full list of districts and dates here: http://bit.ly/2hTqQu4 In case you’re wondering what happens to old trees, they get used as biofuel to power the city, and are given to elephants at the zoo to eat. Come along to our next live show on Sunday January 22, 6pm, at the Comedy Cafe Berlin. This show was presented by Joel Du

Following the terrible Christmas market truck incident at Breitscheidplatz, all other markets were told to keep their music down. Does staying quiet actually achieve anything? We're going to carry on enjoying Gluhwein rather than respond with fear. What's changing in Berlin in 2017? We'll get an extra public holiday, pay more for public transport, and get a small raise in hourly rates - unless you're a freelancer. Looking for something to do over the Christmas break? Why not volunteer at a refugee shelter. Find one near you at www.volunteer-planner.org. Thanks for listening to Radio Spaetkauf in 2016! This episode is presented by Joel Dullroy and Maisie Hitchcock, and is brought to you by RadioEins, Berlin's public broadcaster.

Should a man who once trained with the Stasi be allowed to run Berlin’s housing department? Professor Andrej Holm has been named city secretary for housing. He's been the most vocal critic of the city’s policies for many years, and advocates high taxation on real estate speculation. His critics say he shouldn't have such an important job because in 1989 he joined a Stasi training academy. His supporters say a person's mistake as an 18 year old shouldn't affect them 26 years later. Should the city install more security cameras, after that terrible kicking attack in an U-bahn station? Berlin was shocked by a video showing a man kicking a woman in the back, sending her flying down the stairs of the Hermannstrasse U-Bahn station. The man was caught on a bus after being recognized by a passenger. The new R2G has promised to reduce the number of surveillance cameras in public places. And should the city take free money to rebuild an imperial monument? The federal government wants to give Berlin €18.5M to rebuild th

Berlin still has an estimated 3000 unexploded WWII bombs under the surface. One was discovered this week between Neukölln and Treptow, causing the evacuation of 2600 residents. The city also has a lot of people in jail for not paying their public transport fines. Almost 10 percent of the city’s 4100 inmates are there for dodging train fares. Now the new justice senator, Dirk Behrend from the Greens, plans to roll back the policy of jailing so-called “Schwarzfahrer”. He wants to let them do community service instead. Michael Müller has been sworn in as Berlin’s mayor for a second term as head of the R2G coalition. But it hasn’t been the best week for the returning mayor. His top aide, Björn Böhning from the SPD, is being investigated for alleged corruption. The controversy is about a report written by the consulting company McKinsey into the city’s refugee situation in 2015. McKinsey originally said this would be done pro bono. But later Mr. Böhning authorized a payment of €237,000 to the consultants, one of w

Berlin's bird flu outbreak keeps getting worse. Now residents near the central waterways are being told to keep their pets inside - even cats. The petition to keep Tegel Airport airport has progressed to the next phase. The supporters could trigger a referendum if they collect enough signatures by March. Radio Spaetkauf's next live show is on Sunday December 18, 6pm, at the Comedy Cafe Berlin. This short update was presented by Maisie Hitchcock and Daniel Stern, and is brought to you by radioeins, Berlin's public broadcaster.

While the rest of the world votes for crazy leaders and dumb ideas, Berlin's new coalition has just announced an amazing social program that makes this city even better. On this special 5th anniversary recording of Radio Spaetkauf, we remind ourselves why we came to Berlin, and why we plan to stay. There's plenty to talk about in the new red-red-green (R2G) coalition agreement, including more social housing, less automobiles and better bicycle infrastructure, but sadly no maglev to the airport. How will Berlin pay for it all? Our special guest Konrad Werner defends the government's plan to take on more debt to upgrade schools and hire more public servants. Also, we welcome Craig Schuftan, who together with his band Ducks! and musician Ray Mann created Radio Spaetkauf's new jingle. Radio Spaetkauf is hosted by Joel Dullroy, Maisie Hitchcock, Jöran Mandik and Daniel Stern.

Welcome to our new series of short news updates produced for RadioEins, Berlin's public broadcaster! On this show we talk about how Berlin's new "red-red-green" coalition between the SPD, Die Grünen and Die Linke plan to change the city. Their coalition talks include closing Unter den Linden to most vehicle traffic, and building several new tram lines across the city. The incoming coalition also plans to end the crackdown on marijuana in Görlitzer Park, and perhaps even introduce legal medical weed apothekes. Come along to the next live recording of the hour-long Radio Spaetkauf monthly show on Sunday November 20, 6pm, at the Comedy Cafe Berlin on Weserstraße, Neukölln. More at www.radiospaetkauf.com This episode is presented by Joel Dullroy and Daniel Stern. Radio Spaetkauf is brought to you by RadioEins, part of the RBB network: www.radioeins.de

Berlin still has no official governing coalition, as the SPD, Die Linke and Die Grünen drag on their negotiations. Public transport ticket prices for 2017 have been announced, and they're going up again, despite the BVG pulling in a record profit. Come along to Radio Spaetkauf's next live show on November 20 at Comedy Cafe Berlin. And stay tuned for a very special new project. Radio Spaetkauf is teaming up with RadioEins, Berlin's public broadcaster, to produce a bi-monthly short news update!

The Berlin election results are in. And it looks like the SPD's Michael Müller will remain mayor, if he can build a coalition with two other parties - most likely Die Grüne and Die Linke. This election was a protest against the major parties. Every party lost votes, except for AFD (+14.2%), FDP (+4.9%) and Die Linke (+3.9%). Michael Müller's SPD won the most votes, with 21.6% and 38 seats. But that's down 6.7% from five years ago. It's the SPD's worst performance in Berlin since World War 2. Frank Henkel's CDU also lost big, dropping to 17.6%, a loss of 5.7%. Also a historically terrible performance. Radio Spaetkauf co-host Jöran Mandik ran for election in the district of Neukölln 1 as a journalistic exercise. And he got... 66 votes! At least he beat the candidate from the neo-nazi NPD party, who got 52 votes.

We're decoding the Berlin election with a full run down on what each party is promising, with some graphic design critique thrown in. Who's going to run Berlin after the September 18 vote? Probably not the CDU, who have lost voters to the far-right AFD. The SPD doesn't want to govern with them, and neither do the Greens. It makes an SPD-Greens-Linke coalition a pretty likely scenario. Our own candidate Jöran Mandik talks about his campaign (or lack of it). Turns out if he could get 2500 votes, he'd earn over €6000 in public campaign contributions. We have a special guest, blogger John Riceburg, who has his own controversial opinion on the election. He doesn't like any of the parties, who aren't promising any great changes at all. Special thanks to our hosts Comedy Cafe Berlin!

At our annual outdoor recording in the woods, we interview three Syrian refugees - Ghaith, Omar and Munzer - who have created an app to help deal with German paperwork. It's called Bureaucrazy. Some rich person out there should really give some money to this: http://www.facebook.com/Bureaucrazy.de/ After a glorious weekend of watching movies, watching bands and swimming in the lake at Klingemühle, Mobile Kino organizers Joshua and Fernando announce that they need a new name for their festival. The word Weekender is trademarked, can you believe.

On this quick update, we talk about the secretive British investment company behind all the problems between punks and police on Rigaer Straße. Daniel thinks the whole scenario could be turned into a musical, possibly called "Henkel's Leftist Orgy of Violence" after Berlin's interior minister, who has been embarrased by a court ruling this week that found the police-assisted eviction at Rigaer Straße 94 to be unlawful. We also get an update from co-host Jöran Mandik about his attempt to run as a candidate for the upcoming Berlin city elections. Come along to the Mobile Kino Weekender on July 29-31. It's a cinematic camping trip out in the woods by a lake. Radio Spaetkauf will be recording a live episode there. Can you sponsor a Syrian refugee to come to the festival? E-mail us if you're willing to contribute €40: hallo@radiospaetkauf.com.